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Lokedi Goes Back-to-Back in Boston, McClain Breaks American Course Record

By LetsRun.com

2026 Boston Marathon

View LetsRun.com Event Coverage

Defending champion Sharon Lokedi crushed the final five miles to repeat as Boston Marathon champion, pulling away from all challengers to win in 2:18:51. She finished ahead of Loice Chemnung, who also dipped under 2:20.

Lokedi defended her title just like John Korir did on the men’s side, marking the first time both the men’s and women’s winners repeated in the same year since Cosmas Ndeti and Uta Pippig in 1995.

Sharon Lokedi repeats at Boston Marathon Champion in 2026 (Kevin Morris photo) Sharon Lokedi repeats at Boston Marathon Champion in 2026 (Kevin Morris photo)

Jess McClain ran 2:20:49 to finish 5th and take top American honors, setting a new American course record and breaking Shalane Flanagan’s mark of 2:22:02 from 2014.

On a great day for fast running, with temps in the 40s and a tailwind, the women were more cautious than the men early, hitting halfway in 71:02. Six women were still together at the top of Heartbreak Hill at mile 21, but Lokedi surged over the final five downhill miles to take control, covering 35k to 40k in 14:48.

This is a flash recap. Much more to come from Boston.

Place First Last Country Time
1 Sharon Lokedi 🇰🇪 Kenya 2:18:51
2 Loice Chemnung 🇰🇪 Kenya 2:19:35
3 Mary Ngugi-Cooper 🇰🇪 Kenya 2:20:07
4 Mercy Chelangat 🇺🇬 Uganda 2:20:30
5 Jess McClain 🇺🇸 USA 2:20:49
6 Irene Cheptai 🇰🇪 Kenya 2:20:54
7 Workenesh Edesa 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 2:21:52
8 Annie Frisbie 🇺🇸 USA 2:22:00
9 Emily Sisson 🇺🇸 USA 2:22:39
10 Carrie Ellwood 🇺🇸 USA 2:22:53
11 Bedatu Hirpa 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 2:23:58
12 Dakotah Popehn 🇺🇸 USA 2:24:04
13 Elena Hayday 🇺🇸 USA 2:24:45
14 Kodi Kleven 🇺🇸 USA 2:24:48
15 Amanda Vestri 🇺🇸 USA 2:24:49
16 Isobel Batt-Doyle 🇦🇺 Australia 2:25:06
17 Paige Wood 🇺🇸 USA 2:26:34
18 Madeline Dickson 🇺🇸 USA 2:28:12
19 Susanna Sullivan 🇺🇸 USA 2:28:35
20 Megan O’Neil 🇺🇸 USA 2:31:31
21 Sara Hall 🇺🇸 USA 2:31:55
22 Lisa Weightman 🇦🇺 Australia 2:32:41
23 Diana Bogantes Gonzalez 🇨🇷 Costa Rica 2:33:17
24 Erin Del Giudice 🇺🇸 USA 2:33:54
25 Elizabeth Chikotas 🇺🇸 USA 2:34:29
26 Mao Uesugi 🇯🇵 Japan 2:34:38
27 Cassandra De Winter 🇨🇦 Canada 2:34:43
28 Alana Levy 🇺🇸 USA 2:34:50
29 Monica Hebner 🇺🇸 USA 2:35:11
30 Desiree Linden 🇺🇸 USA 2:35:49

Tracking and results info here.

*Post-race athlete interviews from Boston

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