Hellen Obiri made it back-to-back titles at Boston Marathon with fellow Kenyans Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat completing a podium sweep.
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri defended her Boston Marathon title after running a tactical race to fend off the challenge of compatriot Sharon Lokedi on Monday April 15.
It was an all Kenyan affair as Obiri led a 1-2-3 for the country with Lokedi finishing second while veteran Edna Kiplagat managed an impressive third place but the three waited until late before showing their claws.
Unlike the men’s race where Ethiopian Sisay Lemma took off early and never looked back, the women stayed together for most of the race until when it mattered most.
Obiri, Lokedi and Kiplagat would exchange leads but stayed close to each other in the final stretch.
The 44-year-old Kiplagat appeared set to pull an upset, and perhaps win her third title in Boston, but she ran out of gas when Obiri and Lokedi pulled away.
Obiri then waited until the tail end to sprint away from Lokedi to win her second straight title in a time of 2:22:37 and defend her crown. Lokedi was second in 2:22:45 while Kiplagat completed the podium after stopping the clock at 2:23:21.
Obiri became the sixth woman to make it back-to-back titles in Boston in what is now becoming her favourite course after her maiden marathon victory last year.
The New York Marathon champion has effectively sealed her place in Team Kenya to the Paris Olympics after being named in the final team of six over a week ago.
