FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Defending Champions Lead Historically Fast Women's Field
for 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America
BOSTON- The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will feature
the strongest women's field in race history, led by defending champions
Hellen Obiri and Susannah Scaroni. A total of 19 women with personal bests
under 2:23:00 will line up in Hopkinton aiming to earn the Open Division
crown, including Olympians, Abbott World Marathon Majors winners, and
national stars. In the Wheelchair and Para Athletics Divisions, Paralympic
hopefuls from around the world are set to compete.
"The Boston Marathon is proud to showcase the world's best athletes year in
and year out on Patriots' Day," said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the
Boston Athletic Association. "This year's women's field is exceptionally
fast and showcases many who've been podium finishers on the global stage.
It'll make for an exciting race from Hopkinton to Boston, and we look
forward to crowning our champions on April 15."
Women from 20 countries will be competing as part of the Bank of America
Professional Athlete Team.
"Each year, the Boston Marathon sets the bar higher with an unbelievable
level of athletic talent, and its impact on communities around the world,"
said David Tyrie, chief digital officer and chief marketing officer, Bank
of America. "The 128th Boston Marathon builds on a rich history and will
continue to be an inspiration for all athletes."
HELLEN OBIRI SET TO DEFEND OPEN DIVISION TITLE
Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist from Kenya now living in
Colorado, won the 2023 Boston Marathon thanks to a perfectly-timed sprint
in the final mile. Adding to her trophy case, Obiri also took home the 2023
B.A.A. 10K title in June and the TCS New York City Marathon crown in
November.
"I am excited to return to the 2024 Boston Marathon to try to defend my
title," said Obiri, who finished last year's race in 2:21:38. "Boston is an
historic race and I would like to add my name further to its history on
April 15. Winning such an historic marathon with my family waiting at the
finish line was an amazing experience."
A trifecta of Ethiopians with lifetime bests under 2:18:00 will take to the
Boston course. Worknesh Degefa, the 2019 Boston Marathon champion, returns,
while 2:17:36 marathoner Tadu Teshome will make her Boston debut and Hiwot
Gebremaryam aims to improve upon her eighth-place finish last year. Also
from Ethiopia is World championships medalist Senbere Teferi; she won the
2022 B.A.A. 5K in a course record 14:49 and has shown talent at the longer
distances. Experienced marathoner Ababel Yeshaneh –second in 2022 and
fourth in 2023- will try to become the seventh woman from Ethiopia to win
the olive wreath in Boston.
Joining Obiri from Kenya are 2022 World Athletics Championships Marathon
silver medalist Judith Korir; two-time Boston Marathon winner Edna
Kiplagat; four-time top-ten finisher Mary Ngugi-Cooper; and 2022 TCS New
York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi. Helah Kiprop, who holds a silver
medal in the marathon from the 2015 World Athletics Championships and has
earned wins in Tokyo, Copenhagen, and Paris, makes her second career Boston
start. From Morocco is 2023 World Athletics Championships Marathon bronze
medalist Fatima Gardadi.
Desiree Linden leads the American contingent six years after winning the
2018 title. Linden has finished in the top-five five times, and holds the
third fastest time by an American ever on the Hopkinton-to-Boston route
(2:22:38). Linden will run her fifth U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in
February. Joining her is Emma Bates who finished fifth last year in the
second-fastest time ever by an American woman at Boston (2:22:10).
"At this point in my career it's an easy decision to return to the Boston
Marathon and make it my top priority race of the spring," said Linden. "I
can't wait to take on the iconic course for an 11th time and have the
opportunity to mix it up with some of the best runners in the world."
2024 PARALYMPIAN SCARONI RETURNS AHEAD OF PARIS GAMES
Not even a loose wheel could stop Susannah Scaroni from winning the 2023
Boston Marathon Wheelchair Division. Scaroni etched her name in history
with a 5:10 margin of victory, breaking the tape in 1:41:45. She's back in
Boston racing with hopes of repeating.
"I always look forward to competing at the Boston Marathon and am very
excited to joining an incredible women's field again this year to try and
defend my title," said Scaroni.
Challengers to Scaroni include four-time Boston Marathon champion and
course record holder Manuela Schär of Switzerland and reigning Paralympic
Marathon gold medalist Madison de Rozario of Australia. American Jenna
Fesemyer, winner of the 2023 B.A.A. Half Marathon in November, and Japan's
Wakako Tsuchida, five-time winner and third place a year ago, will make a
case for the podium.
FAMILIAR FACES & NEWCOMERS HEADLINE PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS
Liz Willis (T64, lower limb impairment) returns to Boston not only as
defending champion, but also as a world record holder having run 1:45:20 at
November's B.A.A. Half Marathon.
"It is exciting to see the Para field expanding as more adaptive women have
been encouraged to join the marathon community," said Willis. "Growth
equates to progress working for the betterment of society which ultimately
increases the competitive field. I am excited to see so many athletes whom
I now call friends returning while also eager to meet many new runners. I
anticipate this race to be swifter than ever before! May we rise in
strength beyond the once thought impossible."
Nicole ver Kuilen, second to Willis in last year's T63-T64 division, is
also back, as is past podium finisher and ultra-marathoner Jacky
Hunt-Broersma. New to the Boston Marathon is Kelly Bruno (T64), an
accomplished ultra-marathoner, triathlete, and Survivor contestant.
BANK OF AMERICA SUPPORTING ALL PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
Boston Marathon presenting partner Bank of America is supporting all top
contenders as part of the Bank of America Professional Athlete Team.
Athletes in the Open, Wheelchair, and Para Athletics Divisions will be
competing for more than $1 million in prize money.
A course record bonus of $50,000 is available for open and wheelchair
athletes, and Para Athletics Division prize money will be offered across
seven impairment classifications (increased from five in previous years). A
complete prize purse breakdown is available here.
128TH BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S FIELDS
Women's Open Division Country Personal Best
Worknesh Degefa ETH 2:15:51 (Valencia, 2023)
Tadu Teshome ETH 2:17:36 (Valencia, 2021)
Hiwot Gebremaryam ETH 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
Judith Korir KEN 2:18:20 (Eugene, 2021)
Meseret Belete ETH 2:18:21 (Amsterdam, 2023)
Tiruye Mesfin ETH 2:18:47 (Valencia, 2021)
Worknesh Edesa ETH 2:18:51 (Berlin, 2021)
Zeineba Yimer ETH 2:19:07 (Berlin 2023)
Senbere Teferi ETH 2:19:21 (Berlin, 2023)
Dera Dida ETH 2:19:24 (Berlin, 2023)
Edna Kiplagat KEN 2:19:50 (London, 2012)*
Mary Ngugi-Cooper KEN 2:20:22 (London, 2021)
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet ERI 2:20:29 (Eugene) NR
Ababel Yeshaneh ETH 2:20:51 (Chicago, 2019)
Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:20:59 (Vienna, 2021)
Helah Kiprop KEN 2:21:27 (Tokyo, 2016)
Hellen Obiri KEN 2:21:38 (Boston, 2023)
Emma Bates USA 2:22:10 (Boston, 2023)
Desiree Linden USA 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)*
Buze Diriba ETH 2:23:11 (Toronto, 2023)
Sharon Lokedi KEN 2:23:23 (New York City, 2021)
Malindi Elmore CAN 2:23:30 (Berlin, 2023)*
Fatima Gardadi MOR 2:24:12 (Xiamen, 2024)
Angie Orjuela COL 2:25:35 (Berlin, 2023) NR
Fabienne Konigstein GER 2:25:48 (Hamburg, 2023)
Jackie Gaughan USA 2:27:08 (Berlin, 2023)
Dominique Scott RSA 2:27:31 (Chicago, 2023)
Grace Kahura KEN 2:29:00 (Sacramento, 2023)
Katie Kellner USA 2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)
Briana Boehmer USA 2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Dylan Hassett IRL 2:33:25 (Pulford, 2021)
Parley Hannan USA 2:33:43 (Carmel, 2023)
Sara Lopez USA 2:33:48 (Eugene, 2023)
Annie Heffernan USA 2:34:33 (Lowell, 2023)
Nera Jareb AUS 2:35:00 (Queensland, 2021)*
Johanna Backlund SWE 2:35:10 (Hamburg, 2019)
Argentina Valdepenas Cerna MEX 2:35:34 (Chicago, 2021)*
Ariane Hendrix Roach USA 2:35:39 (Sacramento, 2021)
Michelle Krezonoski CAN 2:36:39 (Sacramento, 2021)
Shannon Smith USA 2:36:43 (Columbus, 2023)
Caroline Williams USA 2:37:01 (Sacramento, 2021)
Gina Rouse USA 2:37:10 (Sacramento, 2023)*
Kim Krezonoski CAN 2:37:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Abigail Corrigan USA 2:37:45 (Sacramento, 2023)
Marissa Lenger USA 2:38:41 (Chicago, 2021)
Emilee Risteen USA 2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)
Isabelle Pickett AUS 2:38:46 (Valencia, 2023)
Allie Hackett USA 2:38:52 (Duluth, 2023
Mary Christensen USA 2:38:55 (Big Bear, 2023)
Olivia Anger USA 2:39:13 (Indianapolis, 2023)
April Lund USA 2:39:23 (Houston, 2021)*
Sarah Short AUS 2:39:51 (Valencia, 2023)
Maura Lemon USA 2:40:30 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Sarah Sibert USA 2:40:31 (Philadelphia, 2021)
Lauren Ames USA 2:40:34 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Kassie Harmon USA 2:41:48 (Utah Valley, 2023)*
Elizabeth Camy USA 2:42:51 (Sacramento, 2021)*
Alexandra Niles USA 2:43:23 (Hartford, 2021)*
Amber Morrison USA 2:43:50 (Sacramento, 2021)*
Mindy Mammen USA 2:44:01 (Duluth, 2023)*
Ziyang Liu USA 2:44:56 (Eugene, 2023)*
*Denotes Masters Division (40+)
WHEELCHAIR DIVISION COUNTRY PERSONAL BEST CLASSIFICATION
Susannah Scaroni USA 1:27:31 T54
Manuela Schär SUI 1:28:17 T54
Madison de Rosario AUS 1:31:11 T53
Jenna Fesemyer USA 1:33:50 T54
Wakako Tsuchida JPN 1:34:06 T54
Marie Emmanuelle Naomi Alphonse MRI 1:35:14 T54
Christie Dawes AUS 1:37:12 T54
Vanessa Cristina de Souza BRA 1:40:23 T54
Aline dos Santos Rocha BRA 1:41:39 T54
Michelle Wheeler USA 1:45:45 T54
Patricia Eachus SUI 1:47:06 T54
Eden Rainbow Cooper GBR 1:47:27 T54
Yen Hoang USA 1:47:29 T53
Emelia Perry USA 1:49:55 T54
Hoda Elshorbagy USA 1:58:38 T53
Eva Houston USA 1:59:49 T34
Hannah Dedrick USA 2:02:23 T54
Carmen Ginenez Abad ESP 2:14:48 T54
PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS COUNTRY CLASSIFICATION
Jacky Hunt-Broersma USA T64 (Lower-limb impairment)
Kelly Bruno USA T64 (Lower-limb impairment)
Livea Flor Pereira Rodrigues BRA T12 (Vision Impairment)
Liz Willis USA T64 (Lower-limb impairment)
Nicole Ver Kuilen USA T64 (Lower-limb impairment)
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The
128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take
place on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott
World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London,
Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A.,
please visit www.baa.org.
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