Boston Marathon 2024 - The Women's Race

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The 128th Running of the Boston Marathon - The Women's Race
by John Elliott

The Patient Women's Race

The women's race at the 2024 Boston Marathon was the opposite of the men's race. The men started at the fastest pace ever seen in Boston, whittling the main pack down to just a few men and seeing one man chase the course record from mile 5. The women's race saw a pack of approximately twenty women running together at a moderate pace through halfway and the lead pack still holding twelve women through mile 21.

From the beginning, no woman looked eager to take the lead and set the pace and with that the job fell to American Emma Bates at the front of the pack. In the field were a number of women who were mid-distance specialists and it was clear they knew that if the conserved their strength until the final miles they would have the advantage. Other women were just happy to remain in the large pack and hope that attrition would allow them to be one of the last women running. Emma Bates had led for much of the race the year before and specifically planned NOT to be the leader in 2024, but when no one else would set the pace, the job again fell to her. Consistently at the back of the pack - watching and waiting, was two time champion and oldest woman in the elite field, Edna Kiplagat.

The Competition Begins at Mile 23

The women started at a pace toward a 2:20 finish, but by mile 22 had slowed to appear to be on pace for a 2:25 finish - averaging 5:33 per mile. Into mile 23, 44 year old Edna Kiplagat, the 2017 and 2021 Boston champion, pushed the pace to a sub-5:00 mile, the fastest of the day. Only two women could or chose to go with Kiplagat and the race immediately became a competition between Kiplagat and two other Kenyan women who were arguably the favorites and had the most to gain or lose based on their performance in the marathon: Hellen Obiri, the 2023 Boston and 2023 New York City Marathon champion, and Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 New York City Marathon champion.

Interestingly, the three women had multiple connections and as they ran together, they knew exactly what to expect. In December, Athletics Kenya had indicated Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi were among the ten women under consideration to be selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics Marathon team; and earlier in April, Athletics Kenya reconfirmed these two as finalists on a list narrowed down to six women. Beyond the opportunity to win the Boston Marathon, a win for either Obiri or Lokedi would push them forward as a candidate for the final selection to the Olympics team whereas the hopes would be diminished for the woman who did not win. Lokedi won the 2022 New York City Marathon ahead of Obiri, whereas Obiri won the 2023 New York City Marathon ahead of Lokedi. After winning the 2022 New York City Marathon, Lokedi was scheduled to run the 2023 Boston Marathon, but an injury forced her to be a late scratch and her spot was taken up last minute by Obiri who would go on to win the race. And Edna Kiplagat and Hellen Obiri lived near each other in Boulder CO and regularly trained together. All three women knew each other's strengths and weaknesses.

The 5000m Champion Has the Edge

Hellen Obiri most likely knew that she would have the advantage: Obiri was a 5000m specialist and two-time world champion and two-time Olympic Silver Medalist at that distance. That said, Lokedi had beaten Obiri before at the marathon distance and would do her best. The pace increased into mile 24 as the women ran a 4:41 mile and Edna Kiplagat was the first to drop off the pace. When Kiplagat slowed, we could see Obiri turn to look back for her training partner and friend.

Into the final mile, Lokedi could not hold the pace and Obiri was able to run away to win in 2:22:37. Lokedi finished eight seconds behind in 2:22:45 and Edna Kiplagat cruised in alone to finsh in third place and first masters finisher in 2:23:21. Kiplagat's finish ranked as the second fastest masters finish of all time behind only her 2022 masters finish of 2:21:40.

Top Finishers:

1. Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:22:37 - $150,000
2. Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:22:45 - $75,000
3. Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:23:21 - $40,000 + $5,000
4. Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:24:04 - $25,000
5. Senbere Teferi (ETH) 2:24:04 - $18,000
6. Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:24:24 - $13,500
7. Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:24:47 - $10,500
8. Fatima Gardadi (MOR) 2:24:53 - $8,500
9. Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:24:58 - $7,000
10. Dera Dida (ETH) 2:25:16 - $5,500
11. Siranesh Yirga (ETH) 2:26:31
12. Emma Bates (USA) 2:27:14
13. Vibian Chepkirui (KEN) 2:27:23
14. Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2:27:36

Post Race:
Men's Race and Commentary
Women's Race and Commentary

Race Day: As It Happens - Live Coverage (the real-time notes/mile-by-mile)
Complete Searchable Results