Boston Marathon 2024 - As It Happens

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The 128th Running of the Boston Marathon (2024) - As It Happens

Refresh this page every few minutes to see the latest updates. We'll have all of the updates for all races on this one page - trying to make it as easy as possible for our readers to see what's happening.

Note, as you read these reports, they will appear in reverse chronological order. Newest updates will be at the top of each section.

The Coverage (below): Men's Race | Women's Race

Overview

For the 20th year, we are on site at the Boston Marathon - in the press room with direct access to what is happening...

The weather is anticipated to be nearly perfect for the 128th running of the Boston Marathon: temperatures in the 50s from start to finish and... a moderate tailwind to push the runners along. Because of the participant mix in the races, we expect fast performances: in recent years, the men have started at a fast pace and continued at that clip; while the women's race is often slow and measured, this year the Olympic prospects of two favorites: defending champion and 2023 NYC Marathon champion, Hellen Obiri, and 2022 NYC Marathon champion, Sharon Lokedi, are on the shortlist to make the Kenyan national team, but it will depend on their performance in Boston - they are incentivized to lay it all out... But in a marathon, anything can happen - so follow along below.

Men's Race back to top

The Finish (2:06:17). Sisay Lemma wins the 128th running of the Boston Marathon in the 10th fastest finish ever for the race. Mohamed Esa takes the runner-up spot, cruising past the others to finish in 2:06:58. Evans Chebet finishes in third place in 2:07:22 and John Korir takes the fourth spot in 2:08:17. CJ Albertson finishes as first American in 7th place overall in 2:09:53.

One mile to go (2:00:54). Lemma has a 1:16 lead on Evans Chebet. Chebet is running away from John Korir. But Mohamed Esa has nearly caught Korir. Chebet will win. The next three spots are still up for grabs.

Mile 24 (1:54:23). In the 24th mile, Lemma's lead has dropped to 1:30, but at this point, it looks like he will be the winner, the chasers can not run 45 seconds per mile faster than Lemma in the last two miles. And he will have won the race running most of the race by himself at an incredible pace - wow!

Mile 22 (1:44:17), Mile 23 (1:49:23). Lemma's lead is down to 1:44 on the two men remaining in the chase pack: past champion, Evans Chebet, and brother-of-past-champion, John Korir.

Mile 20 (1:33:48), Mile 21 (1:39:15). 35K (1:42:56) Lemma has run a 5:27 mile for his last mile - either he is tiring, or knowing he has a huge lead he is choosing to rest on the way up "Heartbreak Hill." Lemma is no longer on world or course record pace, but still could run a great marathon. The lead pack is a full 2-1/2 minutes back. In the following pack, Cybrian Kotut has fallen back.

Mile 16 (1:13:48), Mile 17 (1:18:50), Mile 18 (1:23:48), 30K (1:26:56), Mile 19 (1:28:41), Lemma's lead is down to 2:50 (still incredible) ahead of the others. He will soon be approaching the Newton Hills - and if he can continue strong over that part of the course, who knows... In the whole race to this point, Lemma has run only two miles slower than 5:00 pace.

Mile 14 (1:04:18), Mile 15 (1:09:12). 25K (1:11:44). Lemma has a 3:21 lead on the rest of the runners. At that pace, that is a lead of nearly 3/4 of a mile... Behind there are six men in the hunt with Mohamed Esa having rejoined the chase pack.

Mile 10 (45:53), Mile 11 (50:34), Mile 12 (55:14), 20K (57:13), Mile 13 (59:51), Halfway (1:00:19). Lemma has just run the fastest half marathon of his life - his previous fastest half marathon was 1:01:09. But enough of Lemma - this can't last... Behind, five men are together, having crossed the halfway mark in 1:02:08 - still a very fast time. Evans Chebet was the first to push the pace and with him are Albert Korir, Cybrian Kotut, John Korir and Haftu Teklu.

Mile 7 (32:02), Mile 8 (36:40), Mile 9 (41:14), 15K (42:43). Lemma is just more than 1:20 ahead of the rest of the field. His pace would put him into the finish in Boston in just over 2 hours and a world record pace. That can not last... It should be noted that the previous fastest time through 15K in the history of the Boston Marathon was 43:29 - Lemma is sooo far ahead of that pace. It should also be noted that this is Lemma's fourth attempt at the Boston Marathon - with two previous DNFs and his only finish at Boston was in 2018 in 2:22:08.

Mile 6 (27:29), 10K (28:28). Sisay Lemay has extended his lead to 25 seconds. He is taking full advantage of the downhill nature of the start of the Boston Marathon course. In most years, that is a recipe for disaster. Knowing that, the eight men in the follwing pack are letting him go.

Mile 4 (18:36), Mile 5 (23:21). Sisay Lemma has broken away from the pack and still running on a course record pace. His lead is nearly 15 seconds.

Mile 3 (13:53), 5K (14:21). The lead pack consists of ten men: Sisay Lemma, Zouhair Talbi, Evans Chebet, Gabriel Geay, Albert Korir, Cybrian Kotut, John Korir, Mohamed Esa, Haftu Teklu and Elkanah Kibet. The pace would bring the men to the finish line in a course record and close to a world record. This is too fast...

Mie 2 (9:19). The lead pack of approximately 13 men are running at a very fast pace on the downhill opening section of the Boston Marathon.

Mile 1 (4:32). A japanese runner, Morri, set the opening pace and built a lead of 10 seconds on the followers - presumably to get a bit of good TV time... Behind, the following group is breaking down to just about 12 men.

The men's race has started. Since 2023, the men have started ahead of all others - and they will finish ahead of all others. About 40 men are in the lead pack and there will not be much to report over the first few miles....

Women's Race back to top

The Finish (2:22:37). Hellen Obiri wins the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2:22:37. Sharon Lokedi is second in 2:22:45. And Edna Kiplagat - at 44 years old, is third (and by a large margin, first masters runner) in 2:23:21. Emma Bates finished as first American and 12th overall in 2:27:14.

40K (2:15:54), 1 mile to go (2:17:46). Hellen Obiri is starting to move away from Lokedi - she will be the back-to-back winner of the Boston Marathon. Sharon Lokedi is running strong into the runner-up position. Edna Kiplagat has put some distance on the women following her and should be a shoo-in for third place.

Mile 24 (2:11:47). Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi are matching each other step-by-step - running both for the win and possibly for a spot on the Kenyan Marathon team for the Paris Olympics. Kiplagat has lost five seconds on her compatriots but remains strong and will likely land on the podium. Two women are 19 seconds behind Kiplagat and will try to get the third spot.

35K (2:00:48), Mile 22 (2:02:09), Mile 23 (2:07:06). Edna Kiplagat has put in the surge that has broken the lead pack apart. Kiplagat - at 44 yeards old - and podiuming at Boston since 2017 (including as the 2017 and 2021 champion) is looking to podium. Challenging are the two Kenyans who are eligible to make the Kenyan Olympic team: Hellen Obirir (defending champion and Kipglagat's training partner in Boulder, CO) and Sharon Lokedi - this is an exciting race!

Mile 19 (1:45:24), Mile 20 (1:51:07), Mile 21 (1:56:53). Twelve women remain in the lead pack at mile 20 - that is possibly the largest pack remaining at the point in all time. Emma Bates, Vibian Chepkirui and Helah Kiprop have fallen behind to run together and will all finish out of the top 10.

Mile 18 (1:39:53). 30K (1:43:27). Emma Bates is running a few seconds ahead of the main pack. Fifteen women in the chase pack.

Mile 16 (1:28:24), Mile 17 (1:34:01). The pack is down to 16 women as they begin to approach the early hills. Sara Hall has fallen off the lead pack.

Mile 15 (1:23:11), 25K (1:26:05). Desiree Linden has again dropped back from the pack, about four seconds back. The lead pack has again spread out across the road with no one chooses to lead.

Mile 14 (1:17:30). With the pace having slowed, Desiree Linden has rejoined the pack and run toward the front to push the pace for a moment.

Mile 13 (1:11:54), Halfway (1:12:13). The women's pace has slowed further, now running toward a 2:25 finish. Emma Bates and Sara Hall are again at the front of the pack and setting the pace or possibly limiting the pace.

Mile 10 (0:54:56), Mile 11 (1:00:38), Mile 12 (1:06:15), 20K (1:08:42). The lead pack now holds 19 women. Desiree Linden and Dominique Scott have dropped out of the lead pack.

Mile 9 (49:09), 15K (50:58). Twenty-one women on pace toward a 2:23 finish...

Mile 7 (37:52), Mile 8 (43:32). The women continue to run spread out across the road - a clear indication that they are not working too hard. Emma Bates and Sara Hall are in the lead as the women are now running toward a 2:22 finish.

Mile 5 (26:49), Mile 6 (32:20), 10K (33:27). The lead pack is down to twenty women - now running spread across the road. The pace has slowed slightly as no woman appears willing to take the initiative.

Mile 3 (16:04), 5K (16:36), Mile 4 (21:19). Emma Bates continues to lead the pack of twenty-one women. The pace would have the women finish in approximlatey 2:20 - that is a solid pace, but not overly aggressive. In the lead pack are: Sharon Lokedi, Meseret Belete, Hellen Obiri, Siranesh Yirga, Emma Bates, Ababel Yeshaneh, Workenesh Edesa, Judith Korir, Mary Ngugi, Buze Diriba, Sara Hall, Vibian Chepkirui, Tiruye Mesfin, Edna Kiplagat, Senbere Teferi, Helah Kiprop, Dera Dida, Caroline Rotich, Hiwot Gebremaryam, Tadu Teshome and Dominique Scott.

Mile 1 (5:17), Mile 2 (10:41). Emma Bates continues to lead the pack and set the pace. Twenty-one women are in the lead pack.

The women's race has started. Approximately 50 women are in the early start. From the beginning, Emma Bates has taken the lead and is setting the pace. Some may remember Bates taking the same tack the prior year.

More Boston News:

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)
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