Boston marathon: Korir smashes course record as Kenya dominates race

BOSTON: Kenya’s John Korir delivered a record-breaking performance on Monday, retaining his Boston Marathon title and rewriting history with a stunning course record of 2 hours, 1 minute and 52 seconds.

The 130th edition of the world’s oldest marathon witnessed a dominant Kenyan display, as Sharon Lokedi also successfully defended her women’s crown, finishing in 2:18:51. Lokedi, who had set a course record last year, once again showcased her consistency at the elite level.

In the men’s race, Korir took control after the 20-mile mark, breaking away from Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha and never looking back. Running solo for the final stretch, he powered through the closing miles to surpass the long-standing course record set in 2011 by fellow Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai.

His final mile, clocked at an impressive 4 minutes and 26 seconds, underlined his dominance. As he approached the finish line, Korir was seen smiling broadly and playfully sticking out his tongue, celebrating a historic run.

Despite chilly conditions at the start, around 7°C, with a clear sky and mild tailwind, the race produced high-intensity performances and record-breaking moments that highlighted Kenya’s continued dominance in distance running.