On Monday, April 15, 30,000 athletes from around the globe set out to compete in the 2024 Boston Marathon. The 128th iteration of the historic race was run in warmer conditions with a starting temperature of about 62 degrees with 58 percent humidity. Sisay Lemma won the men’s race in 2:06:17 after pulling away early and Hellen Obiri repeated as the women’s champion, crossing the line in 2:22:37. Rob Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl-winning tight end with the New England Patriots, served as the grand marshal of the race.
Here are the highlights.
Sisay Lemma runs away from the men’s field to win Boston
Two years after dropping out of the race, Sisay Lemma earned redemption in Boston. On Monday morning, the 33-year-old won the Boston Marathon in 2:06:17. A blazing early pace catapulted the Ethiopian father of two to his second World Marathon Major victory. Esa Mohamed finished second in 2:06:58. Two-time champion Evans Chebet Best Big City Marathons.
The men’s race got off to a surprising start with Lemma running away from the field. The pack strung out early as he led a group of nine through the first 5K in 14:21. Lemma broke away for good just after 5K, eventually flying through 10K in 28:28, 25 seconds ahead of the eight-man chase pack led by Chebet. Lemma continued to soar through halfway (1:00:19) well under course-record pace.
For a time, his lead continued to grow in the second half with the chase pack—including Chebet, Esa, Cybrian Kotut, John Korir, and Albert Korir—trailing by 2:21 at 25K. Heartbreak Hill didn’t phase Lemma, who pulled away even farther in Newton.
The quick early pace started to catch up with Lemma in the last seven miles or so. He made his way through 35K in 1:42:56, 21 seconds slower than Geoffrey Mutai’s split when he set the 2:03:02 course record in 2011. Meanwhile, the gap started to close slightly with Chebet, Esa, and John Korir battling for the final podium spots.
While the course record was no longer in jeopardy, Lemma remained steadfast in his title pursuit all the way to Boylston Street. The Boston Marathon victory adds to his growing collection of hardware. He won the 2021 London Marathon, and last year, took top honors at the Valencia Marathon in 2:01:48, making him the fourth-fastest marathoner in history.
Marcel Hug wins 11th consecutive World Marathon Major
Marcel Hug claimed his seventh Boston Marathon victory in a new course record. The Swiss athlete shattered the time, winning Monday’s race in 1:15:33.
Hug pulled away from the field from the gun and remained unchallenged for the rest of the race despite crashing into a barrier around midway on the course. By halfway, the athlete nicknamed “The Silver Bullet” was on pace to shatter the 1:17:06 course record he set last year. In the first 13.1, he built a 3:35 lead over David Weir and Daniel Romanchuk. He powered through the second half solo to make history once again.
The world record-holder earned a bonus of $50,000 for breaking the record on top of the $40,000 for winning the race.
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Eden Rainbow-Cooper emerges with first World Marathon Major win
In the days leading up to the women’s wheelchair race, defending champion Susannah Scaroni Best Folding Treadmills. Shoes & Gear.
Just six weeks after finishing second at the Tokyo Marathon, Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s title in 1:35:11. The unsponsored British athlete established an early lead and held it for the rest of the race despite a hard-charging Manuela Schär attempting to close the gap in the final miles. At just 22 years old, Rainbow-Cooper held off the four-time Boston Marathon champion and earned $40,000 for the victory. Schär finished second in 1:36:41.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
