Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 New York Marathon champion, delivered a stunning performance to win the 2025 Boston Marathon, clocking a course record time of 2:17:22.
In doing so, she shattered the previous record of 2:19:59, held since 2014 by Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba.
Lokedi, 31, finally stepped out of the shadows to claim her place at the top, edging out her compatriot and training partner Hellen Obiri in a dramatic head-to-head finish.
Known for trailing Obiri in recent years, Lokedi flipped the script in spectacular fashion.
“I feel great. I am so excited,” said Lokedi, moments after crossing the finish line.
Reflecting on her journey and her friendly rivalry with Obiri, she added, “She is a great competitor. I always finished second to her, and today she pushed me hard.”
Setting a new course record made the victory even sweeter. “It is unbelievable,” she said, beaming with emotion.
For the past three years, Lokedi had consistently finished behind Obiri—third at the 2023 New York Marathon, second at the 2024 Boston Marathon, and fourth at the Paris Olympics. But in Boston, she turned the tables.
As the race neared its climax, the final two kilometres became a duel between the two Kenyans.
Obiri closely shadowed Lokedi, biding her time to make a move. But Lokedi, unfazed, kicked into high gear with one kilometre to go, sprinting ahead and never looking back.
At the finish, overwhelmed by a mix of joy and disbelief, Lokedi didn’t forget to acknowledge Obiri’s role in her journey. “She pushed me to be better,” she said, her smile stretching ear to ear.
Lokedi’s victory was more than symbolic—it was lucrative. She walked away with $150,000 (Sh19.5 million) for her win, plus an additional $50,000 (Sh6.5 million) bonus for breaking the course record.
Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw took third place with a time of 2:18:06, also under the previous course record, cementing this race as the fastest women’s edition in Boston Marathon history.
