"When it comes to Boston, for me it becomes more than a race. The city is special, and special for me too. I have raced there so many times across different distances and the buzz from the fans all along the course is incredible and I even got married in Boston!"

— MARY NGUGI, RUNNER-UP IN 2021 AND THIRD PLACE LAST YEAR  

chapter in my Abbott World Marathon Majors journey,” said Kipchoge, who seeks to win all six of the Majors. “Good luck to all the runners running Boston in 2023.”

While this will be Gebreslase’s first Boston Marathon, she’s no rookie to the roads of the Bay State: over the course of her career Gebreslase’s finished runner-up at the B.A.A. Half Marathon twice and has placed in the top-five three times at the B.A.A. 5K on Patriots’ Day weekend. Beyond winning a world title in 2022, Gebreslase placed third at both the Tokyo Marathon and New York City Marathon last year.

“I am very happy to compete in the Boston Marathon 2023, as Boston is one of the most famous races in the world,” said Gebreslase. “It has long been a dream of mine to win the race. When I was a young track athlete, I raced many times in Boston in indoor races and then on the roads in the B.A.A. 5K. So, I am very excited and happy to bring my career full circle and come back to Boston now as the World Champion with a chance to add the Boston Marathon Champion to my resume! See you on the start line!” 

BOSTON CHAMPS RETURN  

A total of 12 Boston Marathon champions will line up in Hopkinton aiming to add another olive wreath to their collection. Evans Chebet, Daniel Romanchuk, and Manuela Schär each broke the tape first last year, and are riding hot streaks heading into Boston. Chebet added a New York City Marathon title in November 2022, while Romanchuk won the B.A.A. Half Marathon last fall. Schär is a four-time Boston winner and holds the course record, 1:28:17. 

Also returning are Benson Kipruto and Edna Kiplagat, the 2021 open division winners, plus Lelisa Desisa, Atsede Baysa and Joshua Cassidy. Ernst van Dyk, the all-time most decorated Boston Marathoner in history with ten wheelchair titles, is back as well. 

Don’t forget the Swiss Silver Bullet, Marcel Hug. After setting a course record at the 2022 B.A.A. 5K (10:04), Hug unfortunately had to withdraw from last year’s Marathon the night before the race. He’s returning with hopes of not only another title, but also bettering his 1:18:04 course record. (continued on next page)

"Boston is more than simply a place for me to race. It has become so familiar to me that just the idea of making the journey there once again gets me kind of emotional. Even now, in these months to come, I promise to concentrate and dedicate my time and training to be at my best and to ensure that I will honor this special opportunity, once again. Thank you Boston for having me back!"

— BENSON KIPRUTO, 2021 BOSTON CHAMPION