JOHN HANCOCK PROFESSIONAL FIELD PREVIEW  

FAST FACTS  

27 Countries Represented  

12 BOSTON MARATHON CHAMPIONS RETURN

$ 50,000 COURSE RECORD BONUS AVAILABLE TO ANY OPEN OR WHEELCHAIR DIVISION ATHLETE WHO BREAKS A COURSE RECORD

COURSE RECORDS:  

DID YOU KNOW: Each champion receives an olive wreath that has been dipped in gold. The olive wreaths are donated by the Consul General of Greece and Alpha Omega Council. 

10 YEARS AGO: After the tragic events of April 15, 2013, winner Lelisa Desisa donated his champion’s medal to the City of Boston as a way to honor those affected by the attacks on Boylston Street. Now a two-time champion, Desisa returns aiming for his fifth Boston Marathon podium. “There is no one in athletics who will be more focused than me this spring in racing, as I look to once again win the Boston Marathon. Ten years since my first victory – I understand what this anniversary means and I would love nothing more than to put my name into the history of the race again. I stand with the people of Boston and I will be running the race of my life for you all. We are Boston Strong!” says Desisa.

INTERNATIONAL CONTENDERS  

Making their Boston Marathon debuts are three athletes who notched impressive breakthrough performances in 2022: Israel’s Lonah Salpeter, Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, and Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso. Last year Salpeter earned a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships Marathon then placed second at the TCS New York City Marathon. Lokedi, a former NCAA champion at the University of Kansas, claimed victory in her debut marathon in New York City last fall, while Beriso ran the third fastest marathon time in history —2:14:58—to win Valencia and set a new national record in December.

Last year’s second- and third-place women’s finishers, Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia and Mary Ngugi of Kenya, both return with hopes of claiming the top spot on the podium. Yeshaneh came within four seconds of victory, while Ngugi has placed second and third in Boston. Also back is Joyciline Jepkosgei, a past winner of the New York City and London Marathons.

On the men's side, Tanzanian national record holder and 2018 B.A.A. 10K winner Gabriel Geay enters after finishing runner-up at the Valencia Marathon in 2:03:00. Albert Korir of Kenya (2021 New York City champion), Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea (2015 World Championships gold medalist and 2016 New York City champion), and Shura Kitata of Ethiopia (2020 London Marathon champion) each