Strongest Women’s Field in the race history at Boston Marathon 2024
The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will feature the strongest women’s field in race history, led by defending champions Hellen Obiri and Susannah Scaroni. A total of 19 women with personal bests under 2:23:00 will line up in Hopkinton aiming to earn the Open Division crown, including Olympians, Abbott World Marathon Majors winners, and national stars. In the Wheelchair and Para Athletics Divisions, Paralympic hopefuls from around the world are set to compete.
“The Boston Marathon is proud to showcase the world’s best athletes year in and year out on Patriots’ Day,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “This year’s women’s field is exceptionally fast and showcases many who’ve been podium finishers on the global stage. It’ll make for an exciting race from Hopkinton to Boston, and we look forward to crowning our champions on April 15.”
Women from 20 countries will be competing as part of the Bank of America Professional Athlete Team.
“Each year, the Boston Marathon sets the bar higher with an unbelievable level of athletic talent, and its impact on communities around the world,” said David Tyrie, chief digital officer and chief marketing officer, Bank of America. “The 128th Boston Marathon builds on a rich history and will continue to be an inspiration for all athletes.”
HELLEN OBIRI SET TO DEFEND OPEN DIVISION TITLE
Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist from Kenya now living in Colorado, won the 2023 Boston Marathon thanks to a perfectly-timed sprint in the final mile. Adding to her trophy case, Obiri also took home the 2023 B.A.A. 10K title in June and the TCS New York City Marathon crown in November.
“I am excited to return to the 2024 Boston Marathon to try to defend my title,” said Obiri, who finished last year’s race in 2:21:38. “Boston is an historic race and I would like to add my name further to its history on April 15. Winning such an historic marathon with my family waiting at the finish line was an amazing experience.”
A trifecta of Ethiopians with lifetime bests under 2:18:00 will take to the Boston course. Worknesh Degefa, the 2019 Boston Marathon champion, returns, while 2:17:36 marathoner Tadu Teshome will make her Boston debut and Hiwot Gebremaryam aims to improve upon her eighth-place finish last year. Also from Ethiopia is World championships medalist Senbere Teferi; she won the 2022 B.A.A. 5K in a course record 14:49 and has shown talent at the longer distances. Experienced marathoner Ababel Yeshaneh –second in 2022 and fourth in 2023— will try to become the seventh woman from Ethiopia to win the olive wreath in Boston.
Joining Obiri from Kenya are 2022 World Athletics Championships Marathon silver medalist Judith Korir; two-time Boston Marathon winner Edna Kiplagat; four-time top-ten finisher Mary Ngugi-Cooper; and 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi. Helah Kiprop, who holds a silver medal in the marathon from the 2015 World Athletics Championships and has earned wins in Tokyo, Copenhagen, and Paris, makes her second career Boston start. From Morocco is 2023 World Athletics Championships Marathon bronze medalist Fatima Gardadi.
Desiree Linden leads the American contingent six years after winning the 2018 title. Linden has finished in the top-five five times, and holds the third fastest time by an American ever on the Hopkinton-to-Boston route (2:22:38). Linden will run her fifth U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February. Joining her is Emma Bates who finished fifth last year in the second-fastest time ever by an American woman at Boston (2:22:10).
“At this point in my career it’s an easy decision to return to the Boston Marathon and make it my top priority race of the spring,” said Linden. “I can’t wait to take on the iconic course for an 11th time and have the opportunity to mix it up with some of the best runners in the world.”
128TH BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S FIELDS
Women’s Open Division
Country
Personal Best
Worknesh Degefa
ETH
2:15:51 (Valencia, 2023)
Tadu Teshome
ETH
2:17:36 (Valencia, 2022)
Hiwot Gebremaryam
ETH
2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
Judith Korir
KEN
2:18:20 (Eugene, 2022)
Meseret Belete
ETH
2:18:21 (Amsterdam, 2023)
Tiruye Mesfin
ETH
2:18:47 (Valencia, 2022)
Worknesh Edesa
ETH
2:18:51 (Berlin, 2022)
Zeineba Yimer
ETH
2:19:07 (Berlin 2023)
Senbere Teferi
ETH
2:19:21 (Berlin, 2023)
Dera Dida
ETH
2:19:24 (Berlin, 2023)
Edna Kiplagat
KEN
2:19:50 (London, 2012)*
Mary Ngugi-Cooper
KEN
2:20:22 (London, 2022)
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet
ERI
2:20:29 (Eugene) NR
Ababel Yeshaneh
ETH
2:20:51 (Chicago, 2019)
Vibian Chepkirui
KEN
2:20:59 (Vienna, 2022)
Helah Kiprop
KEN
2:21:27 (Tokyo, 2016)
Hellen Obiri
KEN
2:21:38 (Boston, 2023)
Emma Bates
USA
2:22:10 (Boston, 2023)
Desiree Linden
USA
2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)*
Buze Diriba
ETH
2:23:11 (Toronto, 2023)
Sharon Lokedi
KEN
2:23:23 (New York City, 2022)
Malindi Elmore
CAN
2:23:30 (Berlin, 2023)*
Fatima Gardadi
MOR
2:24:12 (Xiamen, 2024)
Angie Orjuela
COL
2:25:35 (Berlin, 2023) NR
Fabienne Konigstein
GER
2:25:48 (Hamburg, 2023)
Jackie Gaughan
USA
2:27:08 (Berlin, 2023)
Dominique Scott
RSA
2:27:31 (Chicago, 2023)
Grace Kahura
KEN
2:29:00 (Sacramento, 2023)
Katie Kellner
USA
2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)
Briana Boehmer
USA
2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Dylan Hassett
IRL
2:33:25 (Pulford, 2021)
Parley Hannan
USA
2:33:43 (Carmel, 2023)
Sara Lopez
USA
2:33:48 (Eugene, 2023)
Annie Heffernan
USA
2:34:33 (Lowell, 2023)
Nera Jareb
AUS
2:35:00 (Queensland, 2022)*
Johanna Backlund
SWE
2:35:10 (Hamburg, 2019)
Argentina Valdepenas Cerna
MEX
2:35:34 (Chicago, 2022)*
Ariane Hendrix Roach
USA
2:35:39 (Sacramento, 2022)
Michelle Krezonoski
CAN
2:36:39 (Sacramento, 2022)
Shannon Smith
USA
2:36:43 (Columbus, 2023)
Caroline Williams
USA
2:37:01 (Sacramento, 2022)
Gina Rouse
USA
2:37:10 (Sacramento, 2023)*
Kim Krezonoski
CAN
2:37:20 (Sacramento, 2022)
Abigail Corrigan
USA
2:37:45 (Sacramento, 2023)
Marissa Lenger
USA
2:38:41 (Chicago, 2022)
Emilee Risteen
USA
2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)
Isabelle Pickett
AUS
2:38:46 (Valencia, 2023)
Allie Hackett
USA
2:38:52 (Duluth, 2023
Mary Christensen
USA
2:38:55 (Big Bear, 2023)
Olivia Anger
USA
2:39:13 (Indianapolis, 2023)
April Lund
USA
2:39:23 (Houston, 2022)*
Sarah Short
AUS
2:39:51 (Valencia, 2023)
Maura Lemon
USA
2:40:30 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Sarah Sibert
USA
2:40:31 (Philadelphia, 2022)
Lauren Ames
USA
2:40:34 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Kassie Harmon
USA
2:41:48 (Utah Valley, 2023)*
Elizabeth Camy
USA
2:42:51 (Sacramento, 2022)*
Alexandra Niles
USA
2:43:23 (Hartford, 2022)*
Amber Morrison
USA
2:43:50 (Sacramento, 2022)*
Mindy Mammen
USA
2:44:01 (Duluth, 2023)*
Ziyang Liu
USA
2:44:56 (Eugene, 2023)*
*Denotes Masters Division (40+)
posted Wednesday January 10th