Boston names its 2026 fields: Korir and Lokedi defend, 25 men under 2:07
The B.A.A. announced the professional fields for the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, led by defending champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi.
Photograph: John Korir on his way to winning the 2025 Boston Marathon, in Brighton, by 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Boston Athletic Association released the men's professional field for the 130th Boston Marathon on Wednesday, a day after the women's. The race is on Monday, April 20.
Defending champion John Korir, who ran 2:02:24 to win Valencia in December, returns with last year's runner-up Alphonce Felix Simbu and third-placed Cybrian Kotut. Benson Kipruto, the fastest man in the field at 2:02:16, is back for the first time since 2023. Abdi Nageeye, Hailemaryam Kiros and Alex Masai, who makes his Boston debut, are all under 2:05. The B.A.A. counts 25 men who have broken 2:07, and Citius Mag counts ten under 2:05 and eight of last year's top ten returning.
The Americans are led by Conner Mantz, whose 2:04:43 in Chicago is the national record, with Galen Rupp, Clayton Young, Ryan Ford, CJ Albertson and Alex Maier, and Zouhair Talbi, fresh from his 2:05:45 in Houston. Canada's Rory Linkletter is entered at 2:06:49.
Sharon Lokedi, who won last year in 2:17:22, heads the women's field. Irine Cheptai at 2:17:51, Workenesh Edesa at 2:17:55, Magdalena Shauri and Joan Melly are all inside 2:18:05, and FloTrack counts eleven women under 2:20 and thirty under 2:26. Emily Sisson, Keira D'Amato, Sara Hall, Susanna Sullivan, Fiona O'Keeffe and Jess McClain lead a large American group.
Three months out, the list is the race. On paper this is as deep as Boston has been, and the Americans are not there to make up numbers.
Sources: Boston Athletic Association via Endurance Sportswire; Citius Mag; FloTrack.
