BOSTON— 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; and 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion Sharon LokediHelah 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.”

 

2024 PARALYMPIAN SCARONI RETURNS AHEAD OF PARIS GAMES

 

Not even a loose wheel could stop Susannah Scaroni from winning the 2023 Boston Marathon Wheelchair Division. Scaroni etched her name in history with a 5:10 margin of victory, breaking the tape in 1:41:45. She’s back in Boston racing with hopes of repeating.

 

“I always look forward to competing at the Boston Marathon and am very excited to joining an incredible women’s field again this year to try and defend my title,” said Scaroni.

 

Challengers to Scaroni include four-time Boston Marathon champion and course record holder Manuela Schär of Switzerland and reigning Paralympic Marathon gold medalist Madison de Rozario of Australia. American Jenna Fesemyer, winner of the 2023 B.A.A. Half Marathon in November, and Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida, five-time winner and third place a year ago, will make a case for the podium.

 

FAMILIAR FACES & NEWCOMERS HEADLINE PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS

 

Liz Willis (T64, lower limb impairment) returns to Boston not only as defending champion, but also as a world record holder having run 1:45:20 at November’s B.A.A. Half Marathon.

It is exciting to see the Para field expanding as more adaptive women have been encouraged to join the marathon community,” said Willis. “Growth equates to progress working for the betterment of society which ultimately increases the competitive field. I am excited to see so many athletes whom I now call friends returning while also eager to meet many new runners. I anticipate this race to be swifter than ever before! May we rise in strength beyond the once thought impossible.”

 

Nicole ver Kuilen, second to Willis in last year’s T63-T64 division, is also back, as is past podium finisher and ultra-marathoner Jacky Hunt-Broersma. New to the Boston Marathon is Kelly Bruno (T64), an accomplished ultra-marathoner, triathlete, and Survivor contestant.

 

BANK OF AMERICA SUPPORTING ALL PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

 

Boston Marathon presenting partner Bank of America is supporting all top contenders as part of the Bank of America Professional Athlete Team. Athletes in the Open, Wheelchair, and Para Athletics Divisions will be competing for more than $1 million in prize money.

 

A course record bonus of $50,000 is available for open and wheelchair athletes, and Para Athletics Division prize money will be offered across seven impairment classifications (increased from five in previous years). A complete prize purse breakdown is available here.

 

 

126th Boston Marathon Professional Women’s Fields

 

 Women’s Open Division

Country

Personal Best

Tadu Teshome

ETH

2:17:36 (Valencia, 2022)

Worknesh Degefa

ETH

2:17:41 (Dubai, 2019)

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

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+)

 

Wheelchair Division

Country

Personal Best

Classification

Susannah Scaroni

USA

1:27:31

T54

Manuela Schär

SUI

1:28:17

T54

Madison de Rosario

AUS

1:31:11

T53

Jenna Fesemyer

USA

1:33:50

T54

Wakako Tsuchida

JPN

1:34:06

T54

Marie Emmanuelle Naomi Alphonse

MRI

1:35:14

T54

Christie Dawes

AUS

1:37:12

T54

Vanessa Cristina de Souza

BRA

1:40:23

T54

Aline dos Santos Rocha

BRA

1:41:39

T54

Michelle Wheeler

USA

1:45:45

T54

Patricia Eachus

SUI

1:47:06

T54

Eden Rainbow Cooper

GBR

1:47:27

T54

Yen Hoang

USA

1:47:29

T53

Emelia Perry

USA

1:49:55

T54

Hoda Elshorbagy

USA

1:58:38

T53

Eva Houston

USA

1:59:49

T34

Hannah Dedrick

USA

2:02:23

T54

Carmen Ginenez Abad

ESP

2:14:48

T54

 

 

Para Athletics Divisions

Country

Classification

Jacky Hunt-Broersma

USA

T64 (Lower-limb impairment)

Kelly Bruno

USA

T64 (Lower-limb impairment)

Livea Flor Pereira Rodrigues

BRA

T12 (Vision Impairment)

Liz Willis

USA

T64 (Lower-limb impairment)

Nicole Ver Kuilen

USA

T64 (Lower-limb impairment)

 

 

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.) 

 

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit baa.org