Splits the PRRO Championship Bonus with Veronica Loleo
July 13, 2025 (Utica, NY) John Korir of Kenya won the 2025 Boilermaker Road Race by a landslide, finishing in 42:44. Korir spent most of the race after the golf course neck and neck with Hillary Kipkoech of Kenya, but pulled ahead after mile 8 and maintained a solid lead. Kipkoech finished second in 43:08.
Last year’s winner of the open women’s division, Grace Loibach Nawowuna of Kenya, was narrowly defeated by Veronica Loleo of Kenya by just three seconds. She finished in 49:37.
Both Loleo and Korir were eligible for the PRRO championship bonus and split the prize pool of twenty thousand dollars. As a result of their win, they will both be eligible for the next PRRO championship held at the Bix-7 in Iowa in 2026.
Biya Simbassa of Flagstaff, Arizona, maintained his title as the American champion, finishing the race in 43:28 and placing third overall. Local runner turned elite athlete, Jessie Cardin, returned to the course to win the women’s American division in 50:28.
In the wheelchair field, there was an upset as Miguel Jimenez Vergarga of California defeated the winner of the field for the last two years, Canadian Josh Cassidy, by ten seconds, finishing in 34:50. The 2025 Women’s Wheelchair Open Division had a repeat winner in Hoda Elshorbagy of Illinois, finishing in 41:45.
27-year-old Brandon Moran of Somerville, MA, won the 5K Road Race presented by Utica National in 16:06. Juliet Hull, of Belmont, NC, won the women’s open division of the 5K at 19:08.
This year’s 15K race saw 8470 finishers, with 3970 crossing the finish line for the 5K, up from 7967 and 3663, respectively, in 2024.
“This year’s Boilermaker was truly memorable,” said Mark Donovan, Boilermaker president. “The energy at the 48th Boilermaker was electric, and the numbers keep increasing, further demonstrating the strong community and widespread support for this race. We could not make this event what it is without our civic partners, sponsors, volunteers, and Boilermaker Nation.”
John Korir of Kenya, winner of this year’s Boilermaker 15K presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, crossing the finish line.
Recognized as the “Best 15K in the USA”, the Boilermaker Road Race is in its 48th year. The Boilermaker, a proud member of the PRRO Circuit, is the premier event of Boilermaker Weekend. The race consistently attracts elite runners from all over the world, including Olympians and world record holders, and features distance running’s most enthusiastic fans and the sport’s best post-race party, hosted by The F.X. Matt Brewing Company. To register for other Boilermaker events, visit the official Boilermaker website at boilermaker.com.