BOSTON – Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma was thrilled to “redeem” himself on April 15, as he attacked early and held on for a dominant victory in the Boston Marathon after failing to finish in 2022.
The 33-year-old seized control in the opening stages and built a lead of more than two minutes by the halfway mark on the way to victory in 2hr 6min 17sec.
By the time those chasing could make any inroads on his lead, it was too late and Lemma finished 41 seconds ahead of compatriot Mohamed Esa – who surged late to grab second ahead of Kenyan Evans Chebet, who was denied a third straight Boston title.
The victory was all the more satisfying on a course where Lemma had failed to finish in 2022 and placed 30th in 2019.
“I was able to redeem myself, so I’m happy,” he told ESPN.
“My plan was to break the course record.
“But it’s so hilly, up and down, and that took a lot (out of me) and made me tired.”
Lemma, whose personal best of 2:01:48 makes him the fourth-fastest marathoner in history, was on pace to shatter the 42.195km Boston course record of 2:03:02, set in 2011 by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai.
However, the draining hills on the second half of the course took their toll and his lead dwindled as Chebet and Kenyan John Korir pushed the pace over the final kilometres.
Lemma had enough left to preserve his lead as behind him Esa charged from fifth at the 37km mark, passing both Chebet and Korir to seize second place.
Lemma added that the challenges posed by the course were perfect preparation for the Paris Olympics marathon.
“The reason I came to run in Boston was because the Boston Marathon is similar to the Paris marathon – up and down the hills. It will help me there,” he said.
His gritty wire-to-wire victory was a marked contrast to the late push Kenyan Hellen Obiri delivered to win her second straight women’s title in 2:22:37.
In a race that saw 19 women clustered in a leading group at the halfway point, Obiri and compatriots Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat finally separated themselves in the final 5km.
Obiri and Lokedi ran shoulder to shoulder before the former pulled away late on, Lokedi finishing eight seconds back and Kiplagat completing the Kenyan podium sweep 44 seconds adrift.
Obiri became the first woman to repeat as Boston champion since Catherine Ndereba of Kenya in 2004-05.
“It was not easy because there were so many strong ladies,” said the 34-year-old, who embraced her daughter, Tania, at the finish line and draped her medal around the eight-year-old’s neck.
“I say, ‘Can I give up?’ and I say ‘No, let me fight up to 10km’. And then I say... ‘2km to go, I am also strong, let me try to push’.”
Obiri, a two-time world champion at 5,000m who has cemented her marathoner status with three victories in four major marathon starts, also said that so far her Olympic season is going exactly to plan.
“Last year I was not familiar with the marathon,” she said.
“This year my training was perfect and we trusted everything we were doing.”
The Kenyan, who also has cross-country and indoor world titles on her resume, is hoping that despite the fierce competition to make the team for Paris, the marathon could be her ticket to the Olympic gold that has eluded her.
“I’m seeing myself there,” said Obiri, who earned 5,000m silver at the 2016 Rio Games and the Tokyo edition in 2021. AFP
