Defending champion Sisay Lemma leads Boston Marathon 2025 elite field

Addis Ababa, January 9, 2025 (FMC) – Defending Boston Marathon champion Sisay Lemma and 2023 marathon world champion Amane Beriso of Ethiopia are among the many star names in the elite fields for the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on 21 April.

Not only is Sisay Lemma the defending champion, he is also the fastest entrant in the men’s field. His PB of 2:01:48, set when winning in Valencia in 2023, makes him the fourth-fastest marathon runner in history.

“I was very happy after winning the Boston Marathon last year, and in 2025 I know it will be an even bigger challenge to win again,” said Lemma. “I was unlucky, because of an injury, not to be able to participate at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and I was not completely ready at the Valencia Marathon last December, but I will be 100% ready in April because the Boston Marathon is a special event.”

Five of the top seven men’s finishers from last year’s Boston Marathon return, including two-time winner Evans Chebet, who was third last year. Chicago Marathon champion John Korir and fellow Kenyan Albert Korir, who finished fourth and fifth respectively last year, will also return.

Cybrian Kotut and Haymanot Alew were second and third at last year’s Berlin Marathon and both have lifetime bests inside 2:04. World champion Victor Kiplangat seeks to become the first Ugandan man to win in Boston, while two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris will be making his marathon debut.

Other leading names include two-time Boston winner Lelisa Desisa, Kenya’s Daniel Mateiko, Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu, Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana, Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba and Ethiopia’s Yemane Haileselassie.

In the women’s field, the 2023 marathon world champion Amane Beriso (2:14:58) of Ethiopia and her compatriot Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:16:52) will go head to head against Kenya’s Helen Obiri (2:23:10) and other elite runners at the event in April.