The world record holder and favorite to win the Boston Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge, finished sixth in the 2023 race. His loss against fellow Kenyan Evans Chebet has cast doubt on his ability to win his third Olympic marathon and complete the World Marathon Majors sweep. Chebet was the first male runner since 2008 to win consecutive Boston marathons, finishing in 2:05:54.
Kipchoge was dropped at the 19-mile mark in his Boston Marathon debut owing to the race’s legendary hills in the middle. Kipchoge, who has two Olympic gold medals and two world records, has won four of the six World Marathon Majors but has never won the Boston or New York City Marathons. This spring, he chose to race in Boston rather than London, his usual venue.
Kipchoge, who has only lost three out of 18 career marathons, is expected to race two more marathons before the Paris Olympics. He aspires to be the first person in history to win three Olympic marathons, and he will be over 40 years old when he participates.
Obiri wins her first marathon
Kenyan runner Obiri won the women’s race in the 2023 Boston Marathon in 2:21:38, defeating a strong field of rivals. Former world champion and Olympic silver winner in the 5,000 meters, Obiri made her marathon debut in 2022, finishing second in London. In Boston, she exhibited her endurance and grit by breaking away from the pack in the final kilometers to win. Her victory adds to her strong history and cements her position as a prominent contender in the marathon circuit. Emma Bates finished fifth as the highest American woman.
Swiss Marcel Hug won his sixth Boston title and broke his course record in the wheelchair race, while American Susannah Scaroni won the women’s race, ending the three-year winning streak of Swiss Manuela Schär. Schär was second after 20 miles but had to withdraw due to a flat tire.
Kenyan Evans Chebet Repeats as Boston Marathon Champion
While Chebet’s win may have surprised some, Kipchoge’s loss has sparked questions about his ability to continue dominating the marathon scene. He has yet to speak to the media about his defeat, but he remains optimistic, posting on social media, “In sports you win and you lose, and there is always tomorrow to set a new challenge.”
Kipchoge’s sixth-place finish has raised concerns about his potential to win his third Olympic marathon and complete the World Marathon Majors sweep. Prior to this race, the Kenyan had only lost two marathons out of 18, therefore his sixth-place finish was a low point in his career. Only time will tell if this is just a bad day for the record-holder or if we have seen the beginning of Kipchoge’s demise.
