2024 BOSTON MARATHON

Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia made it sure that he would finish the race after dropping out in the 2022 Boston Marathon. Lemma, 33, didn’t just finish the marathon but won in 2:06:17, the 10th fastest time in Boston history. Lemma’s best finish in Boston was 30th place in 2019. Mohamed Esa, also of Ethiopia came, in second in 2:06:58 with defending champion Chebet Evans settling for third in 2:07:22. John Korir and Albert Korir of Kenya finished fourth and fifth in 2:07:40 and 2:07:47, respectively. Isaac Mpopo of Ethiopia pocketed sixth in 2:08:17. American C.J. Albertson was seventh in 2:09:53. The rest of the top 10 in the men’s race are 8th Morii Yuma (Japan-2:09:59), 9th Cybrian Kotut ( Kenya-2:10:29), and 10th Talbi Zouhait (Morocco-2:10:45). Talbi won second place in the NYC Half Marathon last March 17, 2024.

Women’s Division

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri made it two in a row when she won the women’s race in 2:23:37 to become the first back-to-back champion since Catherine Endereba, also from Kenya, won two straight in 2004 and 2008.  Obiri, who also won the 2023 New York Marathon, shook off Sharon Lokedi in the homestretch for the close win. Lokedi settled for second in 2:22:45, while the ageless Edna Kiplagat 44, grabbed third place in 2:23:21. That’s a 1-2-3 finish for Kenya. The rest of the top 10 are 4th Diriba Buze (Ethiopia-2:24:04)5th Teferi Senbere (Ethiopia 2:24:04), 6th Ngugi Mary (Kenya-2:24:24), 7th Edesa Workenesh (Ethiopia 2:24:47),8th Fatima Gardadi (Morocco- 2:24:53) 9th Mesfin Teruye (Ethiopia-2:24:58), and Dera Dida (Ethiopia-2:24:58)

BEIJING HALF MARATHON FIASCO

The top four finishers of the Beijing Half Marathon have been stripped of their medals and cash prizes after allowing Chinese marathon star He Jie to hit the finish line first. The trio, Kenya’s Robert Koter and Willy Mnangat, and Ethiopia’s Dejane Hailu , deliberately slowed down and allowed He to go ahead. He won the marathon gold in the 2023  Asian Games in Hangzhou and is China’s marathon record holder. The organizing committee didn’t believe Mnangat who said they were pacers. In Cebuano lingo, “Gisurambaw sa mga Africans ang dagan” (The Africans rigged the race).

NOTES:Maricel Laxa Pangilinan earned the Abbott Six Star medal after completing this year’s Boston Marathon. The 54-year old Maricel has finished Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York marathons in over a decade. Maricel’s daughter Hanna also ran and finished this year’s marathon under four hours while former VP Leni Robredo’s daughter Tricia ran the 5k leg of the race. Anthony, Maricel’s husband, earned his Six Star medal before the pandemic.