24 men under 2:07 — nothing like it outside the Olympics
The Boston Marathon turns 130 this year. And the 2026 edition is shaping up as the deepest race in the event's history, at least on the men's side. For the first time outside an Olympic Games or World Championship, 24 men with personal bests under 2:07 are on the start list in Hopkinton. Not 10. Not 15. Twenty-four.
The numbers are staggering. The depth is so extreme that the sixth or seventh finisher could win almost any other World Major this year.
The two main contenders: Kipruto and Korir
Benson Kipruto holds the fastest personal best in the field at 2:02:16, set at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. He's also done something nobody else has managed: win Chicago, Boston, and New York. He comes in as the man to beat.
Defending champion John Korir won Boston 2025 in 2:04:45, then lowered his personal best to 2:02:24 in Valencia in December. He's not here to finish second.
American Conner Mantz (2:04:43 in Chicago 2025, the US record) is the top home hope. An American winning Boston in 2026 would be a major story.
Women's race: Lokedi defends her course record
Sharon Lokedi ran Boston 2025 in 2:17:22, setting a new course record. She's back to defend. Her main challengers are Irine Cheptai (winner in Osaka and Hamburg in 2025) and Workenesh Edesa (second at Shanghai 2025).
One more historic note about this edition: all four defending open and wheelchair champions — Korir, Lokedi, Marcel Hug, and Susannah Scaroni — are returning to defend. According to the BAA, that's never happened before in the race's history.
Why this Boston matters beyond the results
Boston isn't a flat, fast course. The net downhill from Hopkinton, followed by the iconic Heartbreak Hill at mile 20, makes it a different kind of race. Times here are historically 90 to 120 seconds slower than on record-eligible circuits.
And yet, 24 men under 2:07 showing up for this race is proof that global marathon depth has hit an entirely new level since 2020. The field quality once reserved for world championships is now showing up at the classic majors.
Race day: Monday, April 20, 2026. Worth clearing your schedule for.
Sources: Boston Athletic Association, CITIUS Mag