Kenya’s Korir successfully defends Boston Marathon title; Canadian Linkletter posts personal-best time

Defending champion John Korir broke the Boston Marathon course record on Monday, riding a tailwind to outrun the strongest field in the event’s 130-year history and win in two hours one minute 42 seconds, the fifth-fastest marathon of all time.

Rory Linkletter continues to close in on the Canadian men’s record after recording a personal-best time on a sunny and cool morning.

On national record pace through 25 kilometres, the Calgary-born runner tailed off by the 32 km mark. However, Linkletter fought his way to the 42.2 km finish in two hours six minutes four seconds, 45 seconds faster than his Chicago performance last Oct. 12.

Linkletter was 14th in his 15th marathon after finishing sixth a year ago in 2:07:02.

Cam Levins of Black Creek, B.C., has held the 2:05:36 Canadian record since March 2023 when he also set the North American mark in Tokyo that American Conner Mantz of the United States lowered to 2:04:43 last fall in Chicago.

Last year’s Boston performance was redemption for Linkletter after an “atrocious” debut there in 2021 led to a 33rd-place finish after the Flagstaff, Ariz., resident was in the lead pack a little over halfway through the race.

Three months ago, Linkletter finished the Houston Half Marathon in 59 minutes 49 seconds, the first-ever Canadian under one hour, and beat former record holder Levins by 69 seconds.

Linkletter also ran half marathons in Mesa, Ariz. (1:02:14), and New York City (1:00:00) during his Boston Marathon build.

On May 24, the 29-year-old is scheduled to headline the Ottawa Marathon.

Linkletter charged late in last year’s race, finishing second in 2:08:31. The now-suspended Albert Korir posted a winning time of 2:08:22. Ben Preisner of Milton, Ont., was the other elite Canadian men’s runner Monday and raced his first marathon major, placing 33rd in 2:12:00.

Korir pulls away before Heartbreak Hill

The Vancouver resident is Canada’s third fastest men’s marathoner (2:08:58 PB). He debuted in the event in 2020 after racing on the track in the steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Preisner, 30, made his third marathon appearance at the World Athletics, Championships last September in Tokyo, finishing 36th.

Meanwhile, a year after joining his brother Wesley, the 2012 champion, as the only relatives to win the race, John Korir broke away from the pack as it headed into Heartbreak Hill in Newton and opened a 40-second lead.

He peeked behind him as he went through Kenmore Square with a mile to go, sticking out his tongue and spreading his arms as he ran down Boylston Street to beat the previous course record of 2:03:02 set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011 by 70 seconds.

Kelvin Kiptum holds the marathon world record, with a 2:00:35 on the flatter Chicago course in 2023. Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, 55 seconds back, and 2021 champion Benson Kipruto, another three seconds behind him, also were fast enough to better the previous Boston record.

Lokedi, who broke the women’s course record last year by more than 2 1/2 minutes, took the lead entering the Newton Hills and emerged from them with an expanding lead.

On a day that started below 5 C but warmed to 7 C by the start, Lokedi pulled off her gloves as she went through Coolidge Corner in Brookline and smiled her way down Boylston Street.

Loice Chemnung was second, 44 seconds back, followed by Mary Ngugi-Cooper in third.