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Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia wins 2024 Boston Marathon after a strong early attack
Lemma defeated two-time defending champion Evans Chebet and the rest of a talented field with a stunning solo attack early in the race.
Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia surged early and held on to win the 2024 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:06:17.
Lemma, 33, came into the day having run an impressive 2:01:48 time in the 2023 Valencia Marathon. He was trying to challenge two-time defending champion Evans Chebet of Kenya. Yet in three previous attempts in Boston, Lemma had DNF’d twice, and finished 30th in 2019.
“I wanted redemption. That’s why I came,” he said at the finish line. “I thank God that I was able to redeem myself.”
Lemma made a strong move in Mile 5, powering into the lead and quickly pulling away from the rest of the field. It set the tone of his intent early as a talented field was put on the back-foot by Lemma’s attack.
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His blistering pace became apparent when he was clocked at 60:19 at the halfway mark, putting him on pace for a “world’s best” mark (as an official world record wouldn’t count in Boston). Eventually, Lemma amassed a lead of more than three minutes.
“My plan was to break the course record,” Lemma said afterward, “but it’s so hilly—up and down—and that made me a little tired.”
As he pushed through the Newton hills, the veteran marathoner began to tire slightly, and a chasing pack that included Chebet narrowed his advantage to just over two minutes.
In the final miles, Chebet and John Korir of Kenya chased desperately to try and close the gap, but couldn’t catch Lemma. Kenyan Mohamed Esa made a late charge to pass both Korir and Chebet, finishing second with a time of 2:06:58.
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As he looks ahead to the 2024 Paris Olympics in August—with a marathon set to be run on a hilly course—Lemma said his Boston triumph will serve as good preparation.
“The reason I came to run [here] is the Boston Marathon is similar to the Paris Marathon because of the hills, and I know that it will help me,” Lemma concluded. “I’m glad that I did it, and it will help me there too.”
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