Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE: Results as Sisay Lemma wins but misses course record

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE: Results as Sisay Lemma wins but misses course record

Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma laid down a marker for the Paris Olympics with victory in the Boston Marathon ending Evans Chebet’s pursuit of a third consecutive title. Lemma set the early pace in the men’s elite competition and flew out ahead of the rest of the field to open a gap on the rest.

He was left to his own devices and for three-quarters of the run looked on track to beat the course record. The difficult and hilly last 10km put those thoughts to an end as Lemma’s pace dropped off massively with the chasers only growing stronger. Mohamed Esa came through late on to claim second with Chebet third but the damage was done as Lemma crossed the line over a minute ahead of his rivals.

Hellen Obiri celebrated a second win in as many years in the women’s elite race but was forced to work hard for her victory. Throughout the course she attempted to pull away but was drawn into the field until the final few miles. Five runners broke away with Obiri and Sharon Lokedi further distancing themselves. It was a two-woman race leading to the final mile but the Kenyan had more energy in reserve and powered to the line.

Eden Rainbow-Cooper also became the first British won to claim a title at the Boston Marathon as she triumphed over Manuela Schar in the women’s wheelchair event while Marcel Hug broke his own course record in the men’s wheelchair race as Britain’s David Weir finished third.

Relive our coverage of the marathon with the live blog below:

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

  • The Boston Marathon took place on Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts

  • 30,000 people expected to participate after elite races

  • Sisay Lemma wins the men’s elite race at the Boston Marathon with Mohamed Esa in second

  • Evans Chebet finished third in his pursuit of three consecutive Boston Marathons after wins in 2022 and 2023

  • Hellen Obiri wins back-to-back women’s elite titles finishing ahead of Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplogat

  • Eden Rainbow-Cooper becomes first British woman to win elite wheelchair race at Boston Marathon

  • Marcel Hug breaks course record and wins men’s wheelchair race

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

20:02 , Mike Jones

That’s everything from us. What a day and what race.

Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma laid down a marker for the Paris Olympics with victory in the Boston Marathon ending Evans Chebet’s pursuit of a third consecutive title. Lemma set the early pace in the men’s elite competition and flew out ahead of the rest of the field to open a gap on the rest.

He was left to his own devices and for three-quarters of the run looked on track to beat the course record. The difficult and hilly last 10km put those thoughts to an end as Lemma’s pace dropped off massively with the chasers only growing stronger. Mohamed Esa came through late on to claim second with Chebet third but the damage was done as Lemma crossed the line over a minute ahead of his rivals.

Hellen Obiri celebrated a second win in as many years in the women’s elite race but was forced to work hard for her victory. Throughout the course she attempted to pull away but was drawn into the field until the final few miles. Five runners broke away with Obiri and Sharon Lokedi further distancing themselves. It was a two-woman race leading to the final mile but the Kenyan had more energy in reserve and powered to the line.

Eden Rainbow-Cooper also became the first British won to claim a title at the Boston Marathon as she triumphed over Manuela Schar in the women’s wheelchair event while Marcel Hug broke his own course record in the men’s wheelchair race as Britain’s David Weir finished third.

We’ll catch you next time.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:37 , Mike Jones

 (AP)
(AP)
 (AP)
(AP)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:24 , Mike Jones

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
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(REUTERS)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:10 , Mike Jones

Hellen Obiri wins the women’s elite race at the Boston Marathon!

Obiri breaks the tape and starts to celebrate as she claims a second successive victory in Massachusetts. The Kenyan finishes in 2:22:33 and has a huge smile on her face.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:08 , Mike Jones

Hellen Obiri takes the final couple of corners with a sizeable lead and can now see the finish line. She’s not going to be caught, he late move was the difference...

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:06 , Mike Jones

The duo head past the one mile marker with Hellen Obiri starting to put the foot down and increase the pace. Sharon Lokedi is slipping away.

It looks as though the 2023 Boston Marathon winner is on to repeat her success from last year. She would become the sixth women to win back-to-back Boston Marathon titles if she pulls it off.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:03 , Mike Jones

This is fascination viewing as the two women at the front of this race are locked into a battle now. Hellen Obiri is edging ever so slightly ahead of Lokedi who seems to be running within herself for the moment.

The crowds are loving it. They’re cheering loudly and are encouraging the runners into Boston’s city centre.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

17:00 , Mike Jones

Hellen Obiri is such a deceptive runner. She looks like she has nothing left in the tank and is wild with her technique. When Obiri won the New York Marathon last year she had to leave it until the final 400 metres before moving clear to win.

Will we see something similar here? Edna Kiplogat has been distanced and now it seems to be a two-woman race between Obiri and Sharon Lokedi.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:57 , Mike Jones

There’s about 20 minutes of this race still to go and another twist as the pace continues to quicken. Hellen Obiri, Sharon Lokedi and 44-year-old Edna Kiplogat have separated themselves into a three-women leading pack.

Can Kiplogat keep going at this pace?

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:56 , Mike Jones

There’s been a big move in the women’s race!

Five women, Hellen Obiri, Sharon Lokedi, Edna Kiplagat, Workenesh Edesa and Buze Diriba have moved clear of the rest. Diriba is bringing up the rear in fifth but looks to be slipping behind the other four.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:54 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma reacts to winning the Boston Marathon: “I am happy and I’m feeling good.

“Since there were no pacesetter I decided that I wanted to start fast early, with no-one following me I kept that pace and I won. The first part of the run I was very good I was running well.

“The last 10km I was so tired but I had to run so I kept running.”

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:50 , Mike Jones

The women’s elite race is starting to break apart with the pace increasing among the main challengers to win. They’re approaching Brookline with about 10 runners still in the leading group.

Emma Bates has slipped away as Hellen Obiri is near the front.

Boston Marathon bombing survivors honoured 11 years on as lying juror probe underway

16:47 , Mike Jones

Survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing will be honored at this year’s race on the 11th anniversary of the attack.

The city of Boston and the Boston Athletic Association honored the victims, survivors, and first responders of the attack at a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday at the site of the bombing which killed three people and injured hundreds of others.

The race was underway on Monday morning with 30,000 competitors taking part along with the world’s best long-distance runners.

Boston Marathon bombing survivors honoured 11 years on

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:45 , Mike Jones

Mohamed Esa eases to the line in second place with Evans Chebet, the reigning champion, crossing the line in third.

Sisay Lemma’s unofficial winning time was 2:06:17, the eighth fastest time in the Boston Marathon for a men’s elite winner.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:43 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma wins the Boston Marathon men’s elite race!

He’s done it. The Ethiopian had to work exceptionally hard at the back end of the race but his tactics of heading out early and holding onto his lead has paid off massively.

The victory is his in Boston!

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:42 , Mike Jones

The course record has gone so Sisay Lemma can enough the applause and cheers from the crowd as he rounds the final bend. Behind him Mohamed Esa has come from nowhere to overtake both Joh Korir and Evans Chebet to take second place as it stands...

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:39 , Mike Jones

One mile to go for Sisay Lemma but his nearest rivals can now see him once again. Has he got enough left in the tank to comfortably go on to win?

Evans Chebet has upped his pace again and is pulling clear in second.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:36 , Mike Jones

Further behind, a push from Emma Bates got the crowd excited as she headed out at the front of the field in the women’s elite race. She’s been drawn back towards the rest and this exertion in energy may come back to haunt her later on in the marathon.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:34 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma glances at his watch and will know that he’s tracking to miss out on the course record. A chasing duo of Evans Chebet and John Korir have cut the gap again to just 90 seconds behind the leader now.

There’s only two miles to go which seems too little time for them to catch him.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:29 , Mike Jones

Emma Bates has recovered and is taking the inside line to move ahead of the rest of the women’s field. This is an interesting tactic from the American who may be trying to open up a gap before the hilly parts of the course.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:28 , Mike Jones

The winners of the men’s and women’s wheelchair races, Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper.

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 (REUTERS)
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 (AP)
(AP)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:24 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma’s new predicted time is 2:04:00 which is outside of the course record. The last few miles, over the hardest part of the course, has been tough on him.

The chasers are getting faster as he gets slower. Is there enough time left in the race for them to catch him? Lemma is about four mile from the finish.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:22 , Mike Jones

The women’s elite race remains too tight to call. Emma Bates has fallen into the middle of the field after leading for a while with Judith Korir and Mary Ngugi setting an increase in pace.

Is this the start of the final part of this race when the contenders to win make their move?

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:20 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma looks to be suffering slightly now. He’s shaking his shoulders, loosening the arms and twisting his neck. He’s got nothing to worry about at the minute but the chasing pack have reduced the gap by 20 seconds over the course of a mile.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:17 , Mike Jones

The chasing pack are still over two minutes behind Sisay Lemma as they hit the 20 mile mark. With around 25-30 minutes of racing left it seemd highly unlikely that they’re going to catch him.

Lemma is solely focused on setting a new Boston Marathon record.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:14 , Mike Jones

Emma Bates led through the halfway point of the women’s elite race with a time of 1:12:33. Again there’s only a second or so to split the top 10 in this race.

It’s all going to come down to the second half of the course as to who will claim victory. Hellen Obiri won from a similar position last year, will she do so again today?

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

16:03 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma is through 25km now and is on for a predicted time of 2:01:05. That said, the Newton Hills are still to come before Heartbreak Hill which will eat into his time as they are the most difficult parts of the course.

If he can get through the next three or four miles he may still be on to break the record. Evans Chebet, despite his efforts, has slipped further behind.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:57 , Mike Jones

There’s been another break from the field in the men’s elite race. Evans Chebet, Cybrian Kotut, Albert Korir and John Korir are all attempting to close the gap on Sisay Lemma while they’ve still got a bit of time left in the race.

It’s a tough ask for them though with the hills that are still to come.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:55 , Mike Jones

Eden Rainbow-Cooper becomes the first British women to win at the Boston Marathon!

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
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(REUTERS)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:50 , Mike Jones

Here’s the post race reaction from Eden Rainbow-Cooper who said: “It really took everything.

“It was such a mentally tough challenge, pushing a marathon on your own is so difficult. I only started two years ago, it took absolutely everything and I can’t believe it.

“I kept my head down and was pushing on my own race. I was just in my own head. I’m just so proud to be able to represent my country and give my absolute best.

“I had nothing left but the crowd carried me through. At the end of the race you just have to put everything you left and that was absolutely everything I had. I couldn’t have pushed a metre more.”

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:46 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma takes a big lead ahead of the men’s elite field.

 (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:44 , Mike Jones

There’s nothing at all to separate the women’s elite field as the top 10 are all within a second of each other.

Emma Bates is the pace setter currently with a few of the other runners, including Hellen Obiri, taking over at the front of the pack for a little while before dropping back.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:42 , Mike Jones

Eden Rainbow Cooper wins the women’s wheelchair race!

She is thrilled and emotional after her victory.

“I can’t believe it.” She says as receiving congratulations after the finish line. Manuela Schar comes over in second place.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:40 , Mike Jones

Eden Rainbow-Cooper takes the final corner with a lead of over a minute. She’s going to win the race for Great Britain, and more importantly, herself ahead of this summer’s Paralympics...

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:38 , Mike Jones

Marcel Hug wins the men’s wheelchair Boston Marathon!

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
 (AP)
(AP)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:37 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma crossed the 12 mile mark in a time of 55:14 for the men’s elite which is ahead of the current course record. Perhaps sensing they need to respond Evans Chebet and Gabriel Geay have moved into second and third place to lead the chase.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:33 , Mike Jones

Emma Bates has the lead as the women’s elite race enters Natick with a touch over 44 minutes of running on the clock. The field are close behind here with Meseret Belete and Hellen Obiri her two closet rivals.

Bates performed in a similar manner last year and opened up a lead. She was eventually caught and finished fifth but that was her best result at this marathon so far.

At the 10km mark, Bates set the time of 33:28.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:31 , Mike Jones

More from Marcel Hug who said: “It’s always a pleasure to come here, it’s a great course, a fast course. It’s not easy, today it was a time-trial from the beginning.

“From the start it was really tough to have the other competitors on my neck so I just had to go as fast as possible.

“I think I had even a speed record on the downhill. It was really tough, fortunately I got in a found the rhythm and get into a good pace.”

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:29 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma has continued to increase his pace at the front of the men’s elite field and looks as though he’s trying to go for the course record.

His last time marker showed 42:43 which was 1:21 ahead of the nearest competitior. It’s a huge gap already and Lemma may have won this race already with his early charge.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:25 , Mike Jones

Marcel Hug actually crossed the finish line in 1:15:33 which is a couple hundreths of a second quicker than I first thought. Behind him Daniel Romanchuk has moved clear in second place with Britain’s David Weir finishing third.

“I love Boston, I love the crowd here. It’s a great course, a fast course and the crowd are just amazing.” said Hug after the race before addressing his crash during the race.

“I had too much weight, too much pressure from above on my steering.”

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:22 , Mike Jones

Boston Marathon Grand Marshall and NFL star Rob Gronkowski is having a blast at the finish line.

 (AP)
(AP)
 (AP)
(AP)
 (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:18 , Mike Jones

Marcel Hug wins the men’s wheelchair race!

The crowd cheered the Swiss on through the main street and up to the line where he crossed in 1:15:35. It’s a new course record and and he’s smashed his previous time by almost 90 seconds.

What a ride from the champion.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:16 , Mike Jones

1:17:06 is the time to beat for Marcel Hug in the men’s wheelchair race. He went through the latest marker update in 1:11:53 and is now wheeling through the centre of Boston.

He’s easily going to do this...

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:11 , Mike Jones

Halfway through the Newton stage Eden Rainbow Cooper still has a lead of over 30 seconds on Manuela Schar who just can’t close the gap on the Brit.

It would be a fabulous win if she can get over the line today.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:09 , Mike Jones

Marcel Hug is flying along with the aim of beating his own course record. If he does so he’ll be crossing the finish line in around 10 minutes time.

There’s no-one close to him either, he’s four minutes aehad of Romanchuk in second place.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:08 , Mike Jones

Oh wow.

As the men’s elite reaches the half an hour mark, Sisay Lemma has bombed off away from the rest of the field. He crosses the 10km mark in a time of 28:28 with a lead of about 25 seconds or so.

Lemma may be trying to utilise the easier parts of the course to set earn a time buffer ahead of the difficult end to this race.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:06 , Mike Jones

There’s been little positional play in the women’s professional race. Hellen Obiri is slightly out in front as the approach the 5km mark.

Siranesh Yirga is alongside her with Sharon Lokedi and Meseret Belete just ahead. Lokedi leads the way through the first five kilometres with a time of 16:36.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

15:02 , Mike Jones

The first wave of the mass participants have set off back in Hopkinton. They’ll be the people targeting times of under three hours.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:58 , Mike Jones

 (AP)
(AP)
 (AP)
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Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:58 , Mike Jones

Ouch! Marcel Hug, after bobbling over a pothole, took a corner late and went flying into the barriers. He’s okay and is back on the road still on track to break his own course record.

He’s just under a minute faster as he tackles the Newton Hill.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:54 , Mike Jones

Eden Rainbow-Cooper has passed the halfway stage of the women’s wheelchair race. She’s still 34 seconds ahead of the pre-race favourite Manuela Schär.

Can the Brit hold her lead in tact for the rest of the race? We’ll find out soon enough.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:52 , Mike Jones

Sisay Lemma, Evans Chebet and Zouhair Talbi have broken away ahead of the rest of the men’s elite field but they slacken off the pace and the rest of the contenders catch them back up after 15 minutes or so running.

They’re all just testing each other out in these opening stages.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:47 , Mike Jones

Hellen Obiri is the favourite to win the women’s elite this afternoon. She won this race last year and followed that victory up with a win at the New York Marathon.

The women contenders get their race going now as well. All the main races are now underway.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:42 , Mike Jones

It should come as no surprise that Marcel Hug took an early lead in the men’s wheelchair race. He passes the halfway mark in 35:38 which is close to a minute faster than his own course record set last year.

 (AP)
(AP)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:42 , Mike Jones

One to keep an eye on throughout the next hour or so is Eden Rainbow-Cooper. The Brit came second at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year but just flew through the 15km mark with a 34 second lead in the women’s wheelchair race.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:38 , Mike Jones

Here we go!

The men’s elite race is underway. The first few miles are downhill meaning this will be a quick start before things begin to get more difficult as the marathon goes on.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:37 , Mike Jones

Back at the start, the men’s elite race is about to get started. Sisay Lemma, Gabriel Geay and Evans Chebet are all introduced by the announcer along with United States favourite Elkanah Kibet.

If Chebet wins he’ll become the fifth man to win three editions of the Boston Marathon.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:33 , Mike Jones

Six-time Boston champion Marcel Hug, Daniel Romanchuk and Aaron Pike are the leading contenders in the men’s wheelchair race which began 30 minutes or so ago.

They competitiors have already reached the 11 mile stage with Great Britain’s David Weir going well.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:31 , Mike Jones

The current weather in Hopkinton is 12 degrees with partly cloudy skies. Almost perfect conditions to get this marathon underway.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:25 , Mike Jones

It’s almost time for Eurosport coverage of the Boston Marathon to begin (2.30pm BST). Based on previously reported timings the men’s and women’s wheelchair races are already underway with Handcycle and Duos set to start in a few minutes.

The men’s elite race heads out at 2.37pm with the women’s elite following at 2.45pm.

Military marchers set out from Hopkinton to start the 128th Boston Marathon

14:20 , Mike Jones

A group Massachusetts National Guard members early Monday crossed the Boston Marathon start line painted in honor of the town that has hosted the marathon for the past century, launching the 128th edition of the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.

Race Director Dave McGillivray sent the group of about 30 people off shortly after 6 a.m. He thanked them for their service and told them to have a great time. Lt. Col. Paula Reichert Karsten, one of the marchers, said she wanted to be part of a “quintessential Massachusetts event.”

Military marchers set out from Hopkinton to start the 128th Boston Marathon

Emma Bates, a top US contender in the Boston Marathon, will try to beat Kenyans and dodge potholes

14:12 , Mike Jones

Emma Bates should be extra weary of the Boston Marathon course on Monday when she tries to improve upon last year’s fifth-place finish.

Not the hills or the headwinds.

The potholes.

The 31-year-old former Boston resident stepped in one midway through the Chicago Marathon last fall, tearing a tissue in her foot. She finished 13th but left the course in a wheelchair.

A setback during her recovery forced Bates to withdraw from the Olympic marathon trials in February. So, instead of planning for Paris, Bates is running Boston again a year after she led the pack through Brookline, with the crowd chanting her name.

Emma Bates, a top US contender in the Boston Marathon, will try to beat Kenyans and dodge potholes

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:05 , Mike Jones

Before the first competitors got their races underway, Mayor Michelle Wu and Governor Maura Healey were among those who stopped to honour the people who lost their lives or were injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

Three people were killed and hundreds were injured when a pair of bombs detonated near the finish line 11 years ago.

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(REUTERS)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

14:01 , Mike Jones

As we wait for the action in Boston to begin here are come pictures of happy dogs.

These are from the Boston Marathon Golden Retriever Meetup yesterday which takes place every year on the eve of the Boston Marathon.

The event is hosted by MA Golden Meetups and honours Spencer, the Boston Marathon Golden Retriever, and his sister Penny, who appeared in many marathons, plus all dogs who have lost their lives to cancer.

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:55 , Mike Jones

Athletes in the wheelchair and open categories will earn a further bonus of $50,000 (£40,400) if they break the Boston Marathon course record today.

The existing records are as follows:

Open Division

Men: Geoffrey Mutai - 2:03:02 (2011)

Women: Buzenesh Deba - 2:19:29 (2014)

Wheelchair Division

Men: Marcel Hug - 1:17:06 (2023)

Women: Manuela Schar - 1:28:17 (2017)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:49 , Mike Jones

Here’s how much entrants stand to earn based on finishing positions in the Wheelchair Division:

1st - $40,000 (£32,400)

2nd - $25,000 (£20,200)

3rd - $12,000 (£6,100)

4th -$8,500 (£6,900)

5th - $6,000 (£4,750)

6th - $4,000 (£3,200)

7th - $3,000 (£2,400)

8th - $2,500 (£2,000)

9th - $2,000 (£1,600)

10th - $1,500 (£1,200)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:42 , Mike Jones

The Boston event also makes history as the first World Marathon Major to offer course record bonuses of equal value to competitors in the wheelchair and open categories.

Here’s how much entrants stand to earn based on finishing positions in the Open Division:

1st - $150,000 (£121,300)

2nd - $75,000 (£60,700)

3rd - $40,000 (£32,400)

4th -$25,000 (£20,200)

5th - $18,000 (£14,600)

6th - $13,500 (£10,900)

7th - $10,500 (£8,500)

8th - $8,500 (£6,900)

9th - $7,000 (£5,700)

10th - $5,500 (£4,400)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:35 , Mike Jones

Who is competing in the elite men’s race?

Evans Chebet is seeking a third consecutive crown in Boston, here are the headline names for the men’s elite race plus their best marathon times and the races they achieved them in:

  1. Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) - 2:01:48 (Valencia, 2023)

  2. Evans Chebet (Kenya) - 2:03:00 (Valencia, 2020)

  3. Gabriel Geay (Tanzania) - 2:03:00 (Valencia, 2022) NR

  4. Cybrian Kotut (Kenya) - 2:04:34 (Amsterdam, 2023)

  5. Haftu Teklu (Ethiopia) - 2:04:43 (Berlin, 2023)

  6. Shura Kitata (Ethiopia) - 2:04:49 (London, 2018)

  7. John Korir (Kenya) - 2:05:01 (Chicago, 2022)

  8. Mohamed Esa (Ethiopia) - 2:05:05 (Amsterdam, 2022)

  9. Suguru Osako (Japan) - 2:05:29 (Tokyo, 2020)

  10. Sondre Moen (Norway) - 2:05:48 (Fukuoka, 2017) AR

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:28 , Mike Jones

Who is competing in the women’s elite race?

Here are the 10 fastest women in the elite field with their personal best marathon times and the races in which they achieved them:

  1. Tadu Teshome (Ethiopia) - 2:17:36 (Valencia, 2022)

  2. Hiwot Gebremaryam (Ethiopia) - 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)

  3. Judith Korir (Kenya) - 2:18:20 (Eugene, 2022)

  4. Meseret Belete (Ethiopia) - 2:18:21 (Amsterdam, 2023)

  5. Tiruye Mesfin (Ethiopia) - 2:18:47 (Valencia, 2022)

  6. Worknesh Edesa (Ethiopia) - 2:18:51 (Osaka, 2024)

  7. Senbere Teferi (Ethiopia) - 2:19:21 (Berlin, 2023)

  8. Dera Dida (Ethiopia) - 2:19:24 (Berlin, 2023)

  9. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) - 2:19:50 (London, 2012)*

  10. Mary Ngugi-Cooper (Kenya) - 2:20:22 (London, 2022)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:21 , Mike Jones

What is the course?

The course begins in Hopkinton, a town in rural Massachusetts, with runners setting off from Main Street and heading down Route 135. They will plod through the towns of Ashland, Framingham, and Natick, before joining Route 16 shortly after Wellesley. Hanging a right on to Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30) by the fire station in Newton Lower Falls, the course continues over the Newton Hills and by Boston College, a university, before arriving at Cleveland Circle via Chestnut Hill Avenue.

The runners will then negotiate a left turn on to Beacon Street as it nears the finish, turning right on to Hereford Street, left on to Boylston Street and eventually concluding near the Boston Public Library in Copley Square in the heart of the city.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:14 , Mike Jones

How to watch the Boston Marathon

In the UK, you can watch the Boston Marathon on Eurosport, with coverage beginning at 2:30pm and lasting until 5.15pm. You can access Eurosport through Discovery Plus and can sign up to the standard £6.99-per-month plan.

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:07 , Mike Jones

What time does it start?

The exact timings for this year’s event are:

  • Military March - 6 am ET (11am BST)

  • Men’s Wheelchair - 9.02 am ET (2.02pm BST)

  • Women’s Wheelchair - 9.05 am ET (2.05pm BST)

  • Handcycles & Duos - 9.30 am ET (2.30pm BST)

  • Professional Men - 9.37 am ET (2.37pm BST)

  • Professional Women - 9.45 am ET (2.45pm BST)

  • Para Athletics Divisions - 9.50 am ET (2.50pm BST)

  • Rolling Start Wave 1 - 10.00am ET (3pm BST)

  • Rolling Start Wave 2 - 10.25am ET (3.25pm BST)

  • Rolling Start Wave 3 - 10.50am ET (3.50pm BST)

  • Rolling Start Wave 4 - 11.15am ET (4.15pm BST)

Boston Marathon 2024 LIVE

13:00 , Mike Jones

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2024 Boston Marathon. We’re a little over an hour away from the first race (the men’s wheelchair event) getting started so stick around as we build-up to all the action from Massachusetts.