Boston Marathon 2026: Defending Champs, Prize Money, and Viewing Details
The Boston Marathon is set to take place on Monday, April 20, 2026, marking the 130th edition of this historic race. Starting in the rural town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the marathon winds its way to Boston, concluding on Bolyston Street, adjacent to the Boston Public Library. 2025 champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir, both from Kenya, return to defend their titles. Lokedi made headlines by breaking the course record with a time of 2:17:22. Korir also made history, winning with a time of 2:04:45, alongside his brother Wesley, solidifying their legacy as the only siblings to win this prestigious event. Key contenders include: Benson Kipruto, the 2021 champion and last year's New York Marathon winner, returning to Boston. Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, eager to improve upon his runner-up finish from 2025. Fellow Kenyans Irine Cheptai and Vivian Cheruiyot, the latter being a four-time Olympic medalist who transitioned to marathons. British runner Calli Hauger-Thackery, who finished sixth in 2025 with a time of 2:22:38, also aims for a strong performance after winning the Honolulu Marathon and Houston Marathon earlier this year. In the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug, a seven-time Paralympic champion, seeks his fourth consecutive Boston title, while Manuela Schar is favored for her fifth victory in the absence of defending champion Susannah Scaroni. Prize Money Breakdown: 1st place: $150,000 2nd place: $75,000 3rd place: $40,000 Course record bonus: $50,000 Viewers can tune in on WCVB ABC locally, ESPN2 across the US starting at 9 AM EDT, and TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK from 2 PM BST.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-04-17