John Korir defends his Boston title, setting a CR of 2:01.52.

John Korir Defends Boston Title, Sets CR!

John Korir showed so much composure today, running his own race.

John defended his title in 2025, giving him two consecutive victories.

The pack came out fast, 14:20 for the 5k, 29:04 for the 10k, hitting the halfway point in 1:01.50. Milkesa Mangesha took the lead a while back with Korir with her. Then John Korir decided to get serious, just over 20 miles in 1:33.59.

John Korir ran his second half in 1:00:02. John just walked away, checked his watch and continued to accelerate.

It was a study in dominance. John Korir had a tough race in Chicago in 2025. I asked his trainer Ron Mann about that bad race. Coach Mann told RunBlogRun that Johnny is comfortable in his own skin this time around. He enjoyed the training and got more out of it. He increased his mileage.

The 130th Boston will go down for years as the race where the top three finished just short of the course record, but most importantly, it was the race where John Korir, running his own race, displayed the artistry of a veteran marathoner and set a Masters record of 2:01.52, leading fifteen men under an amazing 2:06.06.

I was asked on the BBC if we would see a two-hour marathon. I believe we will, but at the press conference, John Korir told the reporter that he is not focused on the world record. he was focused on winning. I like it!

John Korir, defending his title in Boston, set a new record of 2:01.52, breaking the CR set in 2011 by Jeffrey Muta.

2026 Boston Marathon, Top 15 Men

1. John Korir, Kenya, 2:01.52 CR

2. Alphonse Felix Simbu, TAN, 2:02:47

3. Benson Kipruto, KEN, 2:02.50

4. Hailemaryam Kiros, ETH, 2:03.42

5. Zuhair Talbi, USA, 2:03:45

6. Tebeloa Ramakongana, 2:04.18

7. Charles Hicks, USA, 2:04.35

8. Richard Ringer, GER, 2:04:47

9. Alex Massai, KEN, 2:05.32

10. Milkesa Mengesha, ETH, 2:05.35

11. Clayton Young, USA, 2:05.41

12. Ryan Ford, USA, 2:05:46

13. Joe Klecker, USA, 2:05:56

14. Rory Linklater, RULE, 2:06:04

15. Yemane Hailiselassie, ETH, 2:06:06,

#Boston Marathon