Sharon Lokedi who finished second in Boston Marathon last year will take on a formidable challenge as she looks to go one better in this year’s competition tomorrow from 4.45pm (Kenyan time).
The Kenyan long-distance runner, who finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, will be looking to make a strong statement against a field of world-class competitors.
Known for her steady pacing and powerful finishing kick, Lokedi has steadily built a reputation as a big-race performer, most notably with her debut marathon win at the 2022 New York City Marathon. The race has attracted a strong field, led by defending champion Hellen Obiri who won the 2023 and 2024 titles.
Lokedi, who won the 2022 New York Marathon and finished second in the race last year, has paid glowing tribute to her mother Rose Lokedi for her unwavering support in her athletics journey. Rose has travelled to Boston just to watch her daughter compete in the race.
“My mother has been supporting me so much and she is my inspiration and having her here in the US as I compete means everything to me and that is why I have to really work hard and register good results,” she said.
On Saturday, Lokedi told Nation Sport, that she decided to train for the marathon in Flagstaff, Arizona in the US unlike her US-based compatriots Hellen Obiri and Edna Kiplagat. Obiri and Kiplagat who are both based in Colorado shifted their training base to Kenya, then travelled back to Colorado in readiness for tomorrow’s race.
And as she lines in Boston Marathon, the second race in the 2025 Abott Marathon Majors series calendar after Tokyo Marathon which took place last month, Lokedi said representing Kenya at 2024 Olympic Games in Paris where she finished fourth, gave her invaluable experience with regard to championship races.
“Representing Kenya in the Olympics was just something great. It puts me in a really good place mentally and career wise going forward,” said Lokedi.
“Boston Marathon is always incredibly competitive and no matter who shows up, you have to be ready for the tough competition that awaits you because we have all trained for the event,” she added.
She relocated to the US in 2015 upon graduating from Kapkenda Girls High School where she used to compete in long distance races. Lokedi joined University of Kansas where she pursued supply chain and logistics and graduated in 2019 and moved to join Under Armour Running shoe company and has been there to date.
