Completed Event: Cross Country versus Bob Timmons Classic on August 29, 2025 , , Men 2nd | Women 1st
Final
Cross Country
vs Bob Timmons Classic
Men 2nd | Women 1st
Photo by: Brian Snyder, REUTERS
Sharon Lokedi Defends Title at 2026 Boston Marathon
4/20/2026 11:38:00 AM | Cross Country, Track & Field
BOSTON, Mass. – Kansas alum Sharon Lokedi won the 2026 Boston Marathon in 2:18.51, marking back to back victories in the event on Monday morning and securing her third World Marathon major victory.
Lokedi was a part of the ten-woman lead pack for much of the Boston Marathon, before she made a move at the 21 mile mark, pulling ahead with only two other runners. At the 22 mile mark, the pack dropped to two before Lokedi finished strong and ran the final three miles alone, crossing the finish line in 2:18.51.
"I just kept telling myself 'be patient, be humble, you've got this, you can do it'" Lokedi said Monday after the race. "There was a little girl out there that yelled to us 'you've got this ladies' and that was what I needed. It gave me so much to look forward to and helped me run as fast as I could to get [to the finish]. Thank you to everyone that came out here and cheered us on, it really helped us and was a huge joy."
Monday's Boston Marathon victory was Lokedi's third World Marathon major win after setting the course record at last year's Boston Marathon, finishing in 2:17.22, and winning the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:23:23. She also finished as the runner-up at the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2:22:45, third at the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:27:33 and fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Marathon in 2:23.14.
The Kenyan native competed for the Jayhawks from 2015-2019 in both cross country and track and field. Lokedi was the 2016 and 2017 Big 12 Cross Country champion and Women's Runner of the Year. She still holds five Kansas school records in the 3,000 meters, both the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and as part of the DMR team.
Lokedi is one of two Kansas women's outdoor national champions, winning the 2018 Outdoor NCAA title in the 10,000-meter with a then meet record time of 32:09.20 in the 10,000 meter run. She also held the sixth best time in NCAA indoor history for the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:15.47.
During her career at Kansas, Lokedi won 12 Big 12 championships and was named a First Team All-American 10 times between cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Lokedi was awarded cross country All-Big 12 First Team in 2015, 2017 and 2018 as well as cross country All-Midwest Region in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
During her freshman year, Lokedi was named to the 2015 Cross Country All-Big 12 First Team, All-Midwest Region Team and First Team All-American Team.
Lokedi won the 2016 indoor 5,000-meter run at the Big 12 Championships and was a First Team All-America for the 5,000-meter. During her 2016 outdoor debut, Lokedi continued the momentum by being crowned the 2016 10,000-meter Big 12 champion, followed by a First Team All-America accolade.
Lokedi set the Anschutz pavilion facility record for the 5,000-meter run with a time of 9:29.24. She also previously held the Rock Chalk Park record for the 10,000-meter run, clocking in a time of 33:43.28, as well as the 5,000-meter run during the Kansas Relays in 2019 (15:42.76).
Lokedi was a part of the ten-woman lead pack for much of the Boston Marathon, before she made a move at the 21 mile mark, pulling ahead with only two other runners. At the 22 mile mark, the pack dropped to two before Lokedi finished strong and ran the final three miles alone, crossing the finish line in 2:18.51.
"I just kept telling myself 'be patient, be humble, you've got this, you can do it'" Lokedi said Monday after the race. "There was a little girl out there that yelled to us 'you've got this ladies' and that was what I needed. It gave me so much to look forward to and helped me run as fast as I could to get [to the finish]. Thank you to everyone that came out here and cheered us on, it really helped us and was a huge joy."
Monday's Boston Marathon victory was Lokedi's third World Marathon major win after setting the course record at last year's Boston Marathon, finishing in 2:17.22, and winning the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:23:23. She also finished as the runner-up at the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2:22:45, third at the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:27:33 and fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Marathon in 2:23.14.
The Kenyan native competed for the Jayhawks from 2015-2019 in both cross country and track and field. Lokedi was the 2016 and 2017 Big 12 Cross Country champion and Women's Runner of the Year. She still holds five Kansas school records in the 3,000 meters, both the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and as part of the DMR team.
Lokedi is one of two Kansas women's outdoor national champions, winning the 2018 Outdoor NCAA title in the 10,000-meter with a then meet record time of 32:09.20 in the 10,000 meter run. She also held the sixth best time in NCAA indoor history for the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:15.47.
During her career at Kansas, Lokedi won 12 Big 12 championships and was named a First Team All-American 10 times between cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Lokedi was awarded cross country All-Big 12 First Team in 2015, 2017 and 2018 as well as cross country All-Midwest Region in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
During her freshman year, Lokedi was named to the 2015 Cross Country All-Big 12 First Team, All-Midwest Region Team and First Team All-American Team.
Lokedi won the 2016 indoor 5,000-meter run at the Big 12 Championships and was a First Team All-America for the 5,000-meter. During her 2016 outdoor debut, Lokedi continued the momentum by being crowned the 2016 10,000-meter Big 12 champion, followed by a First Team All-America accolade.
Lokedi set the Anschutz pavilion facility record for the 5,000-meter run with a time of 9:29.24. She also previously held the Rock Chalk Park record for the 10,000-meter run, clocking in a time of 33:43.28, as well as the 5,000-meter run during the Kansas Relays in 2019 (15:42.76).
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