Hellen Obiri sprints to Boston Marathon win
On Athletics Club athlete Hellen Obiri takes a commanding win in what was only the second marathon of her career.
Zurich, Switzerland, April 17th, 2023 - In an intense last mile of the race, OAC athlete Hellen Obiri has emerged as the women’s 51st Boston Marathon winner. It was the Kenyan long-distance runner’s second marathon and Boston debut. Obiri crossed the finish line in a time of 2:21:38, 12 seconds ahead of runner-up Amane Beriso.
The 2023 Boston Marathon featured the most decorated lineup in the race’s history, including a dozen former champions and participants from 120 countries in a field of 33,000 runners. In its 127th year, the world’s oldest annual marathon saw athletes turn out great performances, despite rainy and cold weather.
The race started with a large pack of runners passing the early sections together, but by the halfway point, the first podium contenders started to emerge. Led by Angela Tanui, the pack included pre-race favorites Amane Beriso, Gotytom Gebreselase, and Obiri. This leading group, consisting of eleven women, was further broken down between mile 24 and 40K when Obiri, Beriso, Ababel Yeshaneh, Lonah Salpeter, and Emma Bates pulled ahead. In an intense fight for the win, Obiri had to employ her legendary track speed to leave the competition behind. In a 4:55 final mile, the two-time 5,000-meter world champion sprinted to victory on Boylston Street. Behind Obiri, Beriso and Lonah Salpeter completed the podium with times of 2:21:50 and 2:21:57, respectively.
Obiri’s win improves on her debut performance at the 2022 New York City Marathon, where she finished sixth after making a transition from the track to the roads. Obiri has been training with the On Athletics Club in Boulder, Colorado, for the last year.
"I felt like my body was ready today. I believed in myself”, the 33-year-old said after her win. “After New York, I was so disappointed but never lost hope. I am so happy!”
“After last year’s marathon in NYC, we were pretty down, but she came back like the competitor she is”, OAC head coach Dathan Ritzenhein added. “She put her head down, focused, and now she is walking away as the Boston Marathon champion!”
The 33-year-old, who hails from Eldoret, Kenya, is the only woman to win a world title in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and is now adding the Boston Marathon winner title to her legendary resume. The Boston Marathon, which has been held annually since 1897, attracts elite runners from around the world, making it one of the most competitive races in the sport of running. The event is also known for its historic course, which includes the infamous "Heartbreak Hill," and is renowned for its challenging terrain.
Obiri's victory has solidified her status as one of the top female long-distance runners in the world and is sure to inspire aspiring athletes across the globe. Her dedication, perseverance, and hard work have paid off, and she has etched her name in the history books of the Boston Marathon.
High-res images available for download here (photo credit: On).
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