John Korir won the Boston Marathon in a record time of 2:01:52, setting a new men's course record. This raises speculation about the possibility of a sub-2-hour finish in future marathons.
Key points
John Korir won the Boston Marathon again
Korir set a new men's course record
His time was 2 hours, 1 minute, 52 seconds
Alphonce Simbu and Benson Kipruto also beat the previous record
Speculation about a sub-2-hour finish in future marathons
John KorirAlphonce SimbuBenson KiprutoBoston Marathon
Is 2027 the year the Boston Marathon gets its first sub-2-hour runner?
John Korir won the Boston Marathon again, and this time he did it faster than anyone else before him.
Korir took the lead for good in the 20th mile and wound up crossing the finish line 55 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Alphonce Simbu, the 2025 world champion from Tanzania. Simbu and 2021 Boston Marathon champion Benson Kipruto each beat the previous men's course record despite not winning Monday's race.
Does that mean the first sub-two hour marathon runner could be coming soon? Perhaps as soon as next year? Korir's performance in the 2026 Boston Marathon is considered the fifth-fastest marathon of all-time, and six of the best eight times in Boston Marathon history have occurred over the past two races.
Here's a look at the fastest marathon races ever, as well as the fastest times recorded in the 130-year history of the Boston Marathon:
(L-R) Kenya's John Korir and Sharon Lokedi have repeated as men's and women's champions in the 2026 Boston Marathon.
An estimated 30,000 racers lined the course from Hopkinton to Boston for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
Q&A
Who won the Boston Marathon in 2027?
John Korir won the Boston Marathon in 2027, marking his second consecutive title.
What was John Korir's winning time at the Boston Marathon?
John Korir's winning time was 2 hours, 1 minute, and 52 seconds.
Did any other runners break the previous Boston Marathon record?
Yes, both Alphonce Simbu and Benson Kipruto beat the previous men's course record despite finishing second and third, respectively.
Is 2027 the year for a sub-2-hour Boston Marathon finish?
The record-setting performance by Korir has sparked discussions about the potential for a sub-2-hour finish in future Boston Marathons.
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Kenya's Sharon Lokedi crosses the finish line to win the women's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Switzerland's Marcel Hug trounced the rest of the men's wheelchair field to win for the ninth time in Boston.
(L-R) Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper hold the trophy after finishing in first place in the men's and women's wheelchair divisions during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Switzerland's Marcel Hug crosses the finish line to win the men's wheelchair race in the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Eden Rainbow Cooper leads the women's wheelchair pack during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026. The 24-year-old British racer won the Boston Marathon in 2024.
Runners in action during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Fans cheer on runners in the men's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland poses for a portrait following his first place finish in the wheelchair division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain poses with the trophy after winning first place in the women's wheelchair race during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sharon Lokedi of Kenya crosses the finish line to place first in the women's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
1 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
(L-R) Kenya's John Korir and Sharon Lokedi have repeated as men's and women's champions in the 2026 Boston Marathon.
An estimated 30,000 racers lined the course from Hopkinton to Boston for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
1 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
(L-R) Kenya's John Korir and Sharon Lokedi have repeated as men's and women's champions in the 2026 Boston Marathon.
An estimated 30,000 racers lined the course from Hopkinton to Boston for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
2 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Kenya's Sharon Lokedi crosses the finish line to win the women's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
3 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
4 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Switzerland's Marcel Hug trounced the rest of the men's wheelchair field to win for the ninth time in Boston.
5 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
(L-R) Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper hold the trophy after finishing in first place in the men's and women's wheelchair divisions during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
6 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Switzerland's Marcel Hug crosses the finish line to win the men's wheelchair race in the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
7 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Eden Rainbow Cooper leads the women's wheelchair pack during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026. The 24-year-old British racer won the Boston Marathon in 2024.
8 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Runners in action during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
9 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Fans cheer on runners in the men's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
10 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Marcel Hug of Switzerland poses for a portrait following his first place finish in the wheelchair division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
11 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain poses with the trophy after winning first place in the women's wheelchair race during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
12 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Sharon Lokedi of Kenya crosses the finish line to place first in the women's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
13 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
John Korir set a Boston Marathon men's course record when he won the 2026 edition of the race on Monday, April 20 in 2:01.52. The previous record (2:03.02) was set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011.
Sharon Lokedi, who also won the Boston Marathon for the second year in a row on Monday, set the women's course record of 2:17.22 in 2025. Her winning time of 2:18.51 in 2026 is the second-fastest in Boston Marathon women's course history.
(L-R) Kenya's John Korir and Sharon Lokedi have repeated as men's and women's champions in the 2026 Boston Marathon.
An estimated 30,000 racers lined the course from Hopkinton to Boston for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
Kenya's Sharon Lokedi crosses the finish line to win the women's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Switzerland's Marcel Hug trounced the rest of the men's wheelchair field to win for the ninth time in Boston.
(L-R) Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper hold the trophy after finishing in first place in the men's and women's wheelchair divisions during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Switzerland's Marcel Hug crosses the finish line to win the men's wheelchair race in the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Eden Rainbow Cooper leads the women's wheelchair pack during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026. The 24-year-old British racer won the Boston Marathon in 2024.
Runners in action during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
Fans cheer on runners in the men's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland poses for a portrait following his first place finish in the wheelchair division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain poses with the trophy after winning first place in the women's wheelchair race during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sharon Lokedi of Kenya crosses the finish line to place first in the women's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
1 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
(L-R) Kenya's John Korir and Sharon Lokedi have repeated as men's and women's champions in the 2026 Boston Marathon.
An estimated 30,000 racers lined the course from Hopkinton to Boston for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
1 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
(L-R) Kenya's John Korir and Sharon Lokedi have repeated as men's and women's champions in the 2026 Boston Marathon.
An estimated 30,000 racers lined the course from Hopkinton to Boston for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
2 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Kenya's Sharon Lokedi crosses the finish line to win the women's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
3 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
4 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Switzerland's Marcel Hug trounced the rest of the men's wheelchair field to win for the ninth time in Boston.
5 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
(L-R) Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper hold the trophy after finishing in first place in the men's and women's wheelchair divisions during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
6 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Switzerland's Marcel Hug crosses the finish line to win the men's wheelchair race in the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
7 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Eden Rainbow Cooper leads the women's wheelchair pack during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026. The 24-year-old British racer won the Boston Marathon in 2024.
8 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Runners in action during the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
9 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Fans cheer on runners in the men's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
10 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Marcel Hug of Switzerland poses for a portrait following his first place finish in the wheelchair division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
11 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain poses with the trophy after winning first place in the women's wheelchair race during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
12 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Sharon Lokedi of Kenya crosses the finish line to place first in the women's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.
13 / 13
See the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon: Photos
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race of the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026.
