FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Medalists, National Record Holders, Olympians and Paralympians
Among 127th Boston Marathon Women's Field
BOSTON-The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) proudly announced today the
women's professional field for the 127th Boston Marathon, featuring
decorated Open, Wheelchair and Para Athletics Division athletes from 18
countries. Among the field are global medalists, national record holders,
Olympians and Paralympians, as well as five Boston Marathon champions.
"Each year the B.A.A. welcomes strong, competitive, and talented fields to
Hopkinton, with athletes ready to race for 26.2 miles," said Mary Kate
Shea, B.A.A. Director of Professional Athletes & Technical Support. "This
year's field is among the fastest and most decorated professional fields in
history, and we anticipate an exciting race from start to finish on
Patriots' Day."
A total of 16 women entered in the field have run the marathon under 2
hours, 21 minutes. Making their Boston Marathon debuts are three athletes
who notched impressive breakthrough performances in 2022: Israel's Lonah
Salpeter, Kenya's Sharon Lokedi, and Ethiopia's Amane Beriso. Last year
Salpeter earned a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships
Marathon then placed second at the TCS New York City Marathon. Lokedi, a
former NCAA champion at the University of Kansas, claimed victory in her
debut marathon in New York City last fall, while Beriso ran the third
fastest marathon time in history – 2:14:58-to win Valencia and set a new
national record in December.
"I am very excited to run the B.A.A. Boston Marathon this year," said
Salpeter. "It has always been my dream to run these streets one day and to
experience the incredible atmosphere. I am extremely grateful to the
organization for inviting me to run in their city. For now, I am focused on
my preparation and I look forward to seeing all the fans along the course
in Boston!"
Last year's second and third place finishers in Boston, Ababel Yeshaneh of
Ethiopia and Mary Ngugi of Kenya, both return with hopes of claiming the
top spot on the podium. Yeshaneh came within four seconds of victory, while
Ngugi has placed second and third in Boston. Also back is Joyciline
Jepkosgei, a past winner of the New York City and London Marathons.
"Running Boston last year was an incredible experience, and I will never
forget the crowd cheering down Boylston Street as I ran towards the finish
line in an epic finish," said Yeshaneh. "I can't wait to return to race and
hope to win that title that I lost by a few meters."
"When it comes to Boston, for me it becomes more than a race," said Ngugi.
"The city is special, and special for me too. I have raced there so many
times across different distances and the buzz from the fans all along the
course is incredible and I even got married in Boston!"
Additional international standouts making their Boston Marathon debuts are
Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya, who ran 2:17:29 for third in Valencia, and
Ethiopia's Hiwot Gebremaryam, runner-up in Berlin in 2021 and third at the
B.A.A. Half Marathon in 2022.
Among the American contingent are Sara Hall, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Emma Bates,
Nell Rojas, Dakotah Lindwurm, Laura Thweatt, Annie Frisbie, Sara Vaughn and
Erika Kemp. Rojas has finished as the top American at Boston two years in a
row (fifth in 2:27:12 in October 2021 and tenth, 2:25:57 in April 2022),
while Hall and Bates finished fifth and seventh, respectively, at the 2022
World Athletics Championships Marathon in Eugene.
"I'm very excited to return to Boston once again," said Rojas. "The
excitement of the city and fans, quality of the professional field, and
challenging course keeps drawing me back!"
Previously announced as competing in Boston this year are reigning world
champion Gotytom Gebreslase as well as Boston Marathon champions Des Linden
(2018), Edna Kiplagat (2017, 2021), and Atsede Baysa (2016).
Leading the wheelchair division field is four-time Boston champion Manuela
Schär of Switzerland. Schär owns the Boston course record of 1:28:17,
though will be challenged by Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XIV
champion Susannah Scaroni (USA), Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist Madison de
Rozario (Australia), and five-time Boston winner Tatyana McFadden (USA). A
$50,000 course record bonus is available to any open division or wheelchair
division athlete who breaks a course record.
"Boston is a very special place, home to fast times and many memories,"
said Schär. "I look forward to returning to race again this year."
Among the notable Para Athletics Division athletes returning to Boston are
Lisa Thompson (T13/vision impairment) and Liz Willis (T63-64/lower-limb
impairment), both of whom won division titles at last April's race. Joining
them is celebrated ultra-runner Jacky Hunt-Broersma, who timed 2:35:44 for
the win at the 2022 B.A.A. Half Marathon and completed a record 104
marathons in consecutive days last year. For the third year, prize money is
available for top finishers with vision, upper-limb, and lower-limb
impairments within the Para Athletics Divisions.
"All of us at the Boston Athletic Association are eager to welcome every
member of the 127th Boston Marathon women's professional field to Boston,"
said Jack Fleming, President and Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A.
"Another chapter of Boston Marathon history will unfold on the roads of
Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and
Boston as we crown champions in our open, wheelchair, and Para Athletics
divisions."
The 127th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023 –
Patriots' Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts-and will feature 30,000
participants. The complete men's professional field will be announced in
the coming days. Since 1986, John Hancock has served as principal sponsor
of the Boston Marathon.
BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL FIELD – WOMEN'S OPEN DIVISION
^ signifies Boston Marathon Champion
*signifies Masters (40+) athlete
NAME COUNTRY PERSONAL BEST
Amane Beriso Ethiopia 2:14:58 (NR)
Sheila Chepkirui Kenya 2:17:29
Joyciline Jepkosgei Kenya 2:17:43
Lonah Salpeter Israel 2:17:45
Angela Tanui Kenya 2:17:57
Fancy Chemutai Kenya 2:18:11
Gotytom Gebreslase Ethiopia 2:18:11
Hiwot Gebremaryam Ethiopia 2:19:10
Edna Kiplagat^* Kenya 2:19:50
Celestine Chepchirchir Kenya 2:20:10
Maurine Chepkemoi Kenya 2:20:18
Mary Ngugi Kenya 2:20:22
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet Eritrea 2:20:29 (NR)
Sara Hall USA 2:20:32
Ababel Yeshaneh Ethiopia 2:20:51
Vibian Chepkirui Kenya 2:20:59
Atsede Baysa^ Ethiopia 2:22:03
Desiree Linden^ USA 2:22:38
Viola Cheptoo Kenya 2:22:44
Nienke Brinkman Netherlands 2:22:51
Emma Bates USA 2:23:18
Sharon Lokedi Kenya 2:23:23
Dakotah Lindwurm USA 2:25:01
Jessica Stenson Australia 2:25:15
Laura Thweatt USA 2:25:38
Nell Rojas USA 2:25:57
Annie Frisbie USA 2:26:18
Sara Vaughn USA 2:26:23
Haruka Yamaguchi Japan 2:26:35
Aliphine Tuliamuk USA 2:26:50
Maggie Montoya USA 2:28:07
Hanna Lindholm* Sweden 2:28:59
Maegan Krifchin USA 2:29:12
Militsa Mircheva Bulgaria 2:29:23 (NR)
Jane Bareikis USA 2:30:04
Sydney Devore USA 2:31:07
Annmarie Tuxbury USA 2:31:31
Kaitlin Goodman USA 2:32:08
Kodi Kleven USA 2:32:45
Jess Watychowicz USA 2:33:09
Briana Boehmer* USA 2:33:20
Nina Zarina Russia 2:33:22
Jesse Cardin USA 2:33:34
Savannah Berry USA 2:33:42
Olivia Pratt USA 2:34:22
Anne-Marie Blaney USA 2:34:38
Mckale Montgomery USA 2:35:01
Liza Howard Canada 2:35:29
Esther Atkins USA 2:36:32
Sylvia Bedford USA 2:36:32
English Jackson Tomlinson USA 2:36:51
Aisling Cuffe USA 2:37:23
Rachel Coogan USA 2:37:40
Claire McCarthy* Ireland 2:38:26
Ann Centner USA 2:38:30
Tennille Ellis Australia 2:39:08
April Lund* USA 2:39:23
Carmen Hussar* Canada 2:39:51
Gina Rouse* USA 2:41:19
Natasha Bliss* Canada 2:43:28
Julie Lajeunesse* Canada 2:44:49
Laurie Knowles* USA 2:44:53
Jennifer Hughes* USA 2:45:19
Jenny Hitchings* USA 2:45:32
Hilary Corno* USA 2:45:34
Rebecca Brown* Australia 2:45:43
Erika Kemp USA Debut
Danielle Moreno USA Debut
Maria Coffin USA Debut
BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL FIELD – WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR DIVISION
^ signifies Boston Marathon Champion
NAME COUNTRY PERSONAL BEST
Susannah Scaroni USA 1:27:31
Manuela Schär^ Switzerland 1:28:17 (CR)
Madison de Rozario Australia 1:31:11
Tatyana McFadden^ USA 1:31:30
Jenna Fesemyer USA 1:33:50
Christie Dawes Australia 1:37:12
Vanessa de Souza Brazil 1:40:23
Aline Dos Santos Rocha Brazil 1:41:39
Michelle Wheeler USA 1:45:45
Yen Hoang USA 1:47:29
Patricia Eachus Switzerland 1:47:06
Eden Rainbow Cooper Great Britain 1:47:27
Emelia Perry USA 1:49:55
Eva Houston USA 1:59:49
Hannah Dedrick USA 2:02:23
Hannah Babalola Nigeria 2:11:42
Marie Emmanuelle Alphonse Mauritius
BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL FIELD – WOMEN'S PARA ATHLETICS DIVISION
NAME COUNTRY PERSONAL BEST CLASSIFICATION
Lisa Thompson USA 3:16:53 T13 (Vision Impairment)
Liz Willis USA 3:56:31 T64 (Lower-Limb Impairment)
Jacky Hunt-Broersma USA 5:05:13 T64 (Lower-Limb Impairment)
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The
Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with
international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York
City. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been
John Hancock. The 127th Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on
Monday, April 17, 2023. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit
www.baa.org.
###
| 
