Hellen Obiri of Kenya came to Boston reluctant to run the world’s oldest marathon.
She leaves Boston with ambitions of running 26.2 miles through the streets of Paris in search of gold.
Obiri underwent this change of heart on Monday when she surged to the lead at Kenmore Square and went on to win the women’s professional race in the 127th running of the BAA Boston Marathon.
Obiri crossed the finish line at Copley Square with a winning time of 2:21:38 in her Boston debut. Obiri withstood a late challenge by Ethiopian Amane Beriso, who entered the race with the fastest marathon time in the field.
Obiri is now committed to full-time marathon training and hopes to represent her homeland in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
“Actually, to make the Kenya team you have to run so well,” said Obiri during Tuesday morning’s gathering of champions at the Fairmont Hotel.
“If I get the chance, I would focus on that because the gold medal is the only thing missing in my career. It is the one thing I want to have so I will train well to run the Paris Marathon.
“With everything, you must work hard but nothing is impossible. If I believe and I work hard, I can get it.”
Obiri, 33, came to marathon racing after a stellar career as a harrier on the world toughest cross county courses and running 5,000 and 10,000-meter races in indoor and outdoor ovals. She is the only woman to win a world championship in cross country and indoor and outdoor track. She also captured the silver medal in the 5,000 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Obiri’s first foray into marathon racing was a disappointing sixth-place finish (2:25:49) at New York on Nov. 6, 2022, and she had to be coaxed by her family into running the more arduous 26.2-mile trip from Hopkinton to Boston.
“After running the New York Marathon, I asked myself if I wanted to run the Boston Marathon,” said Obiri. “But my family told me I had trained well and if you want the Boston Marathon, you must be patient.
“My body says I can run 2:15:00 but not now. I was patient and I think that helped me a lot.”
Unlike in the United States, where runners earn their way onto the Olympic team through time trials, Kenyan runners are selected by a committee in the country’s federation.
There was a time when some countries used the Boston or London marathons as an Olympic time trial. Kenyan Evans Chebet became the sixth men’s runner in BAA history to win back-to-back races when he broke the tape in 2:05:54.
Chebet won in New York back on Nov. 6 and intends to defend his Five Boroughs crown. Even with his recent string of incredible successes, they do not by themselves assure Chebet a ticket to Paris.
“That (Olympics) is yet to be determined and I don’t know what new information is on the way,” said Chebet. “Given the opportunity I will, but as of now I can’t say for sure what is going to happen.”
The 127th running of the Boston Marathon was supposed to be a coronation for Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, a runner recognized in many circles as the best of all time. Kipchoge is a two-time Olympic champion, the current world record holder, and the winner of 12 Abbott Marathon Majors. The only thing missing from Kipchoge’s awesome resume is a victory at Boston.
The Boston layout was nothing like the courses Kipchoge tamed in his storied career and he ultimately settled for sixth. Kipchoge pressed the early pace and stayed with the lead pack before experiencing an upper leg problem on Heartbreak Hill.
Kipchoge said he was disappointed with the outcome but would like to take another shot at Boston down the road. Kipchoge was reluctant to talk about his future plans, but he would clearly like to become the only runner to win three straight Olympic marathons.
“I don’t know anything yet and the outcome from Monday made me realize I have to go back and rearrange everything,” said Kipchoge. “Failure is not an end, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
“I have a very wonderful support system and that is why I am where I am.”