Champions and Global Medalists Headaline Men’s Field for 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America

January 21, 2026

BOSTON (January 21, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today announced the men’s professional field for the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, featuring world and Boston champions, Olympic and Paralympic medalists, national stars and 25 men who have run under 2:07 for the marathon distance.

In the open division, eight of the top ten men’s finishers from 2025 return, including champion John Korir (Kenya), runner-up and 2025 world championships gold medalist Alphonce Felix Simbu (Tanzania), and third-placer Cybrian Kotut (Kenya).

Returning to Boston for the first time since 2023 is Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, winner of the 2021 Boston Marathon, 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 2024 Tokyo Marathon, and 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. Kipruto is the first person in history to win all three American Abbott World Marathon Major races, plus has an Olympic Marathon medal from the 2024 Paris Games.

“Boston holds a special place in my heart, as I won my first Major there in 2021 and have finished third twice,” said Kipruto. “I look forward to starting my 2026 season and racing a fast group of men in April.”

Additional international stars include Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, the 2021 Olympic silver medalist and 2024 TCS New York City Marathon winner, and Hailemaryam Kiros of Ethiopia, 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon champion. Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu, the 2016 Boston Marathon champion, returns on the tenth anniversary of his 2:12:45 win. Back after top-ten finishes a year ago are Canada’s Rory Linkletter (sixth, 2:07:02) and Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana (eighth, 2:07:19). Alex Masai, third at Chicago in 2025 in 2:04:37, will make his Boston debut.

In addition to previously announced American record holder Conner Mantz, a full cadre of U.S. talent will toe the line in Hopkinton. Two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp, 2024 Olympic marathoner Clayton Young, 2:06:53 star Biya Simbassa, and Ryan Ford, the tenth-place finisher from 2025, will compete for the podium on Patriots’ Day. Zouhair Talbi and CJ Albertson, who have career best finishes of fifth (2023) and seventh (2024), respectively, at Boston, return as well; Talbi recently won the Houston Marathon in 2:05:45.

“Running my first Boston Marathon a year ago was memorable, and the crowd support was unmatched spanning the entire route,” said Young. “The anticipation is already building towards Patriots’ Day 2026.”

Olympian Joe Klecker, 2022 NCAA Cross Country Champion Charles Hicks, and Dusseldorf Marathon winner Alex Maier all make their Boston debuts, while Wesley Kiptoo is racing after a 14^th-place finish at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships earlier in January.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland leads the professional wheelchair field, aiming for his ninth Boston win and fourth in a row. As course record holder, Hug will battle perennial contender Daniel Romanchuk, a two-time Boston winner, four-time Paralympic medalist, and reigning B.A.A. 10K champion.

“While the weather may be unpredictable, I can always count on fast competition, a challenging course, and lots of energy each April at the Boston Marathon,” said Romanchuk.

Jetze Plat (Netherlands) and Sho Watanabe (Japan), third and fourth a year ago, return, as does Britain’s David Weir, third in 2024. American Miguel Vergara, winner of the 2025 Boston Half (49:06) will race.

In the Para Athletics Divisions, familiar faces seek to continue their dominance. Five-time Para Athletics Division champion and course record holder Marko Cheseto Lemtukei (T62/T64; T42/T44 lower limb impairment) aims for win number six.

Tunisian Paralympic gold medalist Wajdi Boukhili timed 2:25:12 a year ago to win the T11/T12 Division and establish a new course record. He’ll face 2023 winner El Amin Chentouf (Morocco), a three-time gold medalist at the Paralympics.

Ethiopia’s Atsbha Gebremeskel looks to extend his winning streak to four in the T45-T47 (upper-limb impairment) classification, though will battle Australian Paralympian Matthew Felton. New Hampshire’s Thomas Cantara aims to win the T20 (intellectual impairment) Division for the third time in as many years.

Finally, Australia’s Deon Kenzie, a two-time Paralympic medalist on the track, is a top contender in the T35-T38 Division (coordination impairment).

Media credential applications for the 2025 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will open in February. Information will be posted to the B.A.A.’s Media Relations page in the new year.

A complete men’s professional field list can be found below and will be continuously updated on the B.A.A. website. The women’s professional field can also be found on the B.A.A. website.

2026 BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL MEN’S DIVISION

2026 BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL WHEELCHAIR DIVISIONS

2026 BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS

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 presented by Bank of America, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

130^th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America

Champions and Global Medalists Headline Men’s Field for

MEDIA CONTACT

Chris Lotsbom
Director of Race Communications & Media
Clotsbom@baa.org

Celia Oswitch
Manager, Communications
Coswitch@baa.org