Chebet leads star-studded field to Boston for 10km race

Reigning Boston Marathon champions Evans Chebet and Edna Kiplagat will lead a star-studded field for Boston 10km race on June 26. Chebet who trains in Kapsabet, Nandi County under 2Running Club, is optimistic that he will be able to run well.

 He looks to become only the second Boston Marathon champion to win the Boston Athletic Association (BAA.) 10K, joining the 2011 winner and course record holder Geoffrey Mutai. 

Chebet stormed to his first Boston Marathon victory at 2:06:51 on April. 

“After winning the 2022 Boston Marathon, I’m excited to return to the city to run the BAA. 10K with a world-class field,” Chebet told People Sport. “Boston feels like a second home to me now,” he added.  

In April this year, Chebet timed 2:06.51 to win his first World Marathon Majors title during the 126 edition of the Boston marathon. He beat compatriots Lawrence Cherono and defending champion Benson Kipruto in a sprint finish to take home the title.  

In May this year, he was feted as the LG/Sports Journalists Association of Kenya Sports Personality for April. Chebet beat a strong field of athletes nominated for the April award including Boston Marathon Women’s winner Peres Jepchirchir who became the first athlete to claim an Olympic gold medal alongside the Boston and New York titles. 

In 2020 Chebet won the Valencia race in a personal best of 2:03.00 ahead of compatriot Lawrence Cherono who timed 2:03.04 while Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese was third in 2:04.53. 

In March 2020 before the lockdown, Chebet participated in the Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan where he won the race in 2:07.29. 

He hails from Kondabilet village in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

a region which has a rich history of producing some world-beaters including James Kwambai, Sally Kipyego, Michael Kipyego, Stanley Shokoti and John Kosgei. 

Others include Stella Barsosio, Agnes Barsosio, Benson Koech, Isaac Koech, Gilbert Rotich, and Pamela Kipchoge. 

Challenging Chebet from Kenya are David Bett, the reigning 2019 B.A.A. 10K winner; Kennedy Kimutai, the fastest man in the field with a 27:09 lifetime best; Bravin Kiptoo, the 2019 African junior 10,000m champion; and Nicholas Kosimbe and the winner of this year’s Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington, D.C among others. 

Born and bred in the hilly terrains near Torok Falls in Keiyo North Subcounty in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kiplagat has been an active athlete since making the national team to World Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney, Australia, in 1996 while a Standard Eight pupil at Kapkoi Primary School in Keiyo North.  

Edna has produced good shows in the World Marathon Major series. 

London Marathon winner in 2014 and second place in 2011, 2012, and 2013 as well as 10th place in 2015. New York Marathon winner in 2010, ninth in 2013, 12th in 2014 and fourth in 2017. 

Boston Marathon winner in 2017, ninth in 2018 and second place in 2019 and 2021. Kiplagat will face off with Boston Marathon champions Des Linden (2018), American record holder Emily Sisson, 2017 B.A.A. 10K winner Joan Chelimo Melly, 2022 Boston Marathon top American Nell Rojas, and 2016 USA Olympian Marielle Hall.  

Others are Biruktayit Degefa of Ethiopia, who has won a quartet of American road races this year and Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, who placed third at the 2022 B.A.A. 5K in April, among others. 

“We’re excited to continue to showcase the world’s most accomplished runners at our B.A.A. events,” said Mary Kate Shea, the B.A.A.’s Director of Professional Athletes and Technical Support.  

“We’re looking forward to cheering on all participants as they race towards the finish,” she added. 

The race will start and finishes at Charles Street adjacent to Boston Common and Boston Public Garden and is widely regarded as one of the fastest 10K races in the world.