Simbu competes for Boston Marathon today
What you need to know:
- Simbu is one of only 10 elite athletes who have received official invitations to compete in this year’s edition, highlighting his stature in international athletics.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s top long-distance runner, Alphonce Simbu, will today line up among the world’s elite athletes in the highly anticipated 2025 Boston Marathon.
The prestigious race, taking place in the United States, is set to begin at 4pm East African Time and will feature some of the finest marathoners from across the globe.
Simbu is one of only 10 elite athletes who have received official invitations to compete in this year’s edition, highlighting his stature in international athletics. In total, 23 top-class runners from various countries will take part, all vying for glory on one of the sport’s most iconic courses.
The Tanzanian star will face tough competition, with Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma emerging as the strongest rival.
Lemma is the defending champion, having won last year’s Boston Marathon in a time of 2:06:17. He also holds an impressive personal best of 2:01:48, recorded at the 2023 Valencia Marathon, which ranks him fourth on the all-time list of fastest marathon runners.
Simbu’s challenge doesn’t stop with Lemma. He will also go head-to-head with two-time Boston Marathon winner Evans Chebet of Kenya, who secured third place in last year’s edition. Another formidable contender is John Korir, winner of the Chicago Marathon.
Also in the mix is 2024 World Marathon Champion Victor Kiplangat of Uganda, adding further depth to an already stacked field.Berlin Marathon 2024 runner-up Cybrian Kotut and third-place finisher Haymanot Alew will also be looking to make a strong impact.
The stakes are high, with the winner of the 2025 Boston Marathon set to take home a cash prize of $150,000.
The second-place finisher will receive $75,000, while third and fourth place will pocket $40,000 and $25,000 respectively.
