Boston Marathon 2024 Recap: Highlights, winners, and news from along the course

More than 30,000 runners are running from Hopkinton to Boston today, April 15, for the 128th running of the Boston Marathon.

With the four elite races complete, Helen Obiri of Kenya, Sisay Lema of Ethiopia, Eden Rainbow-Cooper of England and Marcel Hug of Switzerland won their respective races. The Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program features 168 non-profit organizations with a goal of raising $50 million around this year’s race.

The BAA Racing App will also host the race's leaderboards and unofficial results for runners as they cross the finish line. The BAA website will offer the ability to search for athletes during the race and view leaderboards in real time.

Enjoy Patriots' Day and head out to the course to cheer the non-professional runners on.

How did the heat affect the runners

Boston had its warmest day of 2024 on Marathon Monday with a high in the low 70s. As of 6 p.m. Monday, 77 athletes had been transported to local hospitals.

This was a dramatic increase over the 2023 Boston Marathon when the high was in the 50s and it was raining.

2024 Boston Marathon Para Athletics Division winners

The Boston Athletic Association announced the winners of the seven para athletic divisions, which are separate from the professional wheelchair division.

T11/T12 (Vision impairment) – Irwin Ramirez, 3:24:21 / Joyce Cron, 4:27:46

T13 (Vision impairment) – Andrew Thorsen, 3:02:23 / Lisa Thompson, 4:00:58

T45/T46 (Upper-limb impairment) – Atsbha Gebremeskel, 2:54:14 / Adrienne Keane, 4:44:26

T61/T63/T43 (Lower-limb impairment) – Adam Popp, 3:11:56 / Tatsiana Khvitso-Trimborn, 4:00:04

T62/T64; T42/T44 (Lower-limb impairment) – Marko Cheseto Lemtukei, 2:46:45 / Kelly Bruno, 3:31:30

T35-T38 (Coordination impairment) – Joseph Drake, 4:32:44 / Cristina Burbach, 3:41:17

T20 (Intellectual impairment) – Thomas Cantara, 2:35:23

When is the 2025 Boston Marathon

The 2025 Boston Marathon will be on April 21, which will also be the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Battles of Lexington and Concord – the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.

What are the Boston Marathon charities

In September, the Bank of America Marathon Official Charity Program announced the 160 approved organizations. Charity runners comprise about 10% of the total field, according to the Boston Athletic Association. Here is their list:

Marcel Hug crashed wheelchair in Newton at Fire House turn while setting a course record

On his way to winning the 2024 Boston Marathon, Switzerland's Marcel Hug took a turn too quickly in his wheelchair. He crashed into the barriers and the crowd but was able to get back on the course.

"I just had too much, way too much, pressure on the steering," Hug said in an interview with WCVB after the race. "It was my fault."

Hug finished the race in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 32 seconds, which broke his own previous course record set last year. His time in 2023 was 1 hour, 17 minutes and 6 seconds.

What to know about the Boston Marathon After Party

For runners and fans who still have energy, Boston-based Samuel Adams is sponsoring an afterparty on Boston's City Hall Plaza. The event called "Mile 27 Post-Race Party" will begin at 5 p.m.

The event includes a crowning of the champions and will be hosted by Des Linden and Kara Goucher. Tickets are $15 per person. Registered athletes received an email in February with a unique code for a discount. Children under 12 will be allowed in for free but must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are on sale online.

When will the roads reopen?

As most of the runners have passed the early part of the course, the course is starting to be returned to regular roads.

Framingham and earlier points of the course have resumed regular traffic.

Here’s when roads are expected to open:

• Route 135 in Natick, 3 p.m.

• Route 135 in Wellesley, 3:40 p.m.

• Route 16 in Wellesley, 4:30 p.m.

• Route 16 in Newton 4:45 p.m.

• Commonwealth Ave to Brighton, 5:20 p.m.

• Chestnut Hill Ave., 5:45 p.m.

• Cleveland Circle, 6 p.m.

• Other roads in Boston will open through 7 p.m.

Boston Marathon bombing: Remembering the victims on the 11th anniversary

April 15 marks the 11^th anniversary of deadly bombings at the finish line of 2013 Boston Marathon. Before the runners started, wreaths were laid at the site of both explosions as city and state leaders held moments of silence on Boylston Street and Taps was played.

Three people were killed in the bombings --- Martin Richard, 8, Krystle Campbell, 29; and Lu Lingzi, 23, and more than 200 people were injured.

MIT police Officer Sean Collier, 27, was killed days later during the manhunt for the bombers. Boston police Officer Dennis Simmonds died one year after responding to the shootout with the bombers.

Zdeno Chara crosses finish line

Good work, Big Zee.

Retired Boston Bruins player Zdeno Chara finished the 2024 Boston Marathon in 3 hours, 35 minutes and 9 seconds.

This is a marked improvement for the former hockey star, as last year, he finished in 3 hours, 38 minutes and 23 seconds.

Chara retired from the NHL in 2022. While many athletes wind down after their retirement, Chara ended up running in the 2023 Boston Marathon.

Since then, he has been on a tear, running five more marathons, a 50-kilometer race and a triathlon in 2023.

Since he has finished Boston, he is expected to run in the London Marathon on April 21.

Despite hanging up his skates, Chara still has his running shoes on.

A very good dog: Jimmy cheers for runners on Marathon route

Author and journalist Barbara Walsh wrote a children's book about Spencer, a golden retriever who inspired thousands of Boston Marathon runners as they made their way down West Union Street (Route 135) in the early stages of the race.

Spencer died in February 2023, at the age of 13. Last month, a statue was placed near his familiar Marathon post at 11 Frankland Road in Ashland. Several runners veered off course to check it out.

"I never met Spencer – I first read about him when The New York Times published an article about him, and I thought to get your obituary published in the New York Times you have to be pretty important, let alone as a dog," Walsh said. "I watched videos of him and read about how special he was, and it was so inspiring to see the kind of hope he gave to people."

Meanwhile Spencer's former owner, Rich Powers, was on the Marathon route in Ashland with his new dog, Jimmy. Jimmy is 1 year old, and is currently training as a therapy dog.

"Jimmy has done really well, considering his age," Powers said. "He's been a good boy holding his stick and greeting people. I'm not sure Spencer would have done any better at the same age. It's been a hectic day, it's been so nice to see people stop by and say hello and get their photo taken with Jimmy and with the Spencer statue. There has been a great turnout here in Ashland, the place is packed."  – Jesse Collings

New statue of Spencer cheers on runners

A bronze good boy sits vigilantly, silently cheering on Marathon runners.

The golden retriever Spencer, who was a fixture of the Boston Marathon by holding Boston Strong flags in his mouth to greet runners passing by, died in February of last year.

However, his likeness was cast in bronze and unveiled last month to honor his legacy.

Spencer’s bronze statue can be found at 11 Frankland Road and was made by sculptor Buccacio Sculpture Services in Canton.

The Boston Athletic Association recognized Spencer in 2022 as the official dog of the 126th Boston Marathon.

The people living at 11 Frankland Road have dedicated a space on their property for Spencer’s statue, which the public is welcome to visit.

CJ Albertson and Emma Bates: Top American finishers in the 2024 Boston Marathon

Here are the top three American finishers in the Boston Marathon, men and women.

CJ Albertson, of Fresno, California, was the fastest American man, placing seventh overall. He finished fifth in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 7 seconds. In this year’s Boston Marathon, he passed the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 53 seconds.

Next was U.S. Army technician and runner Elkanah Kibet, who finished with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes and 32 seconds.

Ryan Eiler, of Boston, was the third American finisher, in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 22 seconds.

Boston resident Emma Bates is a standout American runner competing. A Boise State NCAA champion in the 10,000-meter run and finished fifth last year, she finished the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 14 seconds.

Sara Hall, who remains the second-fastest American woman to run the half-marathon, finished the Boston Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 58 seconds.

American runner Desiree Linden finished with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds.

Helen Obiri of Kenya wins the women’s division of the 2024 Boston Marathon

Hellen Obiri wins the women’s professional race after breaking away from the group during the final miles of the Boston Marathon.

Obiri is 34 years old and from Kenya.

This is her second win in Boston. She also won the 2023 Boston Marathon.

She is the first back-to-back winner since fellow Kenyan Catherine Ndereba won in 2004 and 2005.

She ran the Marathon in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds.

Sisay Lemma wins Men’s Division of Boston Marathon

Sisay Lemma wins the men’s elite race for 2024 Boston Marathon of 2 hours 6 minutes 17 seconds.

The 33-year-old from Ethiopia. Lemma led the Professional Men’s Division through the whole 2024 marathon.

This is his third time running the Boston Marathon. He did not finish the race last year but completed it in 2019 with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 8 seconds.

“Lemma is coming off a memorable win at the Valencia Marathon in 2:01:48, making him the fourth fastest marathoner in history,” according to the Boston Athletic Association. “He was champion of the TCS London Marathon in 2021 and leads a field of 20 men whose personal bests are below 2:10:00.”

He is the first Ethiopian to win the race since 2016, according to ESPN.

CJ Albertson is top American, coming in 7th with a time of 2:09:53.

What are the different Boston Marathon bib colors?

The Boston Marathon bibs are color coded based on what start wave the runner was in. According to the Boston Athletics Association, "Red bibs (numbers 201 to 7,800) are assigned to Wave 1 (10:00 a.m.). White bibs (numbers 8,000 to 15,999) are assigned to Wave 2 (10:25 a.m.). Blue bibs (numbers 16,000 to 23,999) are assigned to Wave 3 (10:50 a.m.) Yellow bibs (numbers 24,000 to 32,999) are assigned to Wave 4 (11:15 a.m.)."

What it's like watching the Boston Marathon at Mile 11

The Boston Marathon is just another manic Monday for those living along the route.  Seemingly stuck at home, while thousands run past, gleaming with sweat, and breathing heavily.

The first cyclists zoom by to a flurry of shouts from the neighborhood, but as the Elite runners from both the men and women categories saunter past, those cheers slowly begin their day-long crescendo.

Sure, there is a break in the constant "woo," "you got it," and "keep going," but the break is filled with the sound of thousands of sneakers pounding the pavement.

As the runners continue to make their way past mile 11 or so, exhaustion begins to creep across their faces, every foot forward is an unimaginable effort.

"Keep going," "You got it," and another round of "woo" to keep them going, isn't that what living along the route is all about? – Sarah Barnacle

What it is like watching the Boston Marathon on Ashland

Robin Hicks, who lives on Frankland Road in Ashland, provided a few audience members with an exclusive view of the Marathon course.

“It’s a great event, I do this every year,” Hicks said. “We own 16 acres of what used to be a Christmas tree farm, and it's right on the route. It’s amazing to see so many runners, of all ages.

"I’m 70 and I tell my wife, Cynthia, I’m going to run this when I am 75.”

How much does the winner of the Boston Marathon get as prize money

Recognition isn’t the only thing athletes compete for; there’s the prize money after all.

The Boston Marathon is offering five- to six-figure rewards for the top finishers in the competition, with a $50,000 bonus for those who set new course records in the open division and wheelchair division.

In the open division, the first-place prize is $150,000, the second-place prize is $75,000 and the third-place runner receives $40,000.

In the wheelchair division for T53/54/34 competitors, the first-, second-, and third-place prizes are valued at $40,000, $25,000 and $12,000.

To get the $50,000 course record bonus, open division male runners will have to beat Geoffrey Mutai’s record time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 2 seconds.

Open division female runners will have to beat Buzunesh Deba’s time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 59 seconds.

Male wheelchair athletes will have to beat Marcel Hug’s record of 1 hour, 17 minutes and 6 seconds, while female wheelchair athletes must beat Manuela Schär’s 1 hour, 28 minutes and 17 seconds to get the bonus.

To learn more about the prize money rewards for master division, para athletes and more, visit here.

Where is Heartbreak Hill?

Heartbreak Hill is the name of a long incline on the marathon racecourse from miles 18 to 21 on Commonwealth Avenue in Newton.

It’s called Heartbreak Hill because it’s where many runners “hit the wall” and become suddenly fatigued. The hill part comes from the fact that it’s the last of the four Newton Hills.

There is a deeper story, however.

How did Heartbreak Hill get its name? A RI marathon legend was at the heart of that story

In the 1936 Boston Marathon, Narragansett athlete Ellison Myers Brown, known as Tarzan Brown, got a hot lead in the race until competitor John Kelley overtook him on the last Newton Hill, giving Brown a pat on the back before passing him.

Brown would then win the 1936 marathon, breaking Kelley’s heart. A journalist would later coin the name Heartbreak Hill.

MarMon tradition

As the first group of runners passed Wellesley College, senior Parker Phillips said it's bittersweet that she's attending her last "MarMon" -- what Wellesley students call Marathon Monday.

"Right now the feeling hasn't hit me yet," she said. "But my friends and I usually head into Boston, and that's when the sadness will start for me because it's our last Marathon."

Eden Rainbow-Cooper wins women's wheelchair

Qualifying time for the Boston Marathon

Not just anyone can compete in one of the biggest marathons in the country.

To qualify for the Boston Marathon, you must achieve a qualifying time depending on your gender and age group.

For men ages 18 to 34, they must complete a marathon in 3 hours or less. For women and nonbinary people, they must complete a marathon in 3 hours and 30 minutes or less.

Beyond the age of 34, qualifying times increase by increments of five minutes with each age group, which are separated by four-year divisions. For example, one age group is 35 to 39, another is 40 to 44, etc.

Once a person has obtained their qualifying time, they must submit a qualifying application. After that they will receive an acceptance or rejection email concerning their application.

Due to field size limitations, achieving the qualifying standard does not guarantee entry, only the opportunity to apply.

John Anderson, sports anchor covering Boston Marathon, announces ESPN exit

John Anderson, longtime sports anchor, has announced that he will be leaving SportsCenter and ESPN.

Anderson, a veteran journalist of 25 years, will be leaving when his contract expires at the end of June. He said this on a March 28 episode of the Inside Wisconsin Show.

"I'm going to get to do a couple of track-and-field things,” he said. “I'm going to get to do the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon."

Anderson called the 2023 Boston Marathon and is covering this year’s Boston Marathon with another veteran sports journalist Hannah Storm.

“It’s been a good run,” Anderson said.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland wins men's wheelchair for the seventh time

Smashing his course record for the second year in a row, Marcel Hug of Switzerland has won the men's wheelchair division. The new course record is 1:17:06.

Boston Marathon leaderboard: Here's how to see who's ahead

If you're looking to track who's in the lead during the 128th Boston Marathon, there's no better way to do that than the leaderboard on the Boston Athletic Association's website. See who's leading the race here.

Boston Marathon wheelchair times: How fast they go

Every year, wheelchair athletes are some of the fiercest competitors participating in the Boston Marathon. This year is no different.

The current high-performance standard for male wheelchair athletes is less than 1 hour and 31 minutes. For female wheelchair athletes, it’s less than 1 hour and 52 minutes.

The expected front-runners for the women in wheelchairs are course record holder and four-time Boston winner Manuela Schär, five-time winner Wakako Tsuchida and Paralympic gold medalist Madison de Rozario.

Schär holds a record time of 1:28:17.

Of the men’s division, Marcel Hug of Switzerland is an expected front-runner, as he set a time of 1:17:06 and won last year in Boston, his sixth win in the city.

Hug will have to face off against Daniel Romanchuk, two-time winner in Boston.

'Scream Tunnel' is already making noise. What is it?

A 9:30 a.m., students were already screaming at the course's halfway point at Wellesley College. "Scream Tunnel" is a Wellesley tradition where students scream for Boston Marathon runners -- and maybe even offer a kiss.

Said first-year student Julia Reste: "There's no other college that that has a tradition that's baked into its campus (like this one)."

Scores of Wellesley College students line up on route 135 and scream encouragement at runners, wave signs and offer high-fives and kisses to participants passing through, as the marathon’s halfway point is the Wellesley campus.

The idea is for runners to hear the screams of support from a mile-away, emboldening them to continue to see the excited crowds of students watching the marathon.

The signs vary from comedic to celebratory, but they’re usually all in the spirit of cheering on the marathon runners.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on the kissing aspect of the tradition, but now it’s back in full force.

Added first-year student Teddy Hughes, who had landed about 15 kisses: "I've got a bit of 'beard burn,' but it's great. I've been looking forward to this all year."

Celebrities running the Boston Marathon 2024

Both the professional men and women started the race.

In addition to the professional athletes, a handful of celebrities run the race of every year. Here are some of the names from the Boston Athletic Association of people you might want to watch.

• Meb Keflezighi, 2014 Boston Marathon champion (most recent American men’s open division champion) – Bib 2014

• Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon champion – Bib 1968

• Zdeno Chara, former Boston Bruins captain – Bib 3333

• Nicolas Kiefer, former tennis world No.4, Olympic silver medalist in men’s doubles – Bib 2004

• Daniel Humm, Michelin Star award-winning chef and restaurateur – Bib 6757

• Matt Wilpers, fitness coach and well-known trainer – Bib 30066

• Chris Nikic, first person with Down syndrome to complete the Hawaii Ironman; also an Abbott Six Star Finisher – Bib 7796

• Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon race course director – Bib 100

Evans Chebet is hoping to defend his title

History is on the line in the 2024 Boston Marathon on Monday.

The Patriots' Day tradition will see 35-year-old Kenyan Evans Chebet attempt to defend his back-to-back titles and become only the fifth man in the race's more than 125-year history to win in three straight years.

Hellen Obiri, who completed the other half of a Kenyan sweep, will defend her title from a women's field that race organizers described as "historically fast." Obiri will likely have to outlast a trio of women with personal bests under 2:18, including 2019 champion Worknesh Degefa.

Boston Marathon 2024 what to expect from the runners and weather

With temperatures in the mid-40s and and no rain in sight, it's looking like it's going to be a beautiful race day for the 128th Boston Marathon this morning.

After an inconsistent spring of sleet, rain and cold, today is expected to be mostly sunny according to the National Weather Service, with a near high of 67 degrees.

In the morning, when the race begins, the temperature is expected to be around 50 degrees, hitting that high temperature of 67 in the midafternoon.

While this is great news for the people watching, those running in the marathon itself might not be as thrilled.

Hotter weather has been found to worsen runners’ performance. Marathon runners tend to favor cooler temperatures and cloudy skies, as those conditions minimize the risk of heat exhaustion.

Runners will have to fight through that midafternoon temperature high if they want to finish well.

Boston Marathon race start time

Here are the start times for the different groups.

• Military March: 6 a.m.

• Men’s Wheelchair: 9:02 a.m.

• Women’s Wheelchair: 9:05 a.m.

• Handcycles and Duos: 9:30 a.m.

• Professional Men: 9:37 a.m.

• Professional Women: 9:47 a.m.

• Para Athletics Division: 9:50 a.m.

• Rest of Field Rolling Start Begins: 10 a.m.

• Rest of Field Rolling Start Ends: 11:15 a.m.

Where is the Boston Marathon start line? Finish line?

This is the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon starting in Hopkinton. When the Marathon was founded in 1897, runners started from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland, but the starting line was moved to Hopkinton in 1924.

Hopkinton start line: 'It all starts here' Boston Marathon, Hopkinton celebrate starting line milestone

The final stretch of the Marathon is on Boylston Street, where the runners Mile 26, knowing they're nearing the finish line.

The Boston Marathon finish line itself is at 655 Boylston St, Boston.

How long is the Boston Marathon?

The distance is 26.2 miles, as it is for all marathons. You can find the full course map on the marathon website.

But when you ask how long is the race, that brings up the question of time.

And the answer to that question varies as widely as the legends surrounding its origin.

The fastest any human has ever completed the Boston Marathon is 2 hours, 3 minutes and 2 seconds. That mark was set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011. The fastest female finisher was Firiya Sultanova-Zhdanova who finished in 2:27:58 in 2002.

How to get to the Boston Marathon via the MBTA Green Line

There are multiple spots people can safely watch from, depending on what time they get there and what part of the race they want to see, according to the Boston Marathon website.

The best and easiest places to observe the marathon are Newton and Brookline. Both are accessible via the MBTA; make sure to remember that Copley station is closed for Marathon Day.

To get to Newton on the MBTA, take the Green Line D line and get off at the Woodland stop, which is near the 17-mile mark on the south side of the racecourse. You’ll be able to see the 35-kilometer split from there and watch runners take on Heartbreak Hill.

To watch the race from Brookline, get on either the B, C, or D trains to the Cleveland Circle area. You’ll be able to watch the 38-kilometer split in the late morning.

From there, you can either try to keep up with the runners and join them at the finish line at Boylston Street in Boston or enjoy the fine amenities the city has to offer.

Watch the Boston Marathon Live: How to steam, watch on television

If you’re looking to watch on television, WCVB Channel 5 has the exclusive rights to locally broadcast the marathon. Marathon coverage will be simulcast on area Hearst-owned stations including WMUR (Manchester, New Hampshire), WMTW (Portland/Auburn, Maine) and WPTZ (Burlington, Vermont/Plattsburgh, New York).

Watching the 128th Boston Marathon: The 2024 Boston Marathon is April 15. Here's how to watch it on TV and stream it

Outside the local market, ESPN will broadcast the marathon starting at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN+. ESPN+ has additional streams beginning at 4 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

How to track your favorite runner in the Boston Marathon

The BAA Racing App will also host the race's leaderboards and unofficial results for runners as they cross the finish line.

The BAA website will offer the ability to search for athletes during the race and view leaderboards in real time.

Where can I get a coffee along the Boston Marathon route?

If you're looking for a little caffeine buzz before the marathon gets going, we've helped you out by scouting some coffee shops to start your morning at.

• Muffin House Café, Mile 1 (Hopkinton): Near the starting line in Hopkinton, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., there’s the Muffin House Café, 43 Main St. (Route 135), where you can enjoy a variety of freshly brewed hot and cold coffees.

• Fresscafe, Mile 6.5 (Framingham): Fresscafe has two locations on the Boston Marathon route where you can take a coffee or bathroom break or fill up with a snack or meal. The first is at 82 Concord St. (Route 126) in Framingham, which serves breakfast from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Quebrada Baking Co., Mile 13 (Wellesley): Quebrada BakingCompany is open on Monday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 272 Washington St. (Route 16), Wellesley. You can try locally roasted coffees and teas or freshly baked scones, croissants, cinnamon rolls, muffins, yogurt parfait or egg sandwiches.

• Elizabeth Home Decor and Design, Mile 21 (Newton): Right at Heartbreak Hill, Elizabeth Home Décor and Design, 242 Commonwealth Ave. (Route 30), has its own coffee bar, Press and Petals, and will feature live music by the Orchid Reed band from noon to 4 p.m.

Boston Marathon: Need an extra coffee while watching the Boston Marathon? Spots to get a cup on the route

Boston Marathon road closures: What to know

In Wellesley, Route 135 and Route 16 will close at 8 a.m. and reopen at 3:30 p.m.; Route 16 at the Newton line is scheduled to reopen at 4:30 p.m.

In Newton, Washington Street on Route 16 will close at the town line at 8 a.m. and reopens at 4:45 p.m.

Safety first: Boston Marathon officials to add barriers along Boston Marathon course.

On Commonwealth Avenue on Route 30 to the Brighton line, the road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.

In Brighton, Chestnut Hill Avenue on Route 30 at Beacon Street will close at 8 a.m. and reopen at 5:45 p.m.

Beacon Street at Cleveland Circle is closed at 9 a.m. and will reopen at 6 p.m.

USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Boston Marathon 2024 recap: Winners, celebrities, runners and more