Para Athletics World and Event Records set at Boston 10K
BOSTON – More than 8,100 athletes took part in today’s 2024 Boston 10K presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital persevering through intermittent downpours to reach the finish at Boston Common. Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) and Melknat Wudu (Ethiopia) each won their first B.A.A. event, breaking the tape in 27:42 and 31:15, respectively. In the wheelchair division, Hermin Garic (USA) defended his title in 24:22, while Egypt’s Hoda Ismail prevailed in 26:52. World and event records were broken in the Para Athletics Divisions.
Results for today’s Boston 10K presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital are available here and within the B.A.A. Racing App presented by TCS. More than 500 runners raised over $300,000 as part of Team Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Boston 10K’s presenting sponsor and exclusive fundraising partner.
After hitting halfway in 13:52, Sawe, the reigning world half marathon gold medalist, began to break away from a pack of five that included challengers Daniel Ebenyo, Wesley Kiptoo, Yemane Haileselassie, and Abel Kipchumba. Racing on American roads for the first time, Sawe was determined to come home with the winner’s trophy and $10,000 top prize.
“It’s so amazing today, being my first time at the 10K race in Boston,” said Sawe, who’s margin of victory over Kiptoo was eleven seconds. “I’m so glad today to win this race. The course was not really tough, but the weather makes it so hard and I did my best.”
While Sawe cruised through the finish solo, Wudu’s stretch run was a battle until the very end. Five women took the final turn together with 200 meters remaining, though Wudu had the best kick of all. Averaging 5:02 pace for the 10K course, Wudu finished a step ahead of Bosena Mulatie with Senayet Getachew, Irine Cheptai, and Stacy Ndiwa close behind. Less than five seconds separated first place from fifth.
“I have confidence that everyone was going to come to win, but I know I have the same confidence as others,” she said through an interpreter. “At the finish line I knew I was a winner, so all the training I did back home was good for me, and makes me so happy.”
For both Sawe and Wudu, crossing over the Boston Marathon finish line with one mile to go served as inspiration to return for 26.2 miles in the future.
“That’s my dream, one day I will run the Boston Marathon,” said Sawe.
“It’s possible – the more I stay on the running career, that’s my dream, to one day to move to the marathon,” added Wudu.
Top American honors went to Teshome Mekonen (sixth, 28:17) and Emily Durgin (eighth, 31:51). Clayton Young, who will represent Team USA in the Olympic Marathon in August, placed ninth (28:31).
“This race has a great international field, fast course, little bit of hills in there, perfect preparation for Paris,” said Young. “Boston was fantastic… The spectators were incredible. I was so surprised. I know that I’ve reached a new level of fandom, but at the same time Boston came out and even in this downpour gave me all the love they could. It was every 50 meters I was getting a shout out, and that was motivating.”
GARIC DEFENDS WHEELCHAIR TITLE WHILE ISMAIL EARNS FIRST BOSTON WIN
Hermin Garic entered as a two-time defending champion, and leaves completing the three-peat, crossing the stripe in 24:22. The American had five seconds on Jeyna Senbeta at 5K, a lead that grew to 26 seconds at 8K and 36 by the finish.
“It felt great,” said Garic. “Coming off the victories the last two years and getting a three-peat was awesome.”
While Garic’s a familiar face atop the podium in Boston, Egypt’s Hoda Ismail – a student at the University of Illinois – took home her first B.A.A. race win, covering the course in 26:52 ahead of Michelle Wheeler (30:39) and Mass.-native Maddie Wilson (41:53).
“It feels so good,” said Ismail. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of my coaches because they are helping me a lot to advance my dreams.”
RECORDS FALL ACROSS PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS
Nearly $20,000 – an event record—in prize awards were available to top-three finishers across Vision Impairment (T11-T13), Upper Limb Impairment (T45-T46), Lower Limb Impairment (T61-T64), Coordination Impairment (T35-T38) classifications, and the added incentive led to a plethora of records falling.
World records were set by Atsbha Gebremeskel (36:59, upper-limb impairment), Cristina Burbach (47:49, coordination impairment) and Brian Reynolds (39:24, lower-limb impairment), while Kelly Bruno (44:59, lower-limb impairment) and Cory Gardner (1:10:26, coordination impairment) set event records.
Winners of all divisions can be found below:
Men’s Open Division: Sabastian Sawe (Kenya), 27:42
Women’s Open Division: Melknat Wudu (Ethiopia), 31:15
Men’s Wheelchair Division: Hermin Garic (NY), 24:22
Women’s Wheelchair Division: Hoda Ismail (Egypt), 26:52
Men’s Master’s Division: Ryan Irwin (MA), 32:48
Women’s Master’s Division: Lanni Marchant (Canada), 34:11
Women’s T11/T12/T13 (vision impairment) Para Athletic Division: Jennifer Herring (NJ), 45:42
Men’s T35-T38 (coordination impairments) Para Athletic Division: Cory Gardner (MA), 1:10:26 [EVENT RECORD]
Women’s T35-T38 (coordination impairments) Para Athletic Division: Cristina Burbach (VA), 47:49 [NEW WORLD RECORD]
Men’s T45/T46 (upper limb impairments) Para Athletics Division: Atsbha Gebremeskel (ETH), 36:59 [NEW WORLD RECORD]
Men’s T42-T44/T61-T64 (lower limb impairments) Para Athletics Division: Mark Cheseto Lemtukei (FL), 38:33
Women’s T42-T44/T61-T64 (lower limb impairments) Para Athletics Division: Kelly Bruno (CT), 44:59 [EVENT RECORD]
Non-Binary Division: Binh Dang (MA), 37:45
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL FIELDS TEAM OF 500+
More than 500 runners raised over $300,000 as part of Team Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Boston 10K’s presenting sponsor and exclusive fundraising partner. Since 2016, more than 2,500 runners and 180 teams have raised $1.5 million to fuel life-giving breakthroughs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
BOSTON 10K: NEW COURSE, SAME FUN!
This year’s race featured a new and enhanced Boston 10K course with scenic views of the Charles River and finishes at Boston Common. Crossing both the Longfellow and Mass. Ave bridges, and running alongside the Charles River and Memorial Drive, 6.2-miles of fun was covered. In the final mile, runners went over the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street, through misting stations, before proceeding to the Boston 10K finish on Charles Street adjacent to Boston Common.
Citizens of 97 countries and 46 U.S. states (plus Washington D.C.) were entered in the field ranging from 12 to 90 years old.
The Boston 10K presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital was the second event of the 2024 B.A.A. Distance Medley, a year-long series featuring the Boston 5K (April), Boston 10K (June), and Boston Half (November). Registration for the Boston Half, to be run on Sunday, November 10, opens on Monday, July 8.
NEXT UP: 2024 BOSTON HALF
The Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund will be the third and final event of the 2024 B.A.A. Distance Medley. The B.A.A. Distance Medley is a year-long series featuring the Boston 5K (April 13), Boston 10K (June 23), and Boston Half (November 10). General registration will open for the Boston Half on July 8 within baa.org, with early registration opportunities now available for finishers of the Boston 10K and those looking to fundraise for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.
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, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
