Benson Kipruto ready to take on world class field in Boston

Olympic marathon bronze medalist Benson Kipruto is making a return to the Boston Marathon this year, facing a field with 25 men who have run under 2:07 for the classic distance and ready to dominate.

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Back for the first time since 2023, the winner of the 2021 Boston Marathon, 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 2024 Tokyo Marathon, and 2025 TCS New York City Marathon terms the 20 April race special.

Kipruto is the first person in history to win all three American Abbott World Marathon Major races, and an Olympic Marathon medal from the 2024 Paris Games.

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“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.”

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

Additional international stars include Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, the 2021 Olympic silver medalist and 2024 New York City Marathon winner, and Hailemaryam Kiros of Ethiopia, 2025 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.

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“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 14th-place finish at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships earlier in January.

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