'The runners are coming': Lokedi breaks Boston Marathon course record, John Korir takes men's race

BOSTON (AP) — A rider dressed as Paul Revere eased his horse up to the Boston Marathon finish line and proclaimed, “The runners are coming.”

And down Boylston Street they came.

In record time. With a historic family first. And even “The Star-Spangled Banner” got some air time as the race and the region commemorated the 250th anniversary of the first shots fired in the American Revolution.

Sharon Lokedi of Kenya broke the Boston Marathon course record by more than 2 1/2 minutes on Monday, outkicking two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri a year after losing to her in one of the closest finishes in race history.

Fellow Kenyan John Korir recovered from a starting line fallto join his brother as a race champion — the first relatives to win the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon in a history that dates to 1897.

On a day that also marked the 50th anniversary of Bob Hall's pioneering wheelchair race, Marcel Hug of Switzerland claimed his eighth victory and Susannah Scaroni of the United States took the women's title.

“I always feel emotional when the national anthem is played," said Scaroni, who won in 2023 but couldn't defend her title last year because of an injury. “And to have ours played on this amazing, historic anniversary gives me goosebumps.”

Lokedi finished in 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds to claim the $150,000 first prize and another $50,000 bonus for breaking the course record of 2:19:59 set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014. A year after sprinting to an 8 second victory, Obiri was 19 seconds back in her attempt to become the first woman to win three straight since Fatuma Roba in 1999.

“Where she passed me last year, I passed her this year,” Lokedi said with a laugh. “I didn’t even believe. I kept looking back and thinking, ‘Where is she?’ I’m just so grateful to her for pushing me all the way through.”

Six months after winning on Chicago's flatter course, Korir finished in 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in Boston history as the runners took advantage of perfect marathon weather to conquer the 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square.

And he did it despite getting tripped up from behind near the start and falling. He got up to rejoin the lead pack at the rear.

“What came to my mind was should I stay down, or should I (get) up and go?” he said. “Something told me to (get) up and go, and that everything will be OK. ... And everything went away."

Korir's race bib fell off and he tucked it into his running tights, pulling it out as he sprinted to the finish line. Waiting to congratulate him: 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir, his older brother.

Although the race has been won by a pair of unrelated John Kelleys and two different Robert Cheruiyots, the Korirs are the first brothers to have won.

“He explained to be tough and believe in yourself,” said John Korir, who finished fourth and ninth in his two previous Boston attempts. “So I believed in myself and I followed his advice.”

Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah, finished fourth after losing a three-way sprint to the finish with Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, who finished second, and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya, who was third.

Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia was third in the women's race. Jess McClain of Phoenix was the top American, in seventh place; 2018 winner Des Linden, who had announced she would retire from competitive running, won the masters division and was 17th overall.

When she crossed the finish line, the other American women bowed to her in tribute.

“I had those folks in front of me who paved the way, and I looked up to them. And they always made me feel like I belonged, made me feel like my dreams are valid, helped me along the way,” Linden said. “So I've always tried to do that for the folks in this sport as well."

A field of 30,000 left Hopkinton on Monday morning for Boston's Back Bay, where riders in Revolutionary War garb — accompanied by a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle” — rode down Boylston Street in a reenactment of Paul Revere's ride.

The ceremony came to a temporary halt when the horses was spooked by the finish line decal on the street and pulled up. The actor portraying the colonial silversmith and patriot had to hop off and walk the last few steps himself as the small early crowd laughed and clapped.

After reading a proclamation, Revere gently tugged the horse the rest of the way before riding off to more ceremonies commemorating the midnight ride on April 19, 1775, that warned the Sons of Liberty that the British were on the march.

Linden, the last American runner to win Boston, read the voice-over that introduced the reenactment.

“I wondered, ‘Are these professional horses?’ Because it seemed like a lot for them,” she said afterward. “It turns out, it was.”

Hug had no such trouble completing the course, zooming into Copley Square in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston wheelchair title. He beat two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk by more than four minutes.

Scaroni finished in 1:35:20 on a day the Boston Athletic Association celebrated Hall’s push to add a wheelchair division in 1975.

“I am only here today because so many incredible individuals had integrity, tenacity — they knew they belonged as athletes and they allowed us to have what we have today,” she said. "And I'm so beyond grateful.

“I'm not brave like them,” Scaroni said. “I'm only here because of how awesome those people are.”

Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott in Hopkinton, Mass., contributed to this story.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Boston Marathon winner John Korir, of Kenya, hoists the trophy while celebrating after the race, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Runner Matthew Nawn crawls to cross the finish line during the Boston Marathon, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Runners approach the finish line during the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Sharon Lokedi, of Kenya, dons a wreath by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu after winning the women's division of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Marathon winner John Korir, of Kenya, right, and women's division winner Sharon Lokedi, of Kenya, celebrate after the race, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Marathon winner John Korir, of Kenya, approaches the finish line to win the race, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

At the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2025, Sharon Lokedi, left, outruns two-time Boston Marathon defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile of the course. Lokedi won and broke the Boston Marathon course record. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott)

John Korir, of Kenya, breaks the tape to win the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Marathon winner John Korir, of Kenya, kisses the trophy while celebrating after the race, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi high-fives spectators in front of Boston College in Newton, Mass. while in the lead group of runners Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott)

Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, right, congratulates Susannah Scaroni, of the United States, after winning the men's and women's wheelchair divisions during the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, right, and Susannah Scaroni, of the United States, hold up the winner's trophy after winning the men's and women's wheelchair divisions during the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

John Korir, of Kenya, breaks the tape to win the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, breaks the tape to win the men's wheelchair division during the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

An actor portraying Paul Revere tries to pull his horse, which refused to advance over the line, during a ceremony for the Patriot's Day holiday at the finish prior to the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Four-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers and wheelchair athlete pioneer Bob Hall greet race volunteers at the start of the Boston Marathon Monday April 21, 2025. They are the grand marshals of the 129th Boston Marathon. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott)

Four-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers and wheelchair athlete pioneer Bob Hall greet race volunteers at the start of the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2025. They are the grand marshals of the 129th Boston Marathon. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott)

Colonial militia reenactors cross the finish line during a ceremony for the Patriot's Day holiday prior to the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

State Police Trooper Cory Hetu takes a selfie with the group of race volunteers at the start of the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2025 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott)

Massachusetts Army National Guard Cadet Meghan Drysdale kneels to take a photo of the road painted in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Patriots' Day at the start of the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo Jennifer McDermott)

Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, right, sends a group of Massachusetts National Guard members across the start line, launching the 129th edition of the race, in Hopkinton, Mass, early Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)

Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, right, sends a group of Massachusetts National Guard members across the start line, launching the 129th edition of the race, in Hopkinton, Mass, early Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza on Friday in international waters off Malta, the group organizing the shipment said, in the latest confrontation over efforts to send assistance to the Palestinian territory devastated by nearly 19 months of war.

A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which authorities said experienced a fire that was brought under control. The vessel was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, the Maltese government said, adding that those aboard refused to leave the ship. The group was safe and no serious injuries were reported, it said.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. The group did not provide evidence for that claim or to show that the fire was caused by drones, but in a video it shared an explosion could be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing.

The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment. Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the war with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.

Mecid Bagcivan, an activist from Turkey who was aboard the Conscience, was getting ready for bed when two explosions rocked the ship about two minutes apart, he said. At first it seemed there had been a collision. Then the crew saw fire and realized it was an attack, Bagcivan told The Associated Press.

As the crew radioed Malta for help, Bagcivan said someone impersonated them on the same channel saying help was no longer needed. Those on board scrambled to fight the fire on their own, leaving some with minor injuries, he said. Help later arrived, and after hours the fire was extinguished.

The ship was trying to reenter Maltese waters amid fears of a second attack, according to a statement from the crew.

“We feel like right now we’re safe, but we don’t know what Israel is going to do,” Bagcivan said. “We can’t trust no one in this situation after we get bombed in the middle of the night.”

Video taken after the explosions showed two large holes in the ship's deck, with thick smoke surrounding the vessel. The person recording the footage said the ship had been hit twice and was on fire about 14 miles from Malta. The video was provided by Codepink, a grassroots peace and social justice movement.

The ship's generator was badly damaged and will need to be repaired before continuing, said Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved with the Freedom Flotilla for more than a decade.

It's unclear where the ship will be able to stop for repairs, said Tighe Barry, a Codepink member who was among a group of activists who took speedboats to the Conscience after the attack. The boats were turned away by Maltese authorities, he said, but one person made it aboard and spoke to the captain.

Barry said the nation of Palau revoked its flag from the Conscience prior to the attack, and authorities in Malta, Greece and Turkey have threatened to confiscate the ship if it comes to port. Barry said the ship is loaded with medicine and food supplies.

“To get a new flag will take months, so they're just stuck out there,” Barry said of the crew.

Israel says the blockade is an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants assaulted southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel’s bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless.

When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.

On Friday, the Conscience was hit about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla.

Photos provided by Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to its side.

According to the ship-monitoring website Marine Traffic, the Conscience left the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and arrived Thursday morning in the area where it reported being attacked.

Volunteers who had traveled to Malta were meant to board the ship to go to Gaza, the group said. Andreasson said climate activist Greta Thunberg was supposed to have participated. The organization said Thunberg did not board and was safe.

The ship's 12 crew members are from Turkey and Azerbaijan, said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Codepink.

Turkey condemned the attack and pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The assault “threatens freedom of navigation and maritime security in international waters,” Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oncu Keceli said in a statement posted on the X social media platform.

The attack happened as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that it will not have access to food, medicine and life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza programs if aid deliveries don’t resume immediately.

Programs at risk include “common kitchens” that often give residents the only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few weeks, the ICRC said.

“Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,” the committee said. “Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.”

Brito contributed from Barcelona, Spain. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Giada Zampano in Rome; Kevin Schembri Orland in St. Julian’s, Malta; Colleen Barry in Soave, Italy; Elena Becatoros and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus; Jon Gambrell in Dubai; and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

FILE.- Palestinians wait for donated food at a distribution center in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana,File)

FILE.- A Palestinian girl struggles as she and others try to get donated food at a distribution center in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana,File)

Palestinians wait to get food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza Strip, Thursday April 24, 2025.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinian children struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday April 24, 2025.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

People protest against an Israeli drone attack on a vessel carrying aid to Gaza in international waters off Malta, outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

People protest against an Israeli drone attack on a vessel carrying aid to Gaza in international waters off Malta, outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

People protest against an Israeli drone attack on a vessel carrying aid to Gaza in international waters off Malta, outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

People protest against an Israeli drone attack on a vessel carrying aid to Gaza in international waters off Malta, outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

In this photo provided by the Government of Cyprus, a fire burns on the ship The Conscience, after a drone struck the vessel carrying aid to Gaza off the coast of Malta, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Government of Cyprus via AP)

This photo provided by the Goverment of Cyprus and taken from the EDT ship AEOLUS shows The Conscience, after a drone struck the vessel carrying aid to Gaza off the coast of Malta, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Government of Cyprus via AP)

A firefighting-equipped tug boat, left, contacted by the Malta Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) helps controlling a fire occurred on the bow of the Conscience vessel in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Malta Vessel Traffic Services via AP)