Kenyan long-distance specialist John Korir has etched his name into the history books at the 130th edition of the Boston Marathon. On Monday, Korir not only successfully defended his title but also shattered a course record that had stood for 15 years.

Korir crossed the finish line with a staggering time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 52 seconds, obliterating the previous record of 2:03:02 set by fellow countryman Geoffrey Mutai in 2011. In a historic display of speed, the top three finishers in the men’s category all surpassed the former record.

The race remained a tight contest until the 20th mile, where Korir launched a decisive surge to pull away from Ethiopia’s Milkesha Mengesha. He then ran a solo masterclass over the final six miles, maintaining a relentless pace.

In a moment that captured the crowd’s attention, Korir clocked a blistering 4 minutes and 26 seconds for his final mile. Just before crossing the line, he playfully stuck out his tongue—a clear sign of satisfaction with his dominant performance.

“I knew I could defend the title, but I didn’t expect to run this fast,” Korir said during the post-race press conference.

In the women’s category, Sharon Lokedi displayed her own brilliance, defending her crown with a winning time of 2 hours, 18 minues, and 51 seconds.

Kenya’s dominance among the women was undeniable as they swept the top four positions. American runner Jess McClain finished fifth with a time of 2:20:49, the fastest time ever recorded by an American woman in the history of the Boston Marathon.

The race was held in crisp conditions, with temperatures around 7°C and a helpful 16 km/h tailwind, providing the perfect environment for these extraordinary times.

The double victory by Korir and Lokedi once again reaffirms Kenya’s absolute dominance in world marathon events, leaving their competitors trailing in their wake.