2024 Boston Marathon Women’s Elite Field Announced: Hellen Obiri Returns, 7 Women With Sub-2:19 PBs

By Chris Chavez

January 10, 2024

The Boston Athletic Association announced its women’s elite field for the 2024 Boston Marathon on April 15.

Here’s what you need to know:

– The field features 19 women with personal bests under 2:23 – including 7 women with personal bests under 2:19:00. The fastest personal best in the field belongs to Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa, who ran 2:15:51 to win December’s Valencia Marathon.

– 2023 champion Hellen Obiri returns to defend her title. She won last year’s race in 2:21:38, which was her second career marathon. She also won the 2023 New York City Marathon.

– After withdrawing from the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials due to injury, Emma Bates is the top American entered in the race. She finished 5th at the 2023 Boston Marathon in a personal best of 2:22:10.

– Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion, is planning to run Boston just 10 weeks after the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. In 2020, she also planned to do the Trials-Boston double before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled all spring races. She was 18th at last year’s race in 2:27:18.

You can view the full women’s elite field below (Masters athletes from the 40+ division are denoted with an asterisk):

Tadu Teshome (ETH) - 2:17:36 (Valencia, 2022)
Worknesh Degefa (ETH) - 2:17:41 (Dubai, 2019)
Hiwot Gebremaryam (ETH) - 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
Judith Korir (KEN) - 2:18:20 (Eugene, 2022)
Meseret Belete (ETH) - 2:18:21 (Amsterdam, 2023)
Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) - 2:18:47 (Valencia, 2022)
Worknesh Edesa (ETH) - 2:18:51 (Berlin, 2022)
Zeineba Yimer (ETH) - 2:19:07 (Berlin 2023)
Senbere Teferi (ETH) - 2:19:21 (Berlin, 2023)
Dera Dida (ETH) - 2:19:24 (Berlin, 2023)
Edna Kiplagat (KEN) - 2:19:50 (London, 2012)*
Mary Ngugi (KEN) - 2:20:22 (London, 2022)
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet (ERI) - 2:20:29 (Eugene) NR
Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) - 2:20:51 (Chicago, 2019)
Vibian Chepkirui (KEN) - 2:20:59 (Vienna, 2022)
Helah Kiprop (KEN) - 2:21:27 (Tokyo, 2016)
Hellen Obiri (KEN) - 2:21:38 (Boston, 2023)
Emma Bates (USA) - 2:22:10 (Boston, 2023)
Desiree Linden (USA) - 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)*
Buze Diriba (ETH) - 2:23:11 (Toronto, 2023)
Sharon Lokedi (KEN) - 2:23:23 (New York City, 2022)
Malindi Elmore (CAN) - 2:23:30 (Berlin, 2023)*
Fatima Gardadi (MOR) - 2:24:12 (Xiamen, 2024)
Angie Orjuela (COL) - 2:25:35 (Berlin, 2023) NR
Fabienne Konigstein (GER) - 2:25:48 (Hamburg, 2023)
Jackie Gaughan (USA) - 2:27:08 (Berlin, 2023)
Dominique Scott (RSA) - 2:27:31 (Chicago, 2023)
Grace Kahura (KEN) - 2:29:00 (Sacramento, 2023)
Katie Kellner (USA) - 2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)
Briana Boehmer (USA) - 2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Dylan Hassett (IRL) - 2:33:25 (Pulford, 2021)
Parley Hannan (USA) - 2:33:43 (Carmel, 2023)
Sara Lopez (USA) - 2:33:48 (Eugene, 2023)
Annie Heffernan (USA) - 2:34:33 (Lowell, 2023)
Nera Jareb (AUS) - 2:35:00 (Queensland, 2022)*
Johanna Backlund (SWE) - 2:35:10 (Hamburg, 2019)
Argentina Valdepenas Cerna (MEX) - 2:35:34 (Chicago, 2022)*
Ariane Hendrix Roach (USA) - 2:35:39 (Sacramento, 2022)
Michelle Krezonoski (CAN) - 2:36:39 (Sacramento, 2022)
Shannon Smith (USA) - 2:36:43 (Columbus, 2023)
Caroline Williams (USA) - 2:37:01 (Sacramento, 2022)
Gina Rouse (USA) - 2:37:10 (Sacramento, 2023)*
Kim Krezonoski (CAN) - 2:37:20 (Sacramento, 2022)
Abigail Corrigan (USA) - 2:37:45 (Sacramento, 2023)
Marissa Lenger (USA) - 2:38:41 (Chicago, 2022)
Emilee Risteen (USA) - 2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)
Isabelle Pickett (AUS) - 2:38:46 (Valencia, 2023)
Allie Hackett (USA) - 2:38:52 (Duluth, 2023)
Mary Christensen (USA) - 2:38:55 (Big Bear, 2023)
Olivia Anger (USA) - 2:39:13 (Indianapolis, 2023)
April Lund (USA) - 2:39:23 (Houston, 2022)*
Sarah Short (AUS) - 2:39:51 (Valencia, 2023)
Maura Lemon (USA) - 2:40:30 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Sarah Sibert (USA) - 2:40:31 (Philadelphia, 2022)
Lauren Ames (USA) - 2:40:34 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Kassie Harmon (USA) - 2:41:48 (Utah Valley, 2023)*
Elizabeth Camy (USA) - 2:42:51 (Sacramento, 2022)*
Alexandra Niles (USA) - 2:43:23 (Hartford, 2022)*
Amber Morrison (USA) - 2:43:50 (Sacramento, 2022)*
Mindy Mammen (USA) - 2:44:01 (Duluth, 2023)*
Ziyang Liu (USA) - 2:44:56 (Eugene, 2023)*

Chris Chavez

Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.

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