BOSTON — For the second year in a row, Minnesota native Emma Bates is the top American woman to finish the Boston Marathon.
The Elk River native crossed the finish line at 2:27:14, finishing 12th overall among women and first among American women.
Bates briefly surged into the lead between the 18th and 19th mile, ahead of a chase pack of more than a dozen runners. Spectators chanted, “Emma! Emma! Emma!” as Bates attempted to add to her advantage just past 20 miles. But a group led by Mary Nugui (Kenya), Vibian Chepkirui (Kenya) and eventual winner Hellen Obiri (Kenya) closed the gap to about three seconds.
Bates' lead evaporated in the next mile, as 44-year-old two-time champion Edna Kiplagat and Sharon Lokedi ran to the front of a group while Bates fell back and out of contention.
It marks the second consecutive year that Bates has finished as the top American woman overall; last year, she ran the race in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 10 seconds, a personal best that placed her fifth among women overall in 2023.
Bates' second consecutive top finish among American women comes as the 31-year-old is coming off an injury to her foot during the Chicago Marathon last fall. As a result of the injury, she missed the Olympic marathon trials in February and chose to run the Boston Marathon again.
“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my career, that’s for sure,” she said in an interview with the Associated Press last week. “Being in the lead and setting myself up for the most success that I could have on that day, it was just really special to know that as long as I trust myself, as long as I go after it, that I can do pretty big things.”
Bates was an NCAA champion in the 10,000 meters at Boise State and briefly lived in Boston.
“I’ve learned that I can run with the best of them,” Bates said. “I expect myself to be the top American. The fact that everybody else wants me to be is just more encouragement and support, rather than pressure.”
Bates wasn't the only repeat performer: Kenya’s Hellen Obiri became the first woman to repeat as Boston Marathon champion since 2005, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds.
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