The 127th Boston Marathon got off to a wet but clean start in Hopkinton on Monday morning, with some 30,000 athletes taking part.
Evans Chebet repeated as men’s champion, pulling away in the final mile to win in a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 54 seconds. He was followed by fellow Kenyans Gabriel Geay (2:06:04) and Benson Kipruto (2:06:06).
On the women’s side, Kenyan Hellen Obiri, in only her second marathon, captured the title in 2:21:38. Ethiopian Amane Beriso was 12 seconds back and Israeli-Kenyan Lonah Salpeter was another seven seconds behind in third.
In the wheelchair race, Marcel Hug won the men’s division in 1:17:06, and Susannah Scaroni won the women’s division in 1:41:45.
Volunteers line up in front of Hopkinton Middle School. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
The Athletes Village sits on the field behind Hopkinton Middle School. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Runners stay dry in a tent at the Athletes Village. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
A runner gets a picture in front of the famous It All Starts Here sign at the Athletes Village. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
A runner heads to an open portable toilet at the Athletes Village. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
An individual takes a photo while others run laps around the baseball field behind Hopkinton Middle School. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
A sign warns of no parking on Price Street. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Handcycle athletes leave their staging area at St. John the Evangelist Church and head to the start line. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Individuals head down Hayden Rowe Street toward the start line. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Duo participants head toward the start line. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Spectators line the course along East Main Street. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Handcycle and duo athletes head out at the start of their race. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
The professional men start their race. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
The professional men head down East Main Street. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
The professional women’s runners start their race to Boston. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Runners head down Grove Street to the start line. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
Start line announcer Jacques LeDuc stands on the podium. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Volunteers surround Red Sox legend David Ortiz, the race’s grand marshal. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Ashley Windheuser, who is running to raise funds for the Hopkinton Education, smiles before starting the race. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Volunteers stand at the start line. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Handcyclists prepare to start the race. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Police Chief Joseph Bennett surveys the scene. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Hopkinton’s Scott Mackin enjoys the view from the VIP section. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
David Ortiz poses for a photo. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Runners pound the wet pavement on East Main Street. PHOTO/KIP GERENDA
Constanza Gerenda watches the runners go by. PHOTO/KIP GERENDA
Constanza Gerenda, dressed in a princess outfit, gets a high five from Boston Marathon runner Bruna Takata, in a Snow White costume, on East Main Street. PHOTO/KIP GERENDA
Runners make their way down East Main Street. PHOTO/KIP GERENDA
Volunteers walk up an otherwise deserted Main Street after the athletes departed. PHOTO/QIMEI RAN
Volunteers sort water at the Athletes Village. PHOTO/QIMEI RAN
Volunteer Qimei Ran shows off a hat made out of a water bottle bag. PHOTO/QIMEI RAN
Volunteers pick up discarded clothing on Main Street. PHOTO/QIMEI RAN
Why was most of the Town Common and the Ash Street corner lawn closed to the public? Disappointing changes that left nowhere on the south side of Main Street for the public to watch marathoners cross the start line.
The Boston Marathon Start Line redesign was discussed at the 2/28/23 Select Board meeting. You can read the meeting packet for more information from the BAA or listen to the discussion on the meeting video.
https://ehop.org/2023/03/select-board-actions-taken-02-28-23/
Amy: Thanks for the info. Between the issues the other commenter notes and the lack of a reason to go to the common over the weekend, I think a meeting is in order after TM to discuss the town’s desires around the marathon. Marathon weekend has been a time to celebrate, and for townspeople to gather as community as winter ends. That feeling was a bit lacking this year in particular, and that’s not just my opinion but was expressed by lots of others as well. We need to make sure Hopkinton continues to benefit from the marathon, not financially but more importantly as the community where it all starts.
I could not agree more with Anonymous and Peter LaGoy. Having lived within walking distance of the start line for the past 25+ years, this year’s disregard for the townspeople of Hopkinton was an embarrassment. My children are grown, but I have some great Patriot’s Day memories on the Common buying cowbells and fried dough! For young families new to Hopkinton, all they know is the miniscule viewing area afforded to the public at this year’s race. I did notice yesterday; however, as I was standing in the shadow of a grandiose V.I.P. viewing area that portion of the design wasn’t reduced at all to accommodate the runners’ tents. In fact, I think it’s much larger than the one year my daughter was “Police Chief for the Day” and my family was fortunate enough to sit there. Hopkinton doesn’t work for the B.A.A. nor should the town be beholden to every request they may make of our town for race day.