On a sunny Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts, Sharon Lokedi sprinted to victory at the 129th Boston Marathon, capturing the attention of cheering crowds eager to see the new, 31-year-old champion.
Images of the athlete running straight into her mother’s waiting arms captivated the world’s audience, leaving no doubt how important her presence was in this event.
It was obvious that family was an important ingredient in the chequered career of the marathon queen.
To Mrs Rose Lokedi, prayers and persistence were the cornerstone of her daughter’s victory in Boston. Fighting to contain a mother’s overwhelming emotions after the incredible win, she admits to enduring hours of anxiety before the landmark race.
“Last night I could not sleep at all, I was very anxious and apprehensive. I have spent the last three days just praying for her, because I knew it was not going to be an easy task to win. This was not an easy challenge not just for her, but for all runners,” Mama Lokedi told Pura Vida Sports Africa exclusively.
Sharon Lokedi grew up in Kenya’s Rift Valley, the home of the biggest names in the world of distance running.
As the oldest of four children, her talent in running sprouted early, flourishing when she joined the famed Kapkenda Girls High School. Here, she won numerous awards on the track and was the school record holder in the 3,000 metres and 5,000 metres races.
Sharon is a business and nursing graduate from Kansas University where she won a host of awards before going on to win her first race as a pro, taking the Carlsbad 5,000m title in 15:38.
“She started (running) when she was very young; usually running the four kilometres (2.48 miles) to school every day,” Mama Lokedi narrated.
“Eventually, I started taking her to various school athletics competitions, which she would frequently win. She was too young to go on her own.
“Recognizing her budding talent, I eventually chose for her a high school where she could excel,” Sharon’s mother recounts.
The twinkle in her eye as she speaks cannot be mistaken.
Mention of her daughter’s name quickly lights up her face giving away the gratitude swelling up in her heart.
Sharon is big on giving back to her community, and she pays homage to her alma mater high school where, during her time, her name was a permanent feature on athletics leaderboards.
Today she has established a runner’s club to mentor young athletes who she continues to inspire through her exploits.
In Boston, Sharon easily set a new course record as she claimed victory, clocking a blistering two hours, 17 minutes and 22 seconds in a hotly contested women’s race, 19 seconds faster than last year’s winner Hellen Obiri, who made a spirited attempt to enter the history books by recording three back-to-back wins. The Kenyan pair shook off a hard charging Ethiopian pack led by Yalemzerf Yehualaw who settled for third place in 2:18:06.
Sharon’s mother remained full of praise for her accomplished daughter, whose colorful trophy cabinet includes several NCAA Women’s Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships and a 2022 New York Marathon win.
“She possesses a very determined personality and often accomplishes the goals she sets out for herself. A race like this is not easy, because every athlete comes here prepared to win.
“I have been praying for her, and I am elated that our prayers have been answered and her dream has come true. I would like to encourage other parents to nurture such talents in their children once they recognize them.
“Had I not given Sharon the encouragement and support she needed to thrive, she would not achieve what she has. It was important that we had not provide her with the right environment to grow her talent. Any talent cannot grow if it is not recognized and nurtured.
“I am so glad that we gave Sharon the support she needed, as without this, she would not be at these heights today,” she advises.
Sharon made a stunning marathon debut in 2022, winning the TCS New York City Marathon in 2:23:23 to become just the eighth athlete to win the race in their true 26.2-mile debut.
She returned to New York in 2023 to finish on the podium in third before placing as the runner-up at the 2024 Boston Marathon.
Later that summer, she narrowly missed a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing fourth in the marathon, just four seconds off the podium after stepping in as a late replacement for the Kenyan team.
Sharon’s was a long journey to the University of Kansas. When she was 14, following the Kenyan presidential election results, her family fled their home village of Burnt Forest, which became the centre of the Kenyan crisis and violence due to the population’s conflicting loyalties.
For a month, her family lived in silence and fear with no shelter nor steady source of food or possessions. After the conflict ended, they returned to their home safely, and that’s when Sharon started running four kilometres to and from school each day.
Her passion and talent for running flourished over the next few years, earning her a spot at the University of Kansas, where she studied nursing.
While there, Sharon became a 10-time All-American and won the 10,000-metre NCAA title in 2018.
And as the curtain falls at yet another thrilling Boston Marathon, and as the athletes retreat to prepare for their next challenge, Sharon and her extremely proud mother are taking a breath and continue celebrating while counting their blessings.
With her pure talent, competitive spirit, a determined heart and well-trained muscles, the athlete will certainly continue soaring – winning and getting her supportive family prayers answered. (Additional reporting by New York Road Runners)
Sharon Lokedi Factfile:
- Name: Sharon Lokedi
- Date of Birth :March 10, 1994
- Residence: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Marathon history:
- 2024 – Boston Marathon (Winner: 2:27:22 CR)
- 2024 – Paris Olympics Games (Fourth: 2:23:14)
- 2024 – Boston Marathon (Second: 2:22:45)
- 2023 – New York Marathon (Third: 2:27:33)
- 2022 – New York Marathon (Winner: 2:23:23)
Watch Our Interview below:
Based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Douglas Maina contributes exclusive interviews and sideline reports from various locations in the USA. Beyond covering high-profile events in athletics, motorsports and other sports, Douglas is an avid motorsports enthusiast, who religiously follows WRC events. Even when he is away, immersed in his office job, he stays connected to the sports world by always finding elusive back scene stories, and the unseen happenings that are often missed by mainstream media.
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