US women dominated the 2026 Boston Marathon results on Monday, with four runners cracking the Top 10 — and Arizona-born Jess McClain shattering the US course record.
McClain finished fifth overall in 2:20:49, breaking Shalane Flanagan's 2014 mark by 1:13. The performance marked McClain's second consecutive year as the top US finisher in Boston.
"I had no idea how fast I was running, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I got to the finish and realized what the official time was," McClain said afterwards.
The 34-year-old faced adversity when she missed her water bottle at the 30-kilometer aid station. She fell to the back of the lead pack, before subsequently fighting back into contention in the Newton hills.
Three other US women joined McClain at the top of the Boston Marathon results. Annie Frisbie finished eighth in 2:22:00, before Emily Sisson placed ninth in 2:22:39, and Carrie Ellwood rounded out the Top 10 with a 10th-place finish in 2:22:53.
Kenya's Sharon Lokedi defended her 2025 title by winning the race in 2:18:51 — the fourth-fastest women's time in Boston Marathon history. Fellow Kenyans Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper completed the podium sweep.
Monday's Boston Marathon results showcased the depth of US distance running. Seven US women finished in the elite field, demonstrating the host country's growing marathon prowess.
