Hellen Obiri claims back-to-back Boston Marathon titles, leading Kenyan women's podium sweep

BOSTON (AP) — Hellen Obiri's legs were carrying her closer to Boston, but her mind was thinking about Paris.

“I'm not giving up. I'm not going to let this one go," the two-Olympic medalist recalled thinking still miles away from arriving at the Boston Marathon finish line.

She didn't relent, and her latest trip down the world's oldest annual marathon course put her in rare company and in line to add to her Olympic medal count.

Obiri broke away from a large pack late to become the first woman to repeat as Boston Marathon champion since 2005, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds on Monday.

“Defending the title was not easy. Since Boston started, it’s only six women. So I said, ’Can I be one of them?' If you want to be one of them, you have to work extra hard,” she said. “And I’m so happy because I’m now one of them. I’m now in the history books in Boston.”

The 34-year-old Obiri split from more than a dozen runners in the second half of the race, then outfought a challenge from Kenyan Sharon Lodeki over the final three miles for the victory. It led a Kenyan sweep of the podium, with Lodeki crossing second in 2:22:45. Two-time champion and 44-year-old Edna Kiplagat was third in 2:23:21. Kiplagat finished 30th a year ago.

Kenya’s Catherine Ndereba was the last repeat Boston champion in ’05, part of her run of four titles in five years. Obiri won both her Boston debut last April and last year's New York Marathon. She is a provisional member of Kenya’s Olympic team.

Emma Bates, who led in the second half of the race, was the top American finisher in 12th (2:27:14). Sara Hall came in 15th (2:27:58), followed by 2018 Boston winner Des Linden in 16th (2:28:27).

Bates surged into the lead between the 18th and 19th mile, ahead of a chase pack of more than a dozen runners. That group included Linden, who also led briefly and appeared to say something to Bates between the 14 and 15-mile mark in Wellesley before falling off the pace.

Bates said Linden came up and asked her what pace she was running.

“I said around 5:30. She said, ‘OK, let’s do this,'” Bates said.

For awhile, she did.

Spectators chanted, “Emma! Emma! Emma!” as Bates attempted to add to her advantage just past 20 miles. She embraced the moment, even slapping high-fives with members of the crowd near Wellesley College. But a group led by Mary Nugui (Kenya), Vibian Chepkirui (Kenya) and Obiri (Kenya) closed the gap to about three seconds.

"I was really just trying to test myself and I didn't really have anything to lose," Bates said.

But her edge evaporated in the next mile on Heartbreak Hill, as Kiplagat and Sharon Lokedi ran to the front of a group while Bates quickly fell back and out of contention.

“I wasn't able to have the wheels at the end,” Bates said.

Obiri pushed to the front in Mile 23, followed closely by Lokedi and Kiplagat. Obiri stayed in front in Mile 24, as Lokedi stayed on her shoulder and Kiplagat fell back by 20 seconds.

Obiri began her kick soon after, pulling away over the final mile.

She's now hopeful of representing Kenya in France, with the triumph in Boston serving as the perfect proving ground.

“(The) Paris course is a tough course. It’s even tougher than Boston,” she said.

Associated Press Reporter Jennifer McDermott contributed to this report.

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Hellen Obiri, of Kenya, raises the trophy after winning the women's division at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

American women finishers celebrate with the crowd at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. At right are Sara Hall, Emma Bates and Des Linden. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Emma Bates, center, gives high fives to spectators at Wellesley College as she and the other leaders of the women's division run through Wellesley, Mass., during the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024. Bates was the top American finisher. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)

Emma Bates takes the lead after the start of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Hopkinton, Mass. Bates was the top American finisher. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)

Hellen Obiri, of Kenya, raises her arms as she wins the women's division at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Hellen Obiri, of Kenya, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the women's division at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Kenya's Hellen Obiri, center, surges ahead of Sharon Lodeki, left, and Edna Kiplagat, right, just past mile 23 in Brookline, Mass., during the Boston Marathon, Monday April 15, 2024. Obiri won the women's division. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)

Boston Marathon men's division winner Sisay Lemma, of Ethiopia, left, and women's division winner Hellen Obiri, of Kenya hold up the trophy at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Hellen Obiri, of Kenya, displays the trophy on finish line after winning the women's division at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, left, places a wreath on Hellen Obiri, of Kenya, right, winner of the women's division of the Boston Marathon, during ceremonies, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The head of Greece's extreme far-right Golden Dawn party was granted conditional early release from prison Thursday, after serving part of his sentence for running a criminal organization blamed for violent hate crimes.

A council of judges accepted the request by Nikolaos Michaloliakos, 66, who had served the minimal legal requirement for early release. The decision also took into consideration that he was aged over 65, which increases the time he is formally considered to have served. He is in poor health and spent 18 months in pre-trial detention.

Restrictions imposed on him include a ban on traveling outside the greater Athens region.

Michaloliakos and five other former Golden Dawn lawmakers were convicted in October 2020 of running a criminal organization and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Other party members received lesser sentences, following a five-year trial.

Golden Dawn was founded as a Nazi-inspired group in the 1980s and rose to become Greece’s third-largest political party during most of the country’s 2010-2018 financial crisis. Its support later declined, and the party failed to enter parliament post-crisis.

The crackdown on the party followed the 2013 fatal stabbing of a left-wing musician in Athens, for which a Golden Dawn associate was given a life sentence.

Greek political parties and the family of the slain musician expressed dismay at Thursday's decision.

FILE - Nikos Michaloliakos, the leader of the extreme far-right Golden Dawn political party speaks during a pre-election rally, in Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. The head of Greece's extreme far-right Golden Dawn party was granted conditional early release Thursday, May 2, 2024, from prison, after serving part of his sentence for running a criminal organization blamed for numerous violent hate crimes. A council of judges accepted the request by Michaloliakos, 66, who had served the minimal legal requirement for conditional release, which also took into consideration his age. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)