Former Boston Marathon Champ Lelisa Desisa To Return This Year

Brookline MA

31 August, 2021

10:09 AM

Description

BROOKLINE, MA — The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that two-time Boston Marathon champion and reigning World Athletics Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia will return to compete in the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11. Desisa, a 2:04:45 marathoner, joins 13 other Boston Marathon champions who are racing as part of the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team. This is his seventh time returning to Boston. "Boston has become my second home and I truly cherish my time when I am there," said Desisa in a statement. "I return to compete still chasing my third victory in the Boston Marathon. Thank you, Boston; I look forward to putting on a good show for you on Marathon Monday!" Desisa won his first Boston Marathon in 2013 at 2:10:22 and his second in 2015 at 2:09:17. In 2019, he finished two second behind winner Lawrence Cherono. In addition to winning the Boston Marathon and 2019 World Championships, Desisa also won the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon, 2013 Dubai Marathon, and earned silver at the 2013 World Athletics Championships Marathon. His lifetime best ranks third in this year's field, which will feature nine men who have run 2:06:00 or faster. Also competing in this year's Boston Marathon is 2:05:56 marathoner Kelkile Gezahegn, who has won marathons in Houston, Ljubljana, Frankfurt, and Lanzhou since 2017.