BOSTON-The Boston Half 2024, presented by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, was held today under a beautiful blue sky, starting and finishing in Boston’s Franklin Park. A total of 6,767 athletes started today’s race, and the preliminary results of all finalists They are available here.
The Eritrean Yemane Haileselassie and the Ethiopian Fentaye Belayneh won the men’s and women’s categories, with times of 1:01:46 and 1:10:26, respectively. Americans Daniel Romanchuk (47:38) and Michelle Wheeler (1:00:25) won the men’s and women’s wheelchair categories, respectively, with Romanchuk setting a new event record.
After finishing seventh and third in the last two editions of this race, Haileselassie arrived wanting victory. At 16 km, the two-time Olympic medalist had begun to distance himself from the others, and upon reaching the finish line he crossed the finish line exultantly, 15 seconds ahead of the Kenyan Isaac Kipkemboi (1:02:01), while the Canadian Kieran Lumb completed the podium (1:02:03) in his debut in the half marathon. Robert Miranda was the top American, fourth in 1:02:09, the fastest time by an American in the history of the race.
“Having had a good training session, I knew I could win here,” said Haileselassie, admitting that the rolling hills worked in his favour. “It was a fantastic, really good course, and I liked it that way.”
Belayneh used all his energy to increase his power on the final climb and cross the finish line first in 1:10:26, ahead of his compatriots Mestawut Fikir (1:10:27) and Senayet Getachew (1:10:27) . It wasn’t until the end, with the finish line in sight, that Belayneh believed he had enough strength to climb to the top of the podium.
“I knew Boston was a good course and I prepared very well, and I turned out to be the winner,” said Belayneh, who was 12th in the edition a year ago. “It was a tough race, but I knew I would hold on. I had a little left over and I used it to win.”
Megan Hasz, a member of the BAA high performance team, was 10th in her first half marathon, with a time of 1:11:27.
ROMANCHUK BREAKS TEST RECORD, WHEELER WINS HIS FIRST BOSTON HALF
Seven days after winning the TCS New York Marathon, Daniel Romanchuk took victory in Boston, breaking his previous record for the event by more than three minutes. Romanchuk’s record-breaking performance caps a tremendous year of racing that included two Paralympic medals in Paris.
“Until you cross the finish line, you never know what’s going to happen,” said the two-time Boston Marathon champion. “It’s an incredible way to end the season in Boston and I’m looking forward to returning in the spring.”
Wheeler, a veteran of many BAA races, arrived ready to improve on her third place finish from a year ago. After 16 km, the Texan separated from Yen Hoang and ended up winning by 1:00:25 to 1:01:53.
“I knew I had to have a game plan for this race, because there were a lot of athletes in wheelchairs,” Wheeler said. He plans to return in April for the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. “Of course I’ll be here.”
RECORD DAY IN THE DIVISIONS FOR ATHLETICS
In the four divisions of Para Athletics, seven event records were established. The Ethiopian Atsbha Gebremeskel completed the “grand slam” of victories in BAA races by winning the T45/T46/T47 division (upper limb disability) in 1:18:58, a world record yet to be broken. Gebremeskel has now won his division in the Boston Marathon, Boston 5K, Boston 10K and Boston Half in 2024, completing an unprecedented sweep.
“I’m very happy to have broken the world record,” said Gebremeskel. “This was my first half marathon, and after having done the 5K, the 10K, and the Boston Marathon, I had to do this… Thank you so much, Boston.”
2024 BOSTON HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONS
Open Men: Yemane Haileselassie, 1:01:46
Open Women: Fentaye Belayneh, 1:10:26
Best American Open Men: Robert Miranda, 1:02:09
Top American Open Women: Megan Hasz, 1:11:27
Men in wheelchairs: Daniel Romanchuk, 47:38
Female wheelchair: Michelle Wheeler, 1:00:25
T11-T13 (visual impairment) Men: Irwin Ramirez, 1:33:14
T11-T13 (visual impairment) Women: Jennifer Herring, 1:42:02
T45/T46/T47 (Upper limb disability) Men: Atsbha Gebremeskel, 1:18:58
T45/T46/T47 (Upper limb disability) Women: Adrienne Keane, 2:00:56
T61-T64, T42-T44 (lower limb disability) Men: Marko Cheseto Lemtukei, 1:19:43* (Lower limb disability)
T61-T64, T42-T44 (lower limb disability) Women: Kelly Bruno, 1:36:33
T35-T38 (Coordination deficiency) Men: Joseph Drake, 1:19:43
T35-T38 (Coordination difficulties) Women: Cristina Burbach, 1:42:21
Nonbinary: Samuel Goldberg, 1:42:27
*Event record
^Fastest American in Boston Half history
TEAM DANA FARBER RAISES MORE THAN $800,000 TO CHALLENGE CANCER
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund have been collaborating with the Boston Half since 2003 as the title sponsor of the race and exclusive charity team. Through this relationship, Dana-Farber runners have collectively raised more than $10 million to support pioneering cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and have enabled Dana-Farber scientists and physicians to positively influence the lives of cancer patients around the world. Nearly 670 athletes were part of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Jimmy Fund team for this year’s event, raising more than $800,000 to challenge cancer. Those interested in supporting the Dana-Farber team can make a donation here.
BOSTON HALF AND BREVE
- 6,767 athletes took the start, coming from 46 US states (plus Washington, DC) and 93 countries.
- 3,284 participants were aiming to complete the 2024 BAA Distance Medley, a three-race series that includes the Boston 5K in April, the Boston 10K in June and the Boston Half in November. The BAA Distance Medley series offers athletes a way to train and compete year-round at three different distances to improve their fitness throughout the year.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (BAA)
Founded in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially athletics. The BAA manages the Boston Marathon and supports extensive charity, youth and year-round programming. The 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2025. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York . For more information about the BAA, visit www.baa.org.
Source and Photos: baa.org
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