Kid helps motivate runners during Boston Marathon with high-fives
While the 127th Boston Marathon was underway, a young boy held out a high-five hoping to pass on some encouragement to the runners in the race.
Ryan Ross, USA TODAY
The runners are off in the Commonwealth.
The 128th running of the Boston Marathon kicked off Monday morning with participants making the long journey from Hopkinton, Massachusetts to the finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.
For the elite men’s group, Evans Chebet, 35, is in search of his third straight victory. The Kenyan would become only the fifth man in the race’s more than 125-year history to win in three straight years.
Fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri will defend her title from an elite women’s field that race organizers described as “historically fast.”
Marcel Hug defends men’s wheelchair, breaks own course record
Marcel Hug did it again.
The “Silver Bullet,” nicknamed for his trademark silver helmet, broke his own course record to defend his Boston Marathon title in the men’s wheelchair division with an unofficial time of 1:15:32. The win marks his seventh Patriots’ Day victory.
Hug broke the course record by a minute during his 2023 win and shaved off another 30 seconds Monday.
Elite men, women off and running
The elite men and women’s groups are making their way through Hopkinton, the first leg of the long cross-Commonwealth journey.
American Emma Bates jumped out to an early lead in the women’s pack, as did Ethiopian Sisay Lemma for the men.
The leaders in the men’s group are expected to finish around 11:38 a.m. ET, while the first women finishers should cross the line during the noon hour.
2024 Boston Marathon start time
Participants in the marathon will be sent off in waves. The starting order is as follows:
All times are ET
- 9:02 a.m. Men’s wheelchair
- 9:05 a.m. Women’s wheelchair
- 9:30 a.m. Handcycles and duos
- 9:37 a.m. Elite men
- 9:47 a.m. Elite women
- 9:50 a.m. Para athletics divisions
- 10 a.m. Wave 1
- 10:25 a.m. Wave 2
- 10:50 a.m. Wave 3
- 11:15 a.m. Wave 4
How to watch, live stream 2024 Boston Marathon
The 2024 Boston Marathon will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and available to stream via ESPN+ and fuboTV. Those in the Boston area can also watch marathon coverage on WCVB-TV.
What is Patriots’ Day?
Patriots’ Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War. It is held annually on the third Monday in April, the same day as the Boston Marathon.
MLB also schedules a morning game for the Boston Red Sox each Patriots’ Day while the Boston Marathon is running less than a mile from Fenway Park. The Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians are scheduled for an 11:10 a.m. ET first pitch Monday.
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
