Marcel Hug Claims Eighth Boston Marathon Wheelchair Victory

BOSTON — Marcel Hug of Switzerland stormed to the front of the field to win his eighth Boston Marathon wheelchair title on Monday, finishing the 129th edition of the race in 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 34 seconds.

The 39-year-old athlete crossed the finish line in downtown Boston, marking his fifth consecutive win. This milestone comes on the 50th anniversary of the first official wheelchair finisher in the Boston Marathon.

Hug’s closest competitor, Daniel Romanchuk of the United States, finished second with a time of 1:25:58, followed by Jetze Plat of the Netherlands, who completed the race in 1:30:16.

After breaking from the pack with Romanchuk for the first six miles, Hug gained about a three-minute lead at the halfway point, ultimately widening his advantage as he approached the finish.

“It means a lot to win this year with 50 years of wheelchairs in Boston,” Hug said. “For me, it will take some time to realize what it means to have eight victories. It’s such an incredible number.”

The race took place on a clear morning, with temperatures in the low 50s, contributing to a less eventful race for Hug compared to the previous year when he recovered from a crash later in the event.

Hug expressed his appreciation for the Boston Marathon. “Boston is very special because it’s a very historic marathon. I like the course. I like the people, the crowd, the organization. We feel very welcomed here,” he remarked after claiming his latest title.

In the women’s wheelchair race, American Susannah Scaroni also achieved victory for the second time, finishing in 1:35:20. Scaroni joined an exclusive group of American women who have won multiple titles, including Jean Driscoll, Candace Cable-Brookes, Tatyana McFadden, and Cheri Blauwet.

As for the men’s elite road race, defending champion Sisay Lemma withdrew shortly before Mile 17. He was seen stepping off to the side of the course to tend to his leg, making it unlikely for him to continue competitively.

This year’s race was met with enthusiasm from the crowd, ensuring it remained a memorable event in the historic marathon’s legacy.