Hellen Obiri motivates me a lot but I hope to beat her one day - Lokedi

Marathoner Sharon Lokedi is all but impressed with her performance after finishing in second place at the Boston Marathon held Monday evening.

Lokedi came second after clocking 2:22:45, behind compatriot Hellen Obiri who clocked 2:22:37 becoming the second woman to win back-to-back Boston Marathon titles since Catherine Ndereba accomplished the feat in 2005.

However, she has admitted that Obiri's competition is of a high level, even after running in what she says was a’ tactical execution’ hoping  Obiri would falter.

However Obiri confounded her compatriot to emerge the winner after leading Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat (2:23:21) in a Kenyan podium sweep.

"I encouraged myself and I was determined that if I continued to follow Obiri, maybe I would be lucky but it was not easy because she is fast and strong. In my soul I said to myself if I take her near the finishing line, anything could happen, maybe she would get tired and I win but it didn't happen," said Lokedi.

In 2022 Sharon made her marathon debut, winning the New York City Marathon and was recruited to the University of Kansas (KU) where she studies nursing and business. She believes one day she will come on top when she meets Obiri.

“I’m still working on myself and one day will beat her. She motivates me a lot, we met in New York and now in Boston and am positive that I might emerge victorious against her,” added Lokedi.

Lokedi has also been included in the star-studded Kenya’s provisional team for Paris Olympics together with Obiri.

With her superb performance in Boston, she is expected to be an important figure in the Kenyan team.

Others in the team are defending champion Peres Jepchirchir, Brigid Koskei, Rosemary Wanjiru and Ruth Chepngetich.