Race Report: 2025 Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund
7,200+ participants take part in New England’s signature half marathon
BOSTON – More than 7,200 athletes took to the roads of Boston for today’s 2025 Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, starting and finishing within Franklin Park. Champions were crowned, personal bests were set, and nearly $1 million was raised for Team Dana-Farber.
At the front of the field, Fentaye Belayneh (Ethiopia), Isaia Lasoi (Kenya), Yen Hoang (USA), and Miguel Vergara (USA) were among the first to the finish, winning open and wheelchair division titles on a picture-perfect day for racing. Belayneh became the first woman since Joan Chelimo Melly in 2017-2018 to win in successive years. “I love Boston! I love Boston!” Belayneh proclaimed.
Searchable results and leaderboards for today’s race are available here: https://bstnmar.org/25HalfResults
Belayneh knows what it takes to finish atop the podium in Boston. It came down to a sprint in Franklin Park for the second straight year, out-dueling friend and fellow countrywoman Melknat Wudu at the line 1:08:51 to 1:08:53.
“Every time when I come to Boston, I come to Boston with a lot,” she said smiling. “This is my fifth time here in Boston… it reminds me of all the training places, and it will never go away in my mind.”
Belayneh and Wudu were joined in the early miles by B.A.A. High Performance Team member Megan Hasz Sailor and former American record holder Keira D’Amato, as well as Kenyans Evaline Chirchir and Monicah Ngige. Through 10K in 32:27 and 10 miles in 52:21, the race would be decided over the final kilometers – where Belayneh’s kick is most potent.
Beyond Belayneh and Wudu, Chirchir placed third in 1:09:01. Hasz Sailor was the top American for the second straight year, crossing in 1:09:39.
“It was super fun to get out there and see where I was at fitness wise,” said Sailor, who trains in Boston as part of the B.A.A.’s professional team. “I’ve built a lot of strength since racing here last year and especially over the last couple months training for my first marathon. I’m happy with how I committed to the race and was able to come away as the top American again this year and run a personal best on a pretty challenging course.”
On the men’s side, Isaia Lasoi came in laser-focused to earn a victory in his first B.A.A. race. Shortly after hitting 10 miles in 46:14, the Kenyan injected a surge to open a gap on challengers Andrea Kiptoo (Kenya) and Yemane Haileselassie (Eritrea). Lasoi didn’t let up, charging up and down the hilly final miles before breaking the finish tape in 1:00:59.
“I would say it was great, fast and challenging,” said Lasoi. “Right around mile ten is when I decided to make my move. I felt confident and was ready to go for the win.”
Santiago Catrofe of Uruguay came from behind to nab second (1:01:23), with Kiptoo third (1:01:30). Chandler Gibbens was the top American, fifth in 1:01:57.
“It was good, just putting myself up there with the top guys and being able to test myself against great competitors,” said the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier at 10,000m. He added: “Tons of fans, lots of screaming and it definitely made those last couple hills easier with a big crowd in my ear.”
HOANG, VERGARA TAKE WHEELCHAIR DIVISION CROWNS
After finishing second the last two years, Yen Hoang used the course’s many hills and passionate spectators to her advantage. She won the wheelchair title in 1:01:02 ahead of Hannah Babalola (1:03:51) and Michelle Wheeler (1:04:18).
“I really liked towards the end when I am going towards the finish, where the other runners are coming out and they are cheering you on,” said the Illinois racing star. “It's really cool. It's a mass of runners.”
Miguel Vergara returned to the winner’s podium, adding a second Boston Half crown to his 2019 win. He finished in 49:06, a full 5 minutes, 33 seconds ahead of runner-up Valera Jacob Allen. Wyatt Willand rounded out the podium in 56:49, followed by Boston’s own Delmace Mayo (57:47) in fourth.
A complete list of open, wheelchair, and Para Athletics Division champions can be found below. Athletes from 98 countries and 44 states took part, running along an updated course featuring picturesque views of the Emerald Necklace Park System.
DIVISION | CHAMPION |
Men’s Open Division | Isaia Lasoi, Kenya, 1:00:59 |
Women’s Open Division | Fentaye Belayneh, Ethiopia, 1:08:51 |
Men’s Wheelchair Division | Miguel Vergara, USA, 49:06 |
Women’s Wheelchair Division | Yen Hoang, USA, 1:01:02 |
Top American Men’s Finisher | Chandler Gibbens, 1:01:57 |
Top American Women’s Finisher | Megan Hasz Sailor, 1:09:39 |
Men’s T11-T13 (Vision Impairment) | Irwin Ramirez, USA, 1:30:44* |
Women’s T11-T13 (Vision Impairment) | Lauren Weeks, USA, 2:23:29 |
Men’s T20 (Intellectual Impairment) | Thomas Cantara, USA, 1:16:20 |
Men’s T35-T38 (Coordination Impairment) | Joseph Drake, USA, 1:55:44 |
Women’s T35-T38 (Coordination Impairment) | Cristina Burbach, USA, 1:56:02 |
Men’s T45/T46/T47 (Upper-limb Impairment) | Atsbha Gebremeskel, Ethiopia, 1:29:26 |
Women’s T45/T46/T47 (Upper-limb Impairment) | Lisa Maciel, USA, 1:55:44* |
Men’s T42-T44/T61-T64 (Lower-limb Impairment) | Peter Keating, USA, 1:25:48 |
Women’s T42-T44/T61-T64 (Lower-limb Impairment) | Kelly Bruno, USA, 1:35:28* |
| * Pending Event Record |
DANA-FARBER FUNDRAISING SOARS TOWARD $1 MILLION
A group of 735+ athletes were part of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund’s team for this year’s event, having already raised $981,000 and counting. Those interested in supporting Dana-Farber’s team can make a donation here. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund have partnered with the Boston Half since 2003 as the race’s presenting sponsor and exclusive charity team. Through this relationship, Dana-Farber runners have collectively raised more than $12 million to support groundbreaking cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and enabled Dana-Farber scientists and clinicians to positively impact the lives of cancer patients around the world.
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