BOSTON – Global medalists, Boston champions, and U.S. stars are set to compete as part of the Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and B.A.A. Invitational Mile on Saturday, April 19, kicking off Boston Marathon weekend with racing through Boston’s Back Bay. More than 100 professional athletes from around the globe will compete across the two events.
“This year’s Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and B.A.A. Invitational Mile will set the stage for a memorable weekend celebration of running, health, and fitness in the city,” said Jack Fleming, President and Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. “At the front of the field will be some of the fastest and most accomplished athletes across the Open, Wheelchair, and Para Athletics Divisions.”
BOSTON 5K FIELD TO TACKLE NEW COURSE IN 2025
On April 19, a field of more than 10,000 participants will take to a new race route for the Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Starting adjacent to Boston Public Garden, athletes will run out on Commonwealth Avenue towards Boston University before reversing direction, passing through Kenmore Square, running right on Hereford Street and left on Boylston Street, ultimately finishing at the Boston Marathon finish line. The 3.1-mile course is a flat and fast tour of Back Bay.
That’s music to Charles Philibert-Thiboutot’s ears, as the Canadian champion from 2022 returns looking to earn his second Boston 5K crown. Three years ago, ‘CPT’ won in 13:35, sprinting to the line just ahead of a large pack of challengers. Joining him on the line this year is fellow Canadian Olympian Thomas Fafard.
Biya Simbassa, the No.1-ranked road racer nationally, will try to extend the American winning streak to three. Simbassa ran a 2:06:53 marathon in 2024 and was 9th at the USA 5K National Championship, showing his range of abilities. Also toeing the line are Kenya’s Amon Kemboi, best known for his 3:53.57 mile speed, and Eritrea’s Dawit Seare, fourth at the 2023 World Road Running Championships 5K. Josh Kalapos represents the hometown B.A.A. High Performance Team in the professional field. Britain’s Patrick Dever, the NCAA Champion at 10,000m in 2021, is also entered, while fellow countryman Henry McLuckie, fourth in the B.A.A. Invitational Mile last year, moves up in distance to run the Boston 5K this year.
The fastest woman in the field, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa (14:16.54 5000m best), will be chased by Norah Jeruto, the 2022 World Champion in the 3000m steeplechase from Kazakhstan, Lemlem Hailu, the 2022 World Indoor 3000m gold medalist from Ethiopia, and Tsigie Gebreselama, the 2023 World Cross Country silver medalist from Ethiopia.
Top-ten finishers from a year ago return in Erika Kemp (fifth), Bethany Hasz (sixth), and Vanessa Fraser (eighth), all from the USA. Hasz is a member of the B.A.A. High Performance Team along with her sister, Megan, who is also competing. Taylor Roe comes off a win at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta.
Reigning wheelchair division champions Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper return, hoping to replicate their 2024 Boston Marathon weekends which saw both win the 5K on Saturday and marathon on Monday. Joining them is two-time Boston Marathon winner Daniel Romanchuk.
In the Para Athletics Divisions, 2024 Boston 5K winners El Amin Chentouf (T11/12/13 vision impairment), Atsbha Gebremeskel (T45-47 upper-limb impairment), and Marko Cheseto Lemtukei (T42-T44, T61-T64 lower-limb impairment) all return. Making his Boston debut will be 2024 Paralympic gold medalists Wajdi Boukhili (T12, marathon) and Aminullah Tissaoui (T38, 1500m).
Kelly Bruno (T64) Tatsiana Khvitsko-Trimborn (T61), and Sayers Grooms (T72) are among the women’s entrants in the Para Athletics Divisions.
The Boston 5K starts at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 19.
RETURNING CHAMPION COMBER LEADS B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE
Casey Comber won the 2024 B.A.A. Invitational Mile thanks to a last lap kick in 4:07.31, and now looks to become the first man to win back-to-back years since Olympic medalist Nick Willis did so in 2013/2014. Luke Houser, the recently crowned 2025 World Indoor Championships bronze medalist at 1500m and two-time NCAA Indoor Mile champion, will try to play spoiler and win in his first race on the roads in Boston.
Also toeing the line with Boston ties are B.A.A. High Performance Team member Isaac Basten, as well as Boston University’s Foster Malleck, who was third at the NCAA Indoor Championships mile in March.
Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, a prolific racer across the track and roads, makes her B.A.A. Invitational Mile debut and will go up against Micaela Degenero, fourth a year ago and the 2022 NCAA Indoor mile champion. From the Atlanta Track Club is Laurie Barton, a 4:27 miler.
Canadian Olympians Erin Teschuk and Julie-Anne Staehli and Kenya’s Dorcas Ewoi, a 1:58.19 800m runner, round out the international talent.
In addition to the professionals, student-athletes from each of the eight cities and towns that make up the Boston Marathon route will compete in a Scholastic Mile and Middle School 1K. The B.A.A. Invitational Mile will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Boston Marathon Finish Line on Saturday, April 19.
Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Professional Fields
|
WOMEN’S FIELD |
COUNTRY |
5,000m PB |
|
Medina Eisa |
ETH |
14:16.54 (London, 2023) |
|
Tsigie Gebreselama |
ETH |
14:18.76 (Eugene, 2024) |
|
Lemlen Hailu |
ETH |
14:34.53 (Paris, 2023) |
|
Grace Loibach |
KEN |
14:42.63 (Paris, 2023) |
|
Laura Galvan |
MEX |
14:43.94 (Budapest, 2023)NR |
|
Gela Hambese |
ETH |
14:47.74 (Doha, 2024) |
|
Vanessa Fraser |
USA |
14:48.51i (Boston, 2020) |
|
Norah Jeruto |
KAZ |
14:51.73 (Berlin, 2019) |
|
Lemlem Nibret |
ETH |
14:56.00 (Montesson, 2023) |
|
Bethany Hasz |
USA |
15:05.80 (Los Angeles, 2024) |
|
Emily Lipari |
USA |
15:07.22 (San Juan Capistrano, 2022) |
|
Erika Kemp |
USA |
15:10.10 (Boston, 2021) |
|
Taylor Roe |
USA |
15:15.01i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Hannah Steelman |
USA |
15:19.69 (Portland, 2024) |
|
Dominique Scott |
RSA |
15:20.84i (Boston, 2020) |
|
Gracelyn Larkin |
CAN |
15:21.68i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Charlotte Prouse |
CAN |
15:26.01 (Boston, 2018) |
|
Roisin Flanagan |
IRL |
15:26.32 (Walnut, 2023) |
|
Eilish Flanagan |
IRL |
15:33.37i (Boston, 2023) |
|
Megan Hasz |
USA |
15:33.48 (Lost Angeles, 2023) |
|
Cleo Boyd |
CAN |
15:44.14 (Raleigh, 2024) |
|
Alexandra Lucki |
CAN |
15:49.82 (Los Angeles) |
|
Lilly Tuck |
CAN |
15:53.76 (Philadelphia, 2024) |
|
Katie Kellner |
USA |
15:56.42 (Guelph, 2014) |
|
Rachel Hyland |
USA |
16:06.42i (Boston 2021) |
|
Erin Gregoire |
USA |
16:19.31 (NYC, 2025) |
|
Ryann Helmers |
USA |
16:21.99 (Charlottesville, 2023) |
|
Stevie Lawrence-Wrist |
GBR |
17:18.70 (Allendale, 2021) |
|
MEN’S FIELD |
COUNTRY |
5,000m PB |
|
Patrick Dever |
GBR |
13:04.05i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Thomas Fafard |
CAN |
13:05.07 (Bruxelles, 2024) |
|
Amon Kemboi |
KEN |
13:06.30i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Dawit Seare |
ERI |
13:07.77 (Wien, 2024) |
|
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot |
CAN |
13:12.76 (San Juan Capistrano, 2022) |
|
Sam Parsons |
GER |
13:12.78i (Boston, 2023) NR |
|
Biya Simbassa |
USA |
13:19.12 (San Juan Capistrano, 2021) |
|
Reid Buchanan |
USA |
13:27.03 (Los Angeles, 2023) |
|
John Gay |
CAN |
13:29.82 (Birmingham, 2022) |
|
Andrew Alexander |
CAN |
13:29.91i (Boston, 2023) |
|
Jean Simon Desgagnes |
CAN |
13:33.38 (Azusa, 2024) |
|
Henry McLuckie |
GBR |
13:36.26 (Walnut,2023) |
|
Mitchell Ubene |
CAN |
13:36.71 (Langley, 2022) |
|
Connor Black |
CAN |
13:38.09 (Langley, 2022) |
|
Afewerki Zeru |
USA |
13:44.58 (Walnut, 2022) |
|
Nicholas Bannon |
CAN |
13:45.56 (Langley, 2022) |
|
Joey Berriatua |
USA |
13:49.16 (Sn Juan, Capistrano, 2020) |
|
Oisín Ó Gailín |
IRL |
13:49.61i (Boston, 2023) |
|
Max Turek |
CAN |
13:50.37i (Boston, 2022) |
|
Mitchell Dervin |
USA |
13:57.58i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Ben Connor |
GBR |
14:08.11 (Boston, 2014) |
|
Ben Garner |
USA |
14:09.16 (Azusa, 2024) |
|
Brian Harvey |
USA |
14:13.93 (Princeton, 2012) |
|
Colin Cernik |
USA |
14:14.52 (Boston, 2024) |
|
Daniel Johanning |
CRI |
14:16.79 (Azusa, 2024) |
|
Josh Kalapos |
USA |
14:21.04 (NYC, 2024) |
|
Aaron Willingham |
USA |
14:22.39 (Boston, 2024) |
|
WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR FIELD |
COUNTRY |
|
Hannah Babalola |
NGR |
|
Christie Dawes |
AUS |
|
Patricia Eachus |
SUI |
|
Eden Rainbow-Cooper |
GBR |
|
Michelle Wheeler |
USA |
|
|
|
|
MEN’S WHEELCHAIR FIELD |
COUNTRY |
|
Hermin Garic |
USA |
|
Marcel Hug |
SUI |
|
Jetze Plat |
NED |
|
Daniel Romanchuk |
USA |
|
Geert Schipper |
NED |
|
Brian Siemann |
USA |
|
Johnboy Smith |
GBR |
|
David Weir |
GBR |
|
Sho Watanabe |
JPN |
|
WOMEN’S PARA ATHLETICS DIVISION |
COUNTRY |
CLASSIFICATION |
|
Cristina Burbach |
USA |
T35-T38 |
|
Tatsiana Khvitsko-Trimborn |
USA |
T61 |
|
Kelly Bruno |
USA |
T64 |
|
Sayers Grooms |
USA |
T72 |
|
|
|
|
|
MEN’S PARA ATHLETICS DIVISION |
COUNTRY |
CLASSIFICATION |
|
Wajdi Boukhili |
TUN |
T12 |
|
El Amin Chentouf |
MOR |
T12 |
|
Roy Jebabli |
TUN |
T12 |
|
Thomas Cantara |
USA |
T20 |
|
Aminullah Tissaoui |
TUN |
T38 |
|
Atsbha Gebremeskel |
ETH |
T46 |
|
Richard Whitehead |
GBR |
T61 |
|
Marko Cheseto Lemteuki |
USA |
T62 |
|
Brian Reynolds |
USA |
T62 |
|
Michael Anwar |
USA |
T72 |
B.A.A. Invitational Mile Professional Fields
|
WOMEN'S FIELD |
COUNTRY |
MILE BEST |
|
Dorcus Ewoi |
KEN |
4:22.39i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Julie-Anne Staehli |
CAN |
4:27.20i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Laurie Barton |
USA |
4:27.83i (Clemson, 2025) |
|
Nozomi Tanaka |
JPN |
4:28:54 (Boston, 2025) NR |
|
Micaela Degenero |
USA |
4:29.66 (Middletown, 2024) |
|
Annika Reiss |
USA |
4:31.07i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Erin Teschuk |
CAN |
4:31.21i (NYC, 2023) |
|
Amaris Tyynismaa |
USA |
4:32.56i (Boston, 2023) |
|
Maddy Berkson |
USA |
4:33.55i (Boston, 2022) |
|
Abbe Goldstein |
USA |
4:34.15i (Seattle, 2023) |
|
Alison Andrews-Paul |
NZL |
4:37.86i (Seattle, 2024) |
|
Madison Trippett |
USA |
4:43.19i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Anna Vess |
USA |
4:44.77i (Allendale, 2025) |
|
MEN'S FIELD |
COUNTRY |
MILE BEST |
|
Luke Houser |
USA |
3:51.73i (Seattle, 2024) |
|
Derek Johnson |
USA |
3:53.13i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Mick Stanovsek |
AUS |
3:53.38i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Isaac Basten |
USA |
3:53.54i (Boston, 2024) |
|
Kasey Knevelbaard |
USA |
3:53.64 (Raleigh, 2024) |
|
Austen Dalquist |
USA |
3:53.77i (Fayetteville, 2025) |
|
Foster Malleck |
CAN |
3:53.82i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Sair Salgado |
USA |
3:56.17 (Middletown, 2024) |
|
Davis Bove |
USA |
3:56.38 (Nashville, 2022) |
|
Christian Noble |
USA |
3:56.65i (Boston, 2025) |
|
Aaron Ahl |
CAN |
3:57.21 (Eagle Rock, 2022) |
|
Casey Comber |
USA |
3:58.44 (Wilmington, 2022) |
|
Miles Smith |
USA |
3:59.47i (Boston, 2025) |
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The economic impact of the 2024 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America produced $509.million in state and local economic activity. The 129th Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 21, 2025.
The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.