Emily Sisson Sets Event Record and Wins the 2025 Boston 10K for Women

Emily Sisson Sets Event Record and Wins the 2025 Boston 10K for Women

She wins her third title of the historic women’s event in 31:05

BOSTON –The fastest American woman to ever run a marathon is now also the fastest to win the Boston 10K for Women. In an event record time of 31:05, Emily Sisson broke the tape on a glorious fall day in Boston, and expanded her legacy as one of the most prolific distance runners in the world. Sisson, winner of the 2016 and 2018 editions of the race, took a lead from the start and never looked back. The previous event record of 31:18, set by American Weini Kelati, had stood since 2021.  Sisson is the current American record holder for the marathon with a 2:18:29 performance in 2022.

A list of full results can be found at www.boston10kforwomen.com.

With a first mile of 4:55, and second of 5:04, Sisson quickly declared that today would be a race for second place. “I wanted to be under five minutes for the first mile and try to keep it under five minutes, said the 33-year-old graduate of Providence College. “But when you go a while without racing, you forget about tangents and turns and things, so based on my watch I was hitting five minutes, but you have to be basing it off the mile markers. So there might have been a few miles in the middle where it slipped away a bit, but I was close, so I’m pleased with it.”

On Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Sisson relied on her familiarity with the course and some sound advice to lengthen her lead. “When I’m racing and even when I’m leading, I try to just focus on where I’m at and what’s ahead,” said Sisson, who earned $10,000 with the win. “My coach told me in college ‘when you’re leading a race, just run with confidence but be prepared if someone comes up on your shoulder to have another gear to go.’ So I just try to run with that mentality and not worry about what’s behind me.”

While Sisson surged with back-to-back 5:03 miles at Mile 3 and 4, Annie Rodenfels, Sara Hall and four others jostled along Memorial Drive for podium positions. At the four-mile mark, Sisson’s lead expanded to 40 seconds, and she not only had her sights on a new event record but was flirting with the American Record for a women’s-only 10K.

She turned onto the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge and was met with a wave of sound. “My favorite part of the course is when you turn and go back over the bridge and go over the Charles and everyone is just cheering – there are so many people who want to give high fives in the middle of the race. It’s just so cool. It’s a great atmosphere.”

The cheering echoed off of the Commonwealth Ave. brownstones as she clocked a 4:58 fifth mile, and 5:03 sixth mile. On Charles Street, she extended her arms to break the tape. ‘I wanted to beat the event record, but I also wanted to be under 31 minutes. I always set these really high goals, so even if I miss one it’s still ok,” said Sisson, who was draped with an American flag after winning.

With a third victory in Boston, Sisson moves into fourth all-time in race titles. A full list of champions who have won multiple titles is below.

Victories
Athlete
Years

6
Lynn Jennings (USA)
1977, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

5
Molly Huddle (USA)
2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019

4
Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA)
1978, 1983, 1984, 1985

3
Emily Sisson (USA)
2016, 2018, 2025

2
Erika Kemp (USA)
2022, 2024

2
Katie McGregor (USA)
2005, 2006

2
Libbie Hickman (USA)
1998, 1999

2
Gladys Ondeyo (KEN)
1996, 1997

The race served as an encouraging show of speed for Sisson, who is preparing for November’s New York City Marathon. “I feel good – the last few weeks have been good training, I am hoping for another good week or so of marathon training and then it’s the taper already, so then I’ll freshen up hopefully.”

Annie Rodenfels of Boulder, Colorado finished second in 32:45, and Sara Hall of Flagstaff, Arizona finished third in 32:48. Hall, 42, also won the Masters Division with her performance. In the wheelchair division, 16 year-old Maddie Wilson broke the tape in a time of 33:19. For Wilson, this is a race with which she has grown familiar, having competed on its course since she was just six years old.

With 4,695 official finishers, the race surpassed 200,000 cumulative finishers since its inception in 1977. “What a wonderful day for our city and our sport, exclaimed race director Dusty Rhodes, who founded the race. “To see so many families, first timers, and long-timers all here together smiling wide at the finish – it is just so gratifying. It’s such an honor to help host this event.” With today’s race, Rhodes extends her legacy as the longest-running female race director in the country. Attracting 5,660 registrants from 44 states and 14 countries, the second longest-running all-women’s race in the country was held under perfect running conditions, with temperatures hovering in the 50s.

The 50th running of the Boston 10K for Women is tentatively scheduled for October 10, 2026.

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