Defending Boston Marathon champion Sisay Lemma drops out

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Defending Boston Marathon men's champion Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia will not repeat in 2025.

Lemma, 34, surged to an early lead and held off the rest of the field to win last year's race, but he experienced issues with his leg around the 17-mile point as he fell off the pace on Monday.

Television coverage showed Lemma stepping off the road and attempting to stretch out his leg. He did not appear to rejoin the pack.

One of the favorites in this year's race, Lemma had the fastest personal best in the men's field, having run a 2:01:48 in Valencia, Spain in 2023.

The Boston Marathon continues on the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to downtown Boston and the iconic finish line on Boylston Street.