July 12, 2024 (Utica, NY) Last year, the Boilermaker winners in the Men’s and Women’s Open Divisions made history and this year, they are scheduled to return to see if they can top it. 

Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia made his Boilermaker debut in 2022, breaking a 12-year-old event record in the process. In 2023, he broke his own event record and ran the fastest 15K ever recorded on American soil, completing the race in 42:06. He’s slated to return this Sunday to defend his title. 

Other athletes will no doubt be pushing the pace, including Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya, fresh off winning the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington, D.C., this past April. Coming off a new 58:50 personal best in the half marathon, John Korir, also of Kenya, will likely challenge the field.

Last year’s Women’s Open winner, Jesca Chelangat, returns to the Boilermaker after breaking Edna Kiplagat’s 13-year-old event record in 2023. She faces fierce competition from 2024 Lilac Bloomsday Run champion Sarah Naibei, Grace Loibach Nawowuna, and Emmaculate Anyango Achol, both of Kenya, who placed third and fourth, respectively, in Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race just last week. 2019 Boilermaker 15K winner Caroline Rotich and 2016 champion Cynthia Limo will also be competing. 

In addition to the international runners, this year’s Boilermaker features several American elites, all of whom are eyeing the Open championships. On the men’s side, Nadir Yusuf of Montana and Afewerki Zeru of Colorado are both strong contenders for the field. James Withers will be one to watch as the 2:17 marathoner lives and trains in Utica.

Paige Wood of Arizona, Annie Heffernan of Massachusetts, and Annamaria Kostarellis of Arkansas lead the way for the American women going into this year’s race. Wood and Heffernan are no strangers to Central New York as both attended and ran for Syracuse University.

Athletes are also competing for a chance at the 2024-2025 PRRO Championship Super Bonus. The PRRO Circuit is a racing circuit of premier non-marathon road races featuring more than $340,000 in prize money across the slate of events. To be eligible for the Championship Super Bonus, athletes must win one PRRO Circuit race and that year’s Championship. The 2024-2025 circuit kicked off at the 2024 Lilac Bloomsday Run, and the Championship race will be held at the 48th running of the Boilermaker on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

Last year’s Men’s Open Wheelchair Division winner, Canadian Josh Cassidy, is slated to return to defend his title but comes up against Utica’s own Hermin Garic and current leader of the Rolling Thunder Triple Crown Series (TCS), Wyatt Willand of Iowa. 

The 2024 Women’s Wheelchair Open Division field is wide open to contenders with eyes on Hanna Babalola, Chelsea Stein, and Veronica Gonzales, currently neck and neck in the TCS, separated by only a few points. 

In its second year, the TCS is a points-based championship series with the goal of developing and growing the sport of wheelchair racing. The series combines the results of the Boilermaker, the Peachtree 10K, and the Cedartown 5K to crown a winner out of 34 participants. The top three across five categories also receive additional prize money for competing.

“We have an incredible field of elite athletes for this year’s Boilermaker,” said Boilermaker Race Director Jim Stasaitis. “Every year on the second Sunday in July, Utica, NY, becomes the center of the road racing world. The ability of everyday runners to match up against the best road racers on the planet is something truly unique to our sport.”

Stasaitis noted the importance of spectators along the course for both the elite field and the amateur athletes as they navigate the streets of Utica.

 “We’re hoping to see a full crowd line the streets of our course to share in the excitement this Sunday,” Stasaitis remarked. “Every year, professional athletes are amazed by the crowd support that they receive. It’s something that makes our race very unique and special.”

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