Every second counts. Every moment matters. For Kenya's Hellen Obiri, she packed plenty of moments in the 8,498 seconds it took to become a Boston Marathon winner.
With a finishing time of two hours, 21 minutes, 38 seconds, Obiri turned herself into a household name, one that will live on in Boston history. Only 12 seconds separated Obiri from second-place finisher Amane Beriso of Ethiopia -- highlighting just how close the margins can be over 26.1 miles.
But it was Obiri who pulled away from the rest of the pack in the last few miles. At one point each of the top five finishers were so close that Ababel Yeshaneh fell down after tripping over another runner's leg. Yeshaneh was able to catch up, but faded fast, unable to contend with the speed of Obiri.
MORE: Boston Marathon results, winners from all eight divisions
It was only the second marathon Obiri has competed in, making her somewhat of an unknown in this space. The Sporting News takes a look at what to know about the 2023 Boston Marathon women's winner.
Who is Hellen Obiri?
Although fairly new to full marathon racing, Obiri is no stranger to success. She has appeared in three Olympics -- London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Obiri won a medal in two of them, taking silver in the 5,000 meters in Rio and Tokyo after placing 12th in the 1,500 meters final in London. She just missed another medal in Tokyo, finishing fourth in the 10,000 meters.
The native of Kenya is the only woman to win a world title in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country, which only adds to her legacy after winning six of eight half-marathons. She also holds the Kenyan national record for the 3,000 indoor and outdoor meters, 5,000 meters and the mile.
Obiri's international career began in 2011 at the Military World Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has proven to have plenty of success on that level. In 2022, Obiri left her home country and moved to Boulder, Colorado to train for the upcoming marathons. Obiri began working with a new coach and training group based in Boulder, furthering her career in a sport that she was recruited to participate in at the age of 14.
How old is Hellen Obiri?
Obiri is 33 years old. She was born on December 13, 1989 in Kisii, Kenya.
Hellen Obiri results
In 2022, Obiri ran in the New York City marathon, finishing sixth in that race. The 2023 Boston Marathon is only her second competitive marathon.
On March 19, Obiri also came out victorious at the New York City half marathon, which has contributed to quite a successful month or so.
Olympics
| Event | Race | Place |
| 2012 London | 1500 meters | 12th* |
| 2016 Rio | 5000 meters | 2nd |
| 2020 Tokyo | 5000 meters | 2nd |
| 2020 Tokyo | 10000 meters | 4th |
* - Obiri is now officially listed in eighth place after four runners ahead of her were disqualified due to doping violations.
World Championships
| Event | Race | Place |
| 2011 Daegu | 1500 meters | 10th |
| 2013 Moscow | 1500 meters | 3rd |
| 2017 London | 5000 meters | 1st |
| 2019 Doha | 5000 meters | 1st |
| 2019 Doha | 10000 meters | 5th |
| 2022 Eugene | 10000 meters | 2nd |
World Indoor Championships
| Event | Race | Place |
| 2012 Istanbul | 3000 meters | 1st |
| 2014 Sopot | 3000 meters | 2nd |
| 2018 Birmingham | 3000 meters | 4th |
World Marathon Majors
| Event | Race | Place |
| 2022 New York | Marathon | 6th |
| 2023 Boston | Marathon | 1st |
