The silver medalist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Caroline Kilel has eight career marathon wins, including two course records during her decade-long career. At the 2011 Boston Marathon, Kilel traded the lead with American Desiree Linden several times down the finishing stretch of Boylston Street in one of the most exciting women’s finishes of all time. Kilel ultimately triumphed by two seconds over Linden for the 2:22:36 win, before collapsing in exhaustion. “In 2011, I won the Boston Marathon and that is why I am really happy to come back again,” says Kilel. “I like the course and the victory has given me a great feeling. Last year it was not my day, but the course itself really suits me well.” Kilel’s half marathon personal best is 1:08:16, earned with a fourth-place finish at the Birmingham IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

Kilel represented Kenya at the 2003 World Cross Country Championships and the 2005 and 2009 World Half Marathon Championships. She trains in Kericho, Kenya, where she lives with her husband Vincent Kipkemoi, also a runner, and their son Trevis Kipngeno. She says, “The people in Kericho are proud of me after what I did in Frankfurt and Boston.” Kilel sponsors five high school students and 10 primary school students all of whom are orphans because their parents have passed away. She also assists athletes who help her in training, such as Josphat Maina.

“For me there is only one Boston, because I was the winner there. That day was really special and since then Boston is very special to me.”