In a star-studded American women’s field at the 2025 Boston Marathon, it was Jess McClain who rose to the occasion, finishing as the top U.S. contender with a breakthrough performance that marked a new milestone in her career. McClain, 33, crossed the finish line in seventh place overall with a stunning time of 2:22:43—a massive personal best and just seconds shy of the American course record set by Shalane Flanagan in 2014.
This performance signals a remarkable ascent for McClain, whose previous personal best of 2:25:46 was set just a few months ago at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where she narrowly missed making the Olympic team, finishing fourth. Today’s effort was a three-minute improvement and showcased her strategic racing ability, endurance, and growing confidence at the marathon distance.
A Calculated Climb to the Top
Early in the race, it seemed another American, Annie Frisbie, 28, would take top honors. Frisbie was the only American in the lead pack through the 10K and maintained a strong position through mile 20. She passed the halfway mark in 1:09:41 and was sitting in sixth place, about three minutes behind the race leaders.
Meanwhile, McClain opted for a more conservative strategy. Running alongside veterans Emma Bates and Sara Hall, she passed the halfway point in 1:10:08. Her patience paid off. As temperatures began to rise and the Newton Hills loomed, McClain’s steady pacing and hill training began to show. She gradually gained on Frisbie, closing a 13-second gap by mile 21 and overtaking her before mile 25.
“Being from Phoenix, I knew it might feel warmer in the second half of the race. I’ve been training consistently on hills, so I planned to be patient early on,” McClain told reporters.
As she crested Heartbreak Hill and approached the iconic Citgo sign, McClain surged. Fueled by the crowd’s energy, she ran the final mile in a blistering 5:15 to secure her seventh-place finish. Frisbie followed in 2:23:21—another personal best—just 38 seconds behind.
A Career Revived
McClain’s path to this moment hasn’t been typical. A former standout at Stanford and professional runner with the Brooks Beasts, she stepped away from elite competition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since returning and transitioning to the marathon in 2022, she’s steadily built momentum. After her surprise showing at the Olympic Trials, she signed a new deal with Brooks and finished eighth overall and second American in her World Major debut at the 2024 New York City Marathon.
Her training for Boston was more focused and less grueling than for New York, in part due to coaching changes. Previously self-coached, McClain began working with coach David Roche in November. Under his guidance, she shifted to a lower-mileage program with more emphasis on speed, which included shorter races like a January indoor 5,000-meter event and a 10,000-meter race in March where she clocked 30:59.71.
According to Roche, McClain’s training pointed toward a major breakthrough. “We wanted to raise her speed ceiling, not just prep her for Boston, but position her for American records,” he told Runner’s World.
Her final long run—20 miles alternating between 10K pace, marathon pace, and hill surges—was a strong indicator of what was to come.
What’s Next?
The Boston performance also came with a cash bonus—$10,500 for her seventh-place finish. Frisbie earned $8,500 for placing eighth. Other top American finishers included Emma Bates (13th, 2:25:10), Olympic marathoner Dakotah Popehn (16th, 2:26:09), and Des Linden, who finished 17th in 2:26:19 in what she announced would be her final professional marathon. Sara Hall, 42, followed in 18th place with a time of 2:26:32.
For McClain, this race is more than just a personal best. It marks a turning point after a year filled with fourth-place heartbreaks, including near-misses at the Olympic Marathon Trials, U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 10,000m, and USA Half Marathon Championships.
Balancing her training with a full-time role at a non-profit, McClain has found strength in leading a multifaceted life. But with this latest success, she’s considering whether it’s time to lean further into her running career.
“I probably have to take a step back and look at 2028 and what it’s going to take to be on the podium at the majors and make that Olympic team,” she said. “Maybe that means dialing back in other areas and going all-in on running.”
Whatever path she chooses next, one thing is clear—Jess McClain is no longer a surprise contender. She’s a force in American distance running and a name to watch on the road to 2028.