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The world marathon record holder plans to run Boston in 2023

FILE - Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge crosses the line to win the Berlin Marathon in Berlin on Sept. 25, 2022. (Christoph Soeder/AP File)
FILE - Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge crosses the line to win the Berlin Marathon in Berlin on Sept. 25, 2022. (Christoph Soeder/AP File)

TGIF! It’s not every day you walk to your local Market Basket and end up catching a glimpse of the couple next in line to the British throne. But that day was yesterday. Funny world we live in sometimes!

Set your timers: Next year’s Boston Marathon will feature the man who ran the fastest marathon in world history. BAA officials broke the news yesterday that Eliud Kipchoge will make his Boston debut at the 127th marathon this coming April 17. The 38-year-old Kenyan could be the first-ever world-record holder to also win the Boston Marathon — though he’ll face competition from six former Boston champions.

You know who else is coming to Boston? President Joe Biden. Less than a week after visiting Nantucket for Thanksgiving, the president is returning to Massachusetts today for a fundraiser with Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to support fellow Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in next week’s runoff election in Georgia against GOP challenger Herschel Walker. Why is he coming to Massachusetts for an election in Georgia? It’s complicated.

  • White House officials say Biden intends to greet Prince William and Princess Kate during their tour of the JFK Library this afternoon — though he will not be attending this evening’s Earthshot awards at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. However, Gov. Charlie Baker, other local elected officials and a who’s-who list of Hollywood celebs will be in attendance.
  • Local officials are cautioning that there will be “traffic challenges” and parking restrictions throughout the Fenway neighborhood ahead of the awards ceremony. If you’re interested in watching the Earthshot ceremony, it will be available later on PBS or YouTube. (The awards include a cool $1 million prize.)

President Biden may want to keep a safe distance from the New Hampshire border during his trip to Massachusetts. The Washington Post reported last night that Biden is pushing a proposal to put South Carolina first on the presidential primary calendar, stripping New Hampshire of its long-coveted “first-in-the-nation” status. Of course, that’s not sitting well with leaders in the Granite State.

  • NHPR reports that Biden’s proposal — which needs approval from the Democratic National Committee — would make good on the goal of giving voters from more racially diverse states a bigger say in the earliest primaries. And according to the Post, it’s likely to be approved by the DNC (given his support).
  • But here’s the important caveat: New Hampshire has a state law requiring them to hold their primary first. And the state’s top Democrats — as well as GOP Gov. Chris Sununu — are pledging to make sure it stays first, regardless of what the DNC does.

ICYMI: During the royal couple’s second day in the city, Prince William announced a new “living seawall” project intended to boost marine biodiversity in Boston Harbor. WBUR’s Paula Moura reports that the concept — adding tiles that mimic natural habitats to existing seawalls — was a finalist for last year’s Earthshot Prize.

  • Paul Kirshen, the director of the Stone Living Lab, told Moura that his team will design the wall with Australian researchers. Kirshen said that adding tiles with crevices and other porous natural-features can attract shellfish, seaweed and other marine life better than “unfriendly concrete walls and granite walls.”

Don’t forget: The U.S. men’s national soccer team takes on the Netherlands tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. in the first knockout game of the World Cup. And there’s a “pretty good” chance that Christian Pulisic will be back on the field after getting injured scoring the game-winning goal earlier this week against Iran.

P.S.— The Boston City Council made moves to allow 16-year-olds a new right. Do you know what it is? Then take our Boston News Quiz and test your knowledge of the stories we covered this week.

Headshot of Nik DeCosta-Klipa

Nik DeCosta-Klipa Newsletter Editor
Nik DeCosta-Klipa is the newsletter editor for WBUR.

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