2012 Boston Marathon - The Men

2012 Boston Marathon - The Men
By Sharon Ekstrom

Geoffrey Mutai | Gebre Gebremariam | Levy Matebo | Wilson Chebet | Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot |
Tadese Tola |

We could write a book on most of these men. And, as always, there are too many to write about. Use this guide as reference and background on these top men - all of who are expected and likely to be in the top 10 finishers and ultimately Boston Marathon champion.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Mutai at the 2011 NYC Marathon

Geoffrey Mutai
Country: Kenya
PB: 2:03:02, 2011 Boston Marathon

It was not so long ago that Geoffrey Mutai was merely a blip on the radar of the marathoning world winning the 2011 Boston Marathon and running the fastest 26.2 mile finishes ever. In fact, Mutai was clocking 2:07-2:12 finishes in 2008 and 2009 - not enough to challenge the fourteen men closing the gap on Gebrselassie's then World Record (2:03:59)who were already running 2:05 finishes. Yet, Mutai was collecting significant accolades from the 10000m to the half marathon - including two silver medals at the Kenyan National Championships (2008 and 2010), a bronze at the 2010 African Championships, as well as victories at the Ras al Khamah Half Marathon (59:43) and New Delhi Half Marathon (59:38). With these speedier performances, he grew stronger in the marathon earning two runner up finishes at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon (2:04:55) and the 2010 Berlin Marathon (2:05:10). It should be noted that Mutai lost both races - trailing seconds behind Patrick Makau who would become the new marathon world record holder one year later.

Mutai's career was also on the rise and 2011 proved a breakout year for the self-coached athlete who would run the fastest marathon finish ever and become champion of both the Boston and New York City Marathons in the same year. While he kicked off the year with Cross Country - winning the 2011 Kenyan Cross Country National Championship 12.0K and placing 5th at the World Cross Country Championships. He entered a competitive 2011 Boston Marathon field and told MarathonGuide.com in a pre-race interview that "he felt good and very confident of a win". Despite his pre-race confidence, many ruled him out as being a potential champion. However, Mutai would make good on his claims - in historic fashion. With the most favorable weather the race has seen, Mutai blasted away from the gun taking only the strongest marathoners with him, setting a new course record, and running a world's fastest time of 2:03:02.

While marathoning pundits and fans approximated the "value" of his wind-aided Boston victory, Mutai would set himself apart once again at the 2011 New York City Marathon against a stacked field of Olympians and marathon champions. Mutai ran away from the field at 20 miles en route to a 2:37 course record of 2:05:06, breaking the previous record set by Tesfaye Jifar (2:07:43) 10 years prior.

Why?
Defending Champion Mutai is a clear favorite with his record setting performances at the 2011 Boston and New York City Marathons. Mirroring his 2011 Boston prep, Mutai kicked off the year focused on cross country - earning a win and a second place finish in notably slower times than 2011. He also took a victory of a Half Marathon in Italy in 63:53, clocking a time similar to his 2011 finish at the Bogota Half Marathon. Does this mean that Mutai will remain competitive in Boston? Does he fear that one of his fellow compatriots could clock a faster time in a fast European spring marathon and knock him from the Kenyan Olympic berth? Or will he be saving himself for the 2012 London Olympics assured that his selection is guaranteed? These questions can only be answered on race day.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Gebremariam at the 2011 NYC Marathon

Gebre Gebremariam
Country: Ethopia
PB: 2:04:53, 2011 Boston Marathon

Gebregziabher "Gebre" Gebremariam of Ethiopia may have finished a distant 3rd at the 2011 Boston Marathon; but clocking a 2:04:53 in his second career marathon proves his worth as a major contender in the 2012 Boston field.

Gebremariam's early running career was highlighted by top track performances beginning at the 2002 World Junior's Championship where he won gold in the 10000m and bronze in the 5000m. At the 2004 Athens Olympics he took fourth in the 5000m at 20 years of age, following in the footsteps of legendary Hicham el Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele. It wasn't until 2008 when Gebremariam made the transition into road racing. He finished 2nd place in his 13.1 mile debut at the Great North Run (61:29) losing to fellow countryman Tsegaye Kebede fresh off his bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon.

After grabbing the 2009 World Cross Country Champion title and winning the 10000m at the 2009 National Championships, Gebremariam continued to shine on the roads with victories of several esteemed races - the 2010 Healthy Kidney 10K in New York (27:42 course record), Peachtree 10K (27:56), Beach to Beacon (27:41) and Falmouth Road Race (32:20). This all led up to a memorable victory in his marathon debut at the 2010 New York City Marathon (2:08:14). Pleased with his results, Gebremariam began planning for the 2011 Boston Marathon shortly after crossing the finish line.

As a lead in to Boston in 2011, Gebremariam returned to New York to test his fitness at the 2011 New York City Half Marathon. Despite his 2nd place finish, he ran an impressive race (60:25), losing to Mo Farah, the newly minted 2011 3000m European Champion. Gebremariam attributed his loss to Boston Marathon training - focusing on hills and less on speed work, but his attempts to take on Farah was proof that he still retained a ferocious kick.

A favorite at the 2011 Boston Marathon, his second attempt at the distance, Gebremariam remained with the leaders until mile 19; but faded eventually finishing third in 2:04:53. Following Boston, he was runner-up at the BAA 10k and in Castelbuono before closing out the year with a fourth place finish at the 2011 New York City Marathon - defeated all three times by 2011 Boston Champion Geoffrey Mutai.

Why?
Although he has not raced yet in 2012, Gebremariam remains one of the strongest contenders in the field and the only top billed Ethiopian. While his recent race strategy has him mixing with the leaders and allowing others to do the heavy surging, competitors were well aware of his strong finishing kick. They began pushing hard from the gun, leaving Gebremariam to hold onto the pace for as long as he can before being dropped off the pack. If he has tweaked his race strategy for 2012, Gebremariam may have what it takes in the tank to keep up with the fastest in the field and outkick them in the end.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Matebo at the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon

Levy Matebo
Country: Kenya
PB: 2:05:16, 2011 Frankfurt Marathon

While Levy Matebo may not be a household name yet, this 22 year old Kenyan who began to compete in the marathon distance in 2010 already owns the third fastest finish on the 2012 Boston Marathon elite roster. While many other athletes have lengthy careers on the track, in cross country, or in shorter distances on the roads - Matebo enters the race relatively unknown. With only a handful of uninspiring 5000m track times prior to moving to the roads, he quickly transitioned to the marathon distance like many of the new generation of athletes focusing on 26.2 mile early in their careers.

Matebo won the 2010 Brussels Marathon (2:13:30) and returned to racing a month later with a 6th place at the 2010 LaRochelle Marathon (2:12:06). Matebo's training proved successful when he returned to the marathon distance in 2011 winning the Barcelona Marathon with a near five-minute PR in 2:07:31. Later that fall, he ran the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon - a race known for break-through performances from unknown African athletes. At Frankfurt, Matebo lopped another two minutes off his personal best and finished second in 2:05:16 - behind Wilson Kipsang's world record attempt.

Why?
Matebo is a wild card. With so many young athletes hungry to make it big in the marathon and push for fast finishes, anything can happen. Plus, being off the radar is always a bonus when there is such a great number of up-and-coming runners focusing on the marathon and setting record times. This is also Matebo's first world major marathon race, expect some of the top athletes to pull him along, if the pace should go out fast.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Chebet at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon

Wilson Chebet
Country: Kenya
PB: 2:05:27, 2011 Rotterdam Marathon

Wilson Chebet may be better known as a half-marathon specialist with 28 half marathons to his name - 21 top 3 finishes and 8 victories since 2005. Chebet madehis first foray into the marathon distance as a pacemaker. When he made marathon debut at the 2010 Amsterdam Marathon, Chebet finished 2nd in one of the fastest debuts of all-time - 2:06:12.

Also, in 2010 Chebet competed at well-esteemed road races including the Beach to Beacon 10K and Falmouth Road Race, where he faced off twice against 2012 Boston Marathon contender Gebre Gebremariam who won the races. Chebet finished third and second, respectively.

In 2011 chebet's luck turned. He won the Rotterdam Marathon (2:05:27) beating top names like Vincent Kipruto and Feyisa Lilesa. Later that year, he ran a 9-second course record en route to his second marathon victory at the Amsterdam Marathon (2:05:53).

Why?
Chebet is just coming into the marathon distance and could easily drop into the 2:04 range for 2012 if the leaders set out on a fast race. And even if the more experienced marathoners don't plan on faster times, there is no telling what some of the rookies will do on race day.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Cheruiyot at the 2010 Boston Marathon

Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (Withdrawn)
Country: Kenya
PB: 2:05:52, 2010 Boston Marathon

2010 Boston Marathon Champion, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, not to be confused with the four-time winner of the Boston Marathon Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, is returning to the 2012 Boston field to try to reclaim his crown from fellow Kenyan, Geoffrey Mutai. Kiprono Cheruiyot won the 2008 Frankfurt Marathon in his marathon debut (2:07:21). In 2009, he placed 5th at the Boston Marathon (2:10:06) before returning to Frankfurt Marathon and running a new personal best of 2:06:23 - finishing second place, just nine seconds shy of defending his title.

At the 2010 Boston Marathon, Kiprono Cheruiyot went out with the veteran runners at the start and held the pace, even as former Boston champion Deriba Merga worked to drop the field with strong surging. With 2k to go, Kiprono Cheruiyot broke free from Merga and ran to victory, shattering the course record at that time and claiming victory in 2:05:52.

Still a relative newcomer to the distance, Kiprono Cheuiyot was unable to repeat his performance from Boston at the 2010 Chicago Marathon, where he finished 6th place in 2:09:28.

Why?
Kiprono Cheruiyot will not have an easy race in 2012 with runners like 2:04 finishers Geoffrey Mutai and Gebre Gebremariam and several others looking to clock faster times as well; but Kiprono Cheruiyot is only 23 and knows that to remain on elite rosters he will have to work some magic once again in Boston.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Tadese Tola running

Tadese Tola
Country: Ethiopia
PB: 2:05:10, 2012 Dubai Marathon

Tadese Tola will be flying under the radar at the 2012 Boston Marathon. This Ethiopian had made a name for himself in the 10000m, cross country circuit and in the half marathon - collecting accolades in road races all over the world. A few of his road highlights include two wins of the New York City Half Marathon (2008, 2009), a win at the 2010 Lisbon Half Marathon, a runner-up finish at the 2010 Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon and wins at the 2007 Cherry Blossom 10 miler and 2007 Falmouth Road Race.

Tola's first try at the marathon distance was not as expected: he debuted at the 2009 Chicago Marathon placing 9th in 2:15:48. Tola followed up with a win of the 2010 Paris Marathon (2:06:41), and a runner-up finish at the 2010 Frankfurt Marathon (2:06:31). Tola then struggled with injuries acquired during the Frankfurt Marathon. While not fully recovered he attempted to race the 2011 Boston Marathon, but failed to finish. By autumn, he was back to fitness and aimed to better his previous course record with a 2:05 finish at the 2011 Eindhoven Marathon. Tola faltered with 4th place finish in 2:07:14. Tola returned in 2012 at the Dubai Marathon, running a one-minute personal best to get his 2:05 with a 2:05:10, a 5th place finish in an extremely deep field.

Why? It's not certain how Tola will fare on the hilly course of the 2012 Boston Marathon. If his road racing abilities in places like New York City is indicative of his performance in Boston, Tola may be a surprise to the 2012 Boston field.