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Boston Marathon 2017 - The Preview
by MarathonGuide.com Staff
At 121 years old, the Boston Marathon has the greatest history of any marathon and continues its commitment to bringing together a great field of elite athletes to provide drama and an exciting race. With that history and commitment - we look forward to the Boston Marathon race more than any other each year.
The Boston Marathon is also unique among the Marathon marathons in that it offers NO time bonuses - at least none that are attainable*. (note: the race does offer bonuses for breaking the world or course records, but with the course record of 2:03:02 set on a day with a massive tailwind, that time will never be reached again). Without time incentives, the Boston Marathon is a pure race and the win does not always go to the runner with the best credentials, but rather to the runner who is toughest AND smartest on the day. The Boston course also features more difficult terrain than many of the other top marathons and to succeed runners must be able to manage a major downhill start followed by a series of hills between miles 18 and 20 and then a rolling downhill final section (where the race really takes shape).
The Boston marathon competes in the same season (and just one week apart) as the London Marathon so in some years the Boston Marathon field is lacking. We will admit that we were especially disappointed with the 2016 Boston Marathon field, where in addition to competing against the London Marathon for a top elite field all top Americans had run the Olympic Trials Marathon in mid-February and were unable to run Boston and other International athletes were unavailable doing what they needed to do to be selected for or prepare for the once-every-four-years Olympics.
For 2017, the Boston Marathon has excelled in recruiting a top field. The field contains an amazing - and we don't use that word lightly - group of past champions, Olympians, International athletes from a variety of countries and a showcase of top and upcoming Americans. And we enjoy the chance to watch an amazing race AND watch Americans in the mix.
The Men's Race
The 2017 Men's race features a fast field with seven men who had run sub 2:06 and six others who had run sub 2:10. The defending champion, Lemi Hayle, one of the fastest in the field, was returning to defend his title and was a favorite. One other past champion was returning: 2014 Champion Meb Keflezighi, the first American to win the Boston Marathon in 30 years who at 41 yeas would be running his penultimate marathon and would be the overwhelming fan favorite.
Often Americans are the afterthought at Boston, but beyond Meb, the Boston Marathon was bringing in the other two American Men who had represented the USA at the 2016 Olympics Marathon: Galen Rupp and Jared Ward. Galen Rupp earned the bronze medal at the Olympics and Jared Ward finished a surprising sixth place - indicating that both can stand on any international stage and compet with the best. In addition, two Americans who finished top five at the 2016 New York City Marathon would round out the American team: Abdi Abdirahman (third at New York) and Shadrack Biwott (fifth at New York). We couldn't be more excited to watch the best of the Americans - those at the sunset of the career and those up-and-coming compete on the same field.
In 2016, the international field was skewed toward Ethiopia. For 2017, the field was well balanced between Ethiopia, Kenya and even diversified with a strong Eritrean and a Canadian thrown into the mix. Beyond Hayle and the Americans, the most promising competitors would be Sammy Kitwara (KEN), Sisay Lemma (ETH) and Yemane Tsegay (ETH) and Emmanueal Mutai (KEN) - a strong field.
The Women's Race
The women's race will feature eleven women who have run 2:25 or better. Defending champion Atsede Baysa (ETH) will be one of the favorites, but she will face some tough competition. Two other Boston champions, Caroline Rotich (2015 champion) and Bizunesh Deba (elevated to 1st place a couple of years after her 2014 running after Rita Jeptoo was disqualified for doping).
Beyond the past champions, we are most excited to see the American contingent run in Boston. Desiree Linden will run her sixth Boston Marathon, the last four run at 2:25 or better and putting her top ten four times including her second place finish in 2011 in 2:22:38. Linden is always consistent and can compete well. New to the scene in her debut marathon is Jordan Hasay coached by Alberto Salazar. Hasay ran 68:40 for a Half Marathon in January of 2017 and followed that up with up a 67:55 Half Marathon at Prague as a warmup two weeks before the Boston Marathon - those times are similar to the best Half Marathon times for Shalane Flanagan and suggest that Hasay can be capable of a Marathon in the low 2:20s - she could compete for a win at her debut marathon....
Also in the field with strong chances for a top finish are Edna Kiplagat, who at 39 is nearing the end of her career, but still running strong; and Joyce Chepkirui (KEN). There is a strong field and we expect a good race.
Elite Lineup:
| Male Elite Athletes |
| Athlete | Country | Bib | Personal Best | Boston |
| Lemi Berhanu Hayle (23) | ETH | 1 | 2:04:33, Dubai, 2016 | History |
| Emmanuel Mutai (33) | KEN | 3 | 2:03:13, Berlin, 2014 | History |
| Sammy Kitwara (31) | KEN | 5 | 2:04:28, Chicago, 2014 | History |
| Yemane Tsegay (32) | ETH | 6 | 2:04:48, Rotterdam, 2012 | History |
| Dino Sefir (29) | ETH | 7 | 2:04:50, Dubai, 2012 | History |
| Sisay Lemma (27) | ETH | 8 | 2:05:16, Dubai, 2016 | History |
| Wilson Chebet (32) | KEN | 9 | 2:05:27, Rotterdam, 2011 | History |
| Wesley Korir (35) | KEN | 10 | 2:06:13, Chicago, 2012 | History |
| Geoffrey Kirui (24) | KEN | 11 | 2:07:23, Rotterdam, 2016 | History |
| Yared Asmeron (37) | ERI | 12 | 2:07:27, Chuncheon, 2011 | History |
| Mebrahtom ""Meb"" Keflezighi (42) | USA | 14 | 2:08:37, Boston, 2014 | History |
| Abdihakem "Abdi" Abdirahman (39) | USA | 15 | 2:08:56, Chicago, 2006 | History |
| Cutbert Nyasango (35) | ZWE | 16 | 2:09:52, Prague, 2014 | History |
| Galen Rupp (31) | USA | 17 | 2:10:05, Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 2016 | History |
| Luke Puskedra (27) | USA | 18 | 2:10:24, Chicago, 2015 | History |
| Eric Gillis (37) | CAN | 19 | 2:11:21, Toronto Waterfront, 2014 | History |
| Jared Ward (29) | USA | 20 | 2:11:30, Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 2016 | History |
| Shadrack Biwott (32) | USA | 21 | 2:12:01, New York City, 2016 | History |
| Sean Quigley (32) | USA | 22 | 2:13:30, Fukuoka, 2014 | History |
| Suguru Osako (26) | JPN | 23 | | History |
| Daniel Salel (27) | KEN | 24 | | History |
| Dennis Kimetto (33) | KEN | | 2:02:57, Berlin, 2014 | History |
| Patrick Makau (32) | KEN | | 2:03:38, Berlin, 2011 | History |
| Female Elite Athletes |
| Athlete | Country | Bib | Personal Best | Boston |
| Atsede Baysa (30) | ETH | 1 | 2:22:03, Chicago, 2012 | History |
| Gladys Cherono (34) | KEN | 2 | 2:19:25, Berlin, 2015 | History |
| Edna Kiplagat (39) | KEN | 3 | 2:19:50, London, 2012 | History |
| Buzunesh Deba (30) | ETH | 4 | 2:19:59, Boston, 2014 | History |
| Desiree Linden (34) | USA | 6 | 2:22:38, Boston, 2011 | History |
| Valentine Kipketer (24) | KEN | 8 | 2:23:02, Amsterdam, 2013 | History |
| Caroline Rotich (33) | KEN | 9 | 2:23:22, Chicago, 2012 | History |
| Joyce Chepkirui (29) | KEN | 10 | 2:24:11, Amsterdam, 2015 | History |
| Rose Chelimo (28) | BHR | 11 | 2:24:14, Seoul, 2016 | History |
| Ruti Aga (23) | ETH | 12 | 2:24:41, Berlin, 2016 | History |
| Brigid Kosgei (23) | KEN | 14 | 2:24:45, Lisbon, 2016 | History |
| Diane Nukuri (33) | BDI | 15 | 2:27:50, London, 2015 | History |
| Blake Russell (42) | USA | 16 | 2:29:10, Chicago, 2005 | History |
| Lindsay Flanagan (26) | USA | 17 | 2:29:28, Frankfurt, 2016 | History |
| Kellys Arias (28) | COL | 18 | 2:29:36, Hamburg, 2016 | History |
| Rachel Hannah (31) | CAN | 20 | 2:32:09, Houston, 2016 | History |
| Esther Atkins (31) | USA | 21 | 2:33:15, Boston, 2014 | History |
| Liz Costello (29) | USA | 22 | | History |
| Jordan Hasay (26) | USA | 23 | | History |
| Jelena Prokopcuka (41) | LVA | | 2:22:56, Osaka, 2005 | History |
| Clara Santucci (30) | USA | | 2:29:54, Boston, 2011 | History |
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