Mutai steps up to lead Kenyan Boston Marathon hunt

With former world record holder Patrick Makau and 2012 champion Wesley Korir having withdrawn from this year’s Boston Marathon, the 2015 Berlin Marathon silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai will lead the Kenyan men’s elite field on Monday.

Mutai will face a strong field including defending champion Lemi Berhanu Hayle, former champion Meb Keflezighi, Olympic bronze medalist Galen Rupp, and five other men who have run under 2 hours and 6 minutes.

The 33-year-old will be attempting to break a rare Kenyan gold drought spanning five years at the annual event – the longest since Ibrahim Kipkemboi’s inaugural triumph in 1988.

Makau who set the 2:03:38 world record at the 2011 Berlin Marathon was forced out due to injury while Korir, the latest Kenyan man to win in Boston, will be concentrating on his reelection to the Cherangany Parliamentary seat during the August General Elections.

Mutai who en route to his second-place finish at the 2014 Berlin Marathon (2:03:13) set a world record at the 30K distance (1:27:37) is the race favourite and will battle it out against four compatriots led by 2014 Chicago marathon silver medalist Sammy Kitwara (2:04.28).

Former Rottedam Marathon champion  Wilson Chebet  ( 2:05:27) and Geoffrey Kirui who clocked 2:06.27 for seventh  place during the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon will be there to claim the coveted title while Daniel Salel will be making his debut with a lot of ambitions to make a statement in the elite field.

The women’s race will be a tough nut to crack for 2015 Berlin Marathon champion, Gladys Cherono who has the fastest time of 2:19.25 on the course.

Cherono will be sweat it out for the Boston title against five countrywomen  led by 2012 London Marathon first runner’s up Edna Kiplagat  (2:19.50), Valentine  Kipketer (2:23:02, Amsterdam, 2013), Caroline Rotich (2:23:22, Chicago, 2012), Joyce Chepkirui  (2:24:11, Amsterdam, 2015) and Brigid Kosgei (2:24:45, Lisbon, 2016).

For company, they will have Kenyan-born Bahraini Rose Chelimo (2:24:14) – a former 2016 Seoul Marathon champion, as well as Ethiopian Atsede Baysa the defending champion with a personal best of 2:22.03.

2017 Boston Marathon

Men’s Field  

1. Emmanuel Mutai Kenya             2:03:13 (Berlin)
2. Sammy Kitwara Kenya             2:04:28 (Chicago, 2014)
3. Lemi Berhanu Hayle Ethiopia         2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)
4. Yemane Tsegay Ethiopia         2:04:48 (Rotterdam, 2012)
5. Dino Sefir                     Ethiopia         2:04:50 (Dubai, 2012)
6. Sisay Lemma Ethiopia         2:05:16 (Dubai, 2016)
7. Wilson Chebet Kenya            2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)
8. Geoffrey Kirui Kenya              2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)
9. Yared Asmeron Eritrea            2:07:27 (Chuncheon, 2011)
10. Meb Keflezighi            USA                2:08:37 (Boston, 2014)
11. Abdi Abdirahman         USA                2:08:56 (Chicago, 2006)
12. Cutbert Nyasango Zimbabwe         2:09:52 (Prague, 2014) NR
13. Galen Rupp USA                2:10:05 (Rio de Janeiro, 2016)
14. Luke Puskedra                  USA               2:10:24 (Chicago, 2015)
15. Eric Gillis Canada             2:11:21 (Toronto, 2014)
16. Jared Ward USA                2:11:30 (Rio de Janeiro, 2016)
17. Shadrack Biwott USA                2:12:01 (New York, 2016)
18. Sean Quigley                  USA                2:13:30 (Fukuoka, 2013)
19. Daniel Salel Kenya debut

Women’s Field

1. Gladys Cherono Kenya             2:19:25 (Berlin, 2015)
2. Edna Kiplagat          Kenya             2:19:50 (London, 2012)
3. Buzunesh Deba Ethiopia         2:19:59 (Boston, 2014) CR
4. Shalane Flanagan USA               2:21:14 (Berlin, 2014)
5. Atsede Baysa Ethiopia         2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)
6. Desiree Linden USA              2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)
7. Jelena Prokopcuka Latvia             2:22:56 (Osaka, 2005) NR
8. Valentine Kipketer     Kenya             2:23:02 (Amsterdam, 2013)
9. Caroline Rotich      Kenya             2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)
10. Joyce Chepkirui Kenya             2:24:11 (Amsterdam, 2015)
11. Rose Chelimo           Bahrain           2:24:14 (Seoul, 2016)
12. Ruti Aga                Ethiopia           2:24:41 (Berlin, 2016)
13. Brigid Kosgei Kenya              2:24:45 (Lisbon, 2016)
14. Diane Nukuri Burundi            2:27:50 (London, 2015)
15. Blake Russell            USA               2:29:10 (Chicago, 2005)
16. Lindsay Flanagan        USA               2:29:28 (Frankfurt, 2016)
17. Kellys Arias               Colombia          2:29:36 (Hamburg, 2016) NR
18. Clara Santucci        USA                  2:29:54 (Boston, 2011)
19. Rachel Hannah Canada               2:32:09 (Houston, 2016)
20. Esther Atkins USA 2:33:15 (Boston, 2014)
21. Liz Costello USA                 debut
22. Jordan Hasay USA                  debut

-Material sourced from the iaaf.org was used to compile this report.