John Hancock's 2014 Elite Field
Top Contenders: Men
Lelisa Desisa, Ethiopia: The defending Boston Marathon champion, Desisa is ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News for his performances last year. Desisa started the year with a win in Dubai and followed with a win in Boston. He then won the silver medal at the World Championships Marathon in Moscow.
Dennis Kimetto, Kenya:: Kimetto set course record wins at the Tokyo (since broken) and Chicago Marathons last year. In his marathon debut, he missed the Berlin Marathon win by one second to the Boston Marathon course record holder Geoffrey Mutai. In his first Boston appearance, Kimetto will be hungry to add a third Marathon Majors title to his name.
Gebregziabher “Gebre” Gebremariam, Ethiopia:: Gebremariam is past marathon champion in New York City and has found the podium twice in Boston. Last year he was only six seconds out from the win, as Desisa and Micah Kogo won the Boylston Street battle for first and second. Gebremariam is strategist and is one to watch.
Micah Kogo, Kenya:: Kogo made his marathon debut in Boston last year, and missed the win by five seconds to Desisa. Kogo won the bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Games and is a former 10K world record holder (27:01). This past fall, Kogo finished fourth at the Chicago Marathon.
Ryan Hall, United States:: Always a front-runner on the Boston course, Hall holds the American record at Boston with his 2:04:58 performance from 2011. Hall has run Boston three times, finishing third in 2009, and fourth in both 2010 and 2011. He returns recovered from injury and ready to go.
Meb Keflezighi, United States:: Keflezighi is a past New York City Marathon winner and Olympic silver medalist. Keflezighi has finished third and fifth in Boston and most recently placed fourth at the London Olympic Games Marathon.
Wilson Chebet, Kenya:: Chebet is one of the few marathoners in history to record four sub-2:06 wins: three in Amsterdam and one in Rotterdam. In the oppressive heat of the 2012 Boston Marathon, Chebet finished fifth and will use that experience gained to seek the win this year.
Lusapho April, South Africa:: In 2013, April set a course record at the Hannover Marathon and then faced a strong field at the New York City Marathon where he battled to secure third place. Finding confidence in his improving abilities, April will be in the mix.
Jason Hartmann, United States:: Hartmann has finished fourth in Boston the past two years and hopes for a podium position this year. He has great strategic sensibilities and knows how to run competitively with the best marathon runners in the world.
Markos Geneti, Ethiopia:: Geneti holds the Los Angeles Marathon course record and has a 2:04:54 best. He finished sixth last year in his Boston Marathon debut and having experience on the course will make the difference this Patriots’ Day.