2012 John Hancock Elite Athlete Field
Top Contenders: Men
Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya: The fastest marathoner in the world. Mutai won Boston in an unmatched 2:03:02 World Best. He followed with a course record win in New York City. He is the only man to set course records in Boston and New York in the same year. Mutai wants a spot on the Kenyan Olympic Team and a Boston win would seal the deal.
Gebregziabher “Gebre” Gebremariam, Ethiopia: Gebre finished third last year in 2:04:53. He dropped out of the World Championships Marathon last summer, but rebounded with fourth in New York City in the fall. He has raced Mutai now twice and knows the Boston course.
Wilson Chebet and Laban Korir, Kenya: Chebet won the 2011 Amsterdam (2:05:53) and Rotterdam Marathons (2:05:27) and finished runner up in his 2010 Amsterdam debut. He has run nine sub-61 half marathons and four sub-60 half marathons. Korir ran a debut 2:06:05 in Amsterdam to finish second behind Chebet.
Wesley Korir and Bernard Kipyego, Kenya: Second and third respectively in Chicago last year, Korir ran for University of Louisville and has won L.A. twice. Kipyego is training with WMM champion Emmanuel Mutai.
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Kenya: Cheruiyot ran a stunning 2:05:52 course record at Boston in 2010 and returns to reclaim the record and the win. Most recently he was fifth (2:06:29) in Frankfurt last year.
Levy Matebo, Kenya: Last year Matebo won in Barcelona and finished runner up in Frankfurt (2:05:16).
David Barmasai, Kenya: Fifth in Daegu at the World Championships in 2011, Barmasai has three career wins, including the 2011 Dubai Marathon in 2:07:18.
Josphat Ndambiri, Kenya: Ndambiri won his marathon debut in Fukuoka this past December in 2:07:36, more than a minute ahead of second place. He trains in Japan and was the first athlete to run the 10,000m under 27 minutes in that country.