Elite Athletes Field: Boston Marathon 2018

The 2018 Bosotn Marathon will take place on Monday, April 16. Below you will find men's and women's eilte athletes start lsits.

For live tv coverage and live streaming info see page here.

If you wish to read full men's elite runners preview see article on letsrun here.

If you wish to read full women's elite article preview see article here.

Men Elite Athletes

Tamirat Tola Ethiopia 2:04:06 Broke CR in Dubai last year, then silver at Worlds. Oly 10k bronze

Lemi Berhanu Ethiopia 2:04:33 2016 champ was a DNF last year

Lelisa Desisa Ethiopia 2:04:45 2-time champ was 3rd in NYC in November

Nobert Kigen Kenya 2:05:13 Ran 2:06 and 2:05 in his 2 marathons last year

Wilson Chebet Kenya 2:05:27 3-time Amsterdam champ was famously 2nd behind Meb in ’14. 5th in ’17.

Evans Chebet Kenya 2:05:30 Two top-4 finishes in majors; coming off PB in Valencia in Nov

Felix Kandie Kenya 2:06:03 Has run 2:06 in his last 3 marathons, including 4th in Berlin last fall

Geoffrey Kirui Kenya 2:06:27 Defending champ won Worlds and was our World #1 in ’17

Philemon Rono Kenya 2:06:52 Set PR/CR to win 2nd straight Toronto Marathon in Oct

Yuki Kawauchi Japan 2:08:14 Has already won 3 marathons this year, including a 2:11 in Feb

Abdi Nageeye Netherlands 2:08:16 Set national record to finish 9th in Amsterdam last year

Lusapho April South Africa 2:08:32 Best finish of 13th in two attempts in Boston

Arne Gabius Germany 2:08:33 6th in Frankfurt last year

Abdi Abdirahman USA 2:08:56 At 40, was still the top American in NYC last year

Galen Rupp USA 2:09:20 2nd last year, then won Chicago. Olympic bronze.

Reid Coolsaet Canada 2:10:28 Ran 2:10 in Fukuoka in December at age 38

Ryan Vail USA 2:10:57 2:12 for 8th in Berlin last year

Stephen Sambu Kenya 2:11:07 Has finished 5th in Chicago the last 2 years

Eric Gillis Canada 2:11:21 10th at 2016 Olympics

Elkanah Kibet USA 2:11:31 2:11:31 in his debut but hasn’t come within 2 mins of that since; 16th at ’17 Worlds

Timothy Ritchie USA 2:11:56 Ran big PR of 2:11 to win CIM/US champs in December

Shadrack Biwott USA 2:12:01 Rupp’s college teammate was 4th last year

Scott Smith USA 2:12:21 Coming off PR in Frankfurt last fall

Andrew Bumbalough USA 2:13:58 25th in Tokyo, 13th in Chicago in his two marathons so far

Women Elite Athletes

Aselefech Mergia Ethiopia 2:19:31 Has won Dubai 3x and London 1x. 3rd at ’17 London

Deena Kastor USA 2:19:36 Now 45, she’s no longer a contender to win

Edna Kiplagat Kenya 2:19:50 At age 37, she went 1st Boston – 2nd Worlds – 4th NYC in ’17

Buzunesh Deba Ethiopia 2:19:59 CR holder but it’s been 3 years since she’s been in the mix in a major

Jordan Hasay USA 2:20:57 After an incredible first 2 marathons, can she earn first win in Boston?

Shalane Flanagan USA 2:21:14 Won NYC last fall at age 36; Boston would be icing on the cake

Mamitu Daska Ethiopia 2:21:59 3rd in NYC last year behind Flanagan & Keitany

Desiree Linden USA 2:22:38 Three top-4 finishes in Boston, including last year

Madai Perez Mexico 2:22:59 4th in Chicago last year

Caroline Rotich Kenya 2:23:22 Has struggled since winning ’15 Boston but did run 2:26 at ’17 Amsterdam

Gladys Chesir Kenya 2:24:51 If you’re looking for a dark horse, it’s her. 2nd at ’17 Amsterdam in her debut

Serena Burla USA 2:26:53 Ran PR last year in Osaka, then finished 11th at Worlds

Molly Huddle USA 2:28:13 Set US HM record in Jan; 3rd at ’16 NYC in only marathon

Krista DuChene Canada 2:28:32 Hasn’t broken 2:30 since ’15

Kellyn Taylor USA 2:28:40 8th in NYC last year

Kellys Arias Colombia 2:29:36 7th in Valencia last year

Jessica Draskau Petersson Denmark 2:30:07 14th in Chicago last year