Why is Ritz the "lead" American at London when Meb is in the race?

Meb's publicity shy, is all.

Is Khalid in the race? I don't think he is.

Meb is so 2004...it is 2009 now.

yeah, can someone confirm KK being in the race...

Can't find the elite start list anywhere...

KK is running.

Ritz was the lead American in the 2008 Olympic marathon.

Martin Lel KEN 2:05:15

Sammy Wanjiru KEN 2:05:24

Abderrahim Goumri MAR 2:05:30

Khalid Khannouchi USA 2:05:38

Felix Limo KEN 2:06:14

Emmanuel Mutai KEN 2:06:15

Tsegaye Kebede ETH 2:06:40

Hendrick Ramaala RSA 2:06:55

Jaouad Gharib MAR 2:07:02

Viktor Röthlin SUI 2:07:23

Yonas Kifle ERI 2:07:34

Tessema Abshiro ETH 2:08:26

Dathan Ritzenhein USA 2:11:06

Zersenay Tadese ERI Debut

Hicham Bellani MAR Debut

is Paula- poop right on the street- Radciff in it.

Ritz's PR is closer to Paula's then Lal's ?

i know he has never run a time trial marathon

Paula has a small fracture in one of her toes and was out back in March.

Interesting thread, but it may have something to do with the fact that Meb and KK's PRs are from over 3 years ago. Although, I still think both of these guys are still very capable marathoners if they are healthy, but I would be suprised if they are ahead of Ritz. I am predicting a high 2:06 to low 2:07 from Ritz, runs amazingly well when he is healthy and coming off a long training period. Even a perfect race from Ritz will put him over a minute behind the leaders; this race has the makings of a fast one.

Because Meb hasn\'t run a good marathon since spring of 2006 and has either dropped out of run poorly in several since then, and Ritz ran pretty well in his last 2 including a good one last Summer.

;;a wrote:

http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=3724506

Meb smoked him just recently at Houston. Meb\'s PR\'s are better in every distance, including, of course, the marathon.

Meb is the lead American at London - or you could even argue KK is the lead American, except he hasn\'t shown fitness recently.

;;a wrote:

http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/?pageID=5&n=149

KK is running.

The Media handout for the races/contestants makes no mention of Khalid unfortunately:

this is how london will play out ...

ritz goes out with the pack through 15 miles ... gets dropped, blows up, limps home with a 6+ min positive split.

ritz goes out behind the main pack, has no one to run with in no man's land, runs a solo 2:11+ time trial finishes outside of the top 15.

First American in the 2008 Olympics.

If Ritz runs smart he can easily break 2:09 and finish in the top 10.

the play book wrote:

this is how london will play out ...

ritz goes out with the pack through 15 miles ... gets dropped, blows up, limps home with a 6+ min positive split.

ritz goes out behind the main pack, has no one to run with in no man's land, runs a solo 2:11+ time trial finishes outside of the top 15.

are you really this stupid?

hint: none of the above

MarathonMind wrote:

If Ritz runs smart he can easily break 2:09 and finish in the top 10.

If he's going to finish in the top ten then he's going to have to break more than 2:09

one is black. other is white....i kid i kid....or do I?