Could we get a Boston marathon showdown of Shalane Flanagan vs. Molly Huddle vs. Jordan Hasay?!

Yes. And Cragg.

I've been following the sport for 15+ years now and this would easily be the most anticipated race ever for me.

+1 this would be pretty cool.

No love for Des?

Does Boston have the money to pay for all 3? Or 5 if you include Des & Cragg. If they drain all their money on the Americans we’re all but guaranteed another victory as there won’t be any money left over to pay for the international athletes’ appearance fees.

An insane race. Calling it now, Hasay wipes the floor with the rest, Shalane goes home DEVASTATED and crying doping a la Goucher.

This is probably the new direction for Boston, Chicago, and New York.

Bring in Americans and pay them huge appearance fees. This means a limited amount of dollars for foreign athletes and better insures an American victory. Then celebrate like it is something special.

It is important to bring in a couple foreigners to make it look legit but don't bring in 20 of them. Then start the chant USA USA USA

The public is stupid and will act like a 2:09 on one of the fastest courses in the World is special or that a 2:26 in New York is something we haven't seen in 40 years. It is all a farce.

sfdsafdsa wrote:

I've been following the sport for 15+ years now and this would easily be the most anticipated race ever for me.

These showdowns used to happen all the time. We need more of this!

Chicago revisited wrote:

This is probably the new direction for Boston, Chicago, and New York.

Bring in Americans and pay them huge appearance fees. This means a limited amount of dollars for foreign athletes and better insures an American victory. Then celebrate like it is something special.

It is important to bring in a couple foreigners to make it look legit but don't bring in 20 of them. Then start the chant USA USA USA

The public is stupid and will act like a 2:09 on one of the fastest courses in the World is special or that a 2:26 in New York is something we haven't seen in 40 years. It is all a farce.

You seem to be implying that the presence of foreign runners drastically lowers the chances of an American win. Or conversely that with less foreign runners an American victory is not meaningful.

In that case, you must have slept through the fall marathon season. Jordan Hasay finished third in her second marathon with 2:20.57. Shalane Flanagan beat MARY KEITANY, and all the other foregin runners. Galen Rupp beat five runners with PRs under 2:06, including the world record holder in the marathon, another 2:03 guy, the Olympic silver medalist, and the 2016 winner. Also beat the world record holder in the half marathon.

At least for a few American marathoners, they do not need watered down field to do well (and by well I do not mean 2:12 for 15th). Other than maybe Kipchoge, Bekele, or couple others, organizers can invite whoever the hell they want.