Three Quick Thoughts On The 2016 Boston Marathon Field

by LetsRun.com
January 13, 2016

Earlier today, John Hancock announced the elite fields for the 2016 Boston Marathon, to be held on April 18. You can read the whole press release here or see the top elites listed below. Below the list of the elites, we give you three quick thoughts on the field.

April 5 Update: The field has changed as Geoffrey Mutai and others have pulled out. Details here.

Full Elite Field For 2016 Boston Marathon

MEN Country Personal Best
Geoffrey Mutai Kenya 2:03:02 (Boston, 2011)
Sammy Kitwara Kenya 2:04:28 (Chicago, 2014)
Tsegaye Mekonnen Ethiopia 2:04:32 (Dubai, 2014)
Lelisa  Desisa Ethiopia 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013)
Yemane Adhane Tsegay Ethiopia 2:04:48 (Rotterdam, 2012)
Getu Feleke Ethiopia 2:04:50 (Rotterdam, 2012)
Wilson Chebet Kenya 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)
Hayle Lemi Berhanu Ethiopia 2:05:28 (Dubai, 2015)
Stephen Chebogut Kenya 2:05:52 (Eindhoven, 2015)
Deribe Robi Ethiopia 2:05:58 (Eindhoven, 2015)
Wesley Korir Kenya 2:06:13 (Chicago, 2012)
Michael Kipyego Kenya 2:06:48 (Eindhoven, 2011)
Paul Lonyangata Kenya 2:07:14 (Shanghai, 2015)
Jackson Kiprop Uganda 2:09:32 (Mumbai, 2013)
Cuthbert Nyasango Zimbabwe 2:09:52 (Prague, 2014)
Abdi Nageeye Netherlands 2:10:24 (Amsterdam, 2015)
Abdelmajid El Hissouf Morocco 2:10:35 (Seoul, 2015)
Solonei Da Silva Brazil 2:11:32 (Padova, 2011)
Jordan Chipangama Zambia 2:11:35 (Duluth, 2015)
Ian Burrell USA 2:13:26 (Houston, 2014)
Girma Mecheso USA Debut; HM 1:02:16 (Houston, 2015)
WOMEN Country Personal Best Time
Tiki Gelana Ethiopia 2:18:58 (Rotterdam, 2012)
Buzunesh Deba Ethiopia 2:19:59 (Boston, 2014)
Tirfi Tsegaye Ethiopia 2:20:18 (Berlin, 2014)
Mamitu Daska Ethiopia 2:21:59 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Atsede Bayisa Ethiopia 2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)
Flomena Cheyech Daniel Kenya 2:22:44 (Paris, 2014)
Tadelech Bekele Ethiopia 2:22:51 (Dubai, 2015)
Jelena Prokopcuka Latvia 2:22:56 (Osaka, 2005)
Valentine Kipketer Kenya 2:23:02 (Amsterdam, 2013)
Caroline Rotich Kenya 2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)
Joyce Chepkirui Kenya 2:24:11 (Amsterdam, 2015)
Fatuma Sado Ethiopia 2:24:16 (Toronto, 2015)
Purity Cherotich Rionoripo Kenya 2:25:09 (Lisbon, 2015)
Fate Tola Ethiopia/Germany 2:25:14 (Berlin, 2012)
Lamei Sun China 2:27:55 (Beijing, 2012)
Sarah Crouch USA 2:32:44 (Chicago, 2014)
Neely Spence Gracey USA Debut; HM 69:59 (Philadelphia, 2015)

1) In terms of PRs, the men’s field is a little stronger than last year’s race whereas the women’s took a slight step back.

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Desisa will go for a third Boston title in April Desisa will go for a third Boston title in April

If one looks at PRs, the fields are fairly similar to last year’s. The men’s field looks a little stronger than last year’s race whereas the women’s took a slight step back. Given the fact that the top Americans aren’t available for Boston this year given the Olympic Trials are on February 13, we thought there might be a little more African depth this year (as John Hancock doesn’t have to pony up expensive appearance fees for the likes of Meb, Desi or Shalane) and that appears to have come to fruition on the men’s side.

 Men 2016 Boston 2015 Boston
# With PR Under 2:04 1 1
# With PR Under 2:05 6 5
# With PR Under 2:06 10 7
# With PR Under 2:07 12 10
 Women 2016 Boston 2015 Boston
# With PR Under 2:20 2 2
# With PR Under 2:21 3 4
# With PR Under 2:22 4 6
# With PR Under 2:23 8 9

2) The Boston women’s field pales in comparison to the London women’s field.

We hate to sound like a broken record but every single year we say London amasses the greatest amount of marathon talent in the world. Yesterday, the elite women’s field for the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon was announced and it was so strong we wondered if it was harder to win London than the Olympics. London’s elite field will feature the top five women in the world from our 2015 marathon rankings and six of the top seven. Boston’s field will feature just one – #10 Caroline Rotich.

Spring Marathon Choice for LetsRun.com’s Top 10 Ranked Marathoners From 2015 
1 Mare Dibaba London
2 Mary Keitany London
3 Gladys Cherono London
4 Aselefech Mergia London
5 Tigist Tufa London
6 Birhane Dibaba  ??
7 Florence Kiplagat London
8 Eunice Kirwa  ??
9 Helah Kiprop ??
10 Caroline Rotich Boston

2016 London is filled with 2:20-21 women whereas the depth in the 2016 Boston field comes in the 2:22-3 range.

  2016 London 2016 Boston
# Racers With PR Under 2:20 5 2
# Racers With PR Under 2:21 8 3
# Racers With PR Under 2:22 9 4
# Racers With PR Under 2:23 9 8

Here’s some free advice to the Boston PR staff: next year, release your field before London and certainly don’t do it the day after as it’s impossible to not want to compare the two.

3) The Boston men’s field includes three of our top 10 ranked marathoners from 2015.

2016 Marathon Choice for LetsRun.com’s Top 10 Ranked Marathoners 
1 Eliud Kipchoge ??
2 Stanley Biwott ??
3 Ghirmay Ghebreslassie ??
4 Lelisa Desisa Boston
5 Berhanu Lemi Dubai & Boston
6 Yemane Tsegay Boston
7 Wilson Kipsang ??
8 Dickson Chumba ??
9 Bernard Kipyego ??
10 Endeshaw Negesse ??

Discuss the 2016 Boston field in our forum: MB: 2016 Boston Marathon field announced.
*MB: Neely Spence Gracey running Boston – good idea?

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