The London Marathon website has called this "the best elite women’s field ever assembled," and they may be right. There are four sub-2:20 women and four more sub-2:22, including world champ Mare Dibaba, Chicago champ Florence Kiplagat and Berlin champ Aberu Kebede. Plus track studs Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot (who is making her debut).

The field is stacked as usual with 7 women who have ran under 2:21 and also includes Chicago champion Florence Kiplagat, Berlin winner Aberu Kebede and and former London winners Tigist Tufa (2015) and Aselefech Mergia (2010). Team USA will get some representation from Laura Thweatt and Kellyn Taylor.

Sumgong, like Eliud Kipchoge, was the unquestioned world #1 in 2016. Flanagan was one of three Americans to finish in the top 10 at the Olympics (Amy Cragg and Desi Linden were the others) -- only the second time a country had pulled off that feat (after Kenya in 2008).

Kebede will look to become the fourth woman to win Berlin three times (she also won in '10 and '12) and the 21st woman under 2:20. Can rising stars Amane Beriso (2:20:48 in Dubai, 5th-fastest debut ever) or Birhane Dibaba (2015 Tokyo champ) take her down?

The top 8 men have ran 2:06 or faster while the women are lead by Ethiopians Aberu Kebede (2:20:30) and Amane Beriso (2:20:48).

Galen Rupp and Meb Kefelzighi, you just caught a major break as Ethiopia definitely didn't select its three best marathoners for its Olympic team. Kenenisa Bekele is staying home as is women's world leader Tirfi Tsegaye. *MB: Ethiopian marathon team announced: Picks are as debatable as Kenya's.

Dibaba can clinch the AWMM title and $500,000 with a win, while a win would put Kiprop or Kebede in a tie for 1st in the standings with Mary Keitany and Mare Dibaba. Two-time world champ Edna Kiplagat and 20-year-old wunderkind Shure Demise are also in the Tokyo field.

There have been zero sub-2:20 runs at Abbott WMM this year. Will that change on Sunday in Berlin? Quite possibly.

Press conference highlights from Gladys Cherono, Aberu Kebede and Germany's Anna Hahner.

Mare Dibaba is ready to go; so is Buzenesh Deba and nearly everyone we spoke to. We break down the women's press day in terms of Good News/Bad News for the American women. And some words of wisdom: "Life is today. Tomorrow is a dream."

 

2014 Chicago champ Mare Dibaba leads the field, though she'll be challenged by fellow sub-2:20 woman Buzunesh Deba, who would have set a course record last year if not for drug cheat Rita Jeptoo. World junior record holder Shure Demise Ware and former champs Caroline Kilel and Sharon Cherop will also be on the start line.

2011 NYC champ Firehiwot Dado and five-time World XC medalist Meselech Melkamu are also entered. In total, 12 women in the field have broken 2:24 and 22 have broken 2:28. 

His top competition will be Vincent Kipruto (2:05:13). CR holder Meselech Melkamu (2:21:01) leads women's field as she faces Aberu Kebede (2:20:30) and Sharon Cherop (2:22:28).

The men's field for Sunday's race is still strong even after Geoffrey Mutai, Stanley Biwott and Dathan Ritzenhein withdrew. Goucher is running this race in preparation for NYC but probably won't be a factor. LThe real question for American fans may be, 'Will Deena Kastor be the top American and will she get the master WR?' Pus, Bernard Lagat goes for the American 5k road record on Saturday morning.