The women are shooting to break the CR and 2:20 barrier. Salpeter faces last year's winner Meskerem Assefa (2:20:36). Mekonnen faces seven other sub-2:08 men including masters WR holder Mark Kiptoo (2:06:00).

Sometimes the marathon field at worlds is watered down but certianly not this year as the Duba, London and Boston champs are all racing.

Mekonnen, the world jr record holder for 26.2, had a 19 second lead at 35k but Kiprotich caught him by 40k, only to be outkicked. In the women's race, Portugal Jessica Augusto won in 2:25:30. Before the race, she said she was hoping to beat Rosa Mota's NR 2:23:29 that has stood since 1985 but given the fact it was hailing early in the race, she decided to just focus on winning.

Former Dubai winner Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32), former London winner Tsegaye Kebede (2:04:38) and former world bronze medalist Tadesse Tola (2:04:49) headline with Kiprotich while 2:24-woman Jessica Augosto is the favorite on the women's side.

We break down the field in Dubai and take a look at the men who could challenge Kenenisa Bekele, including 2014 champ Tsegaye Mekonnen, 2:04 man Dino Sefir, Olympic 10k bronze medallist Tamirat Tola and half marathon stud Birhanu Legese.

You better read this article about what the top pros have to say about the race as we know that sadly no other news organization is going to interview most of the pros from Africa. Plus Joyce Chepkirui reveals in an exclusive that she feels she would have won the 2016 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon had Molly Huddle not made contact with her.

With six guys who have run under 2:05 (more than London), this field is impressively deep. Desisa is a slight favorite but '15 runner-up/Worlds silver medallist Yemane Tsegay, '15 3rd placer Wilson Chebet and Chicago runner-up Sammy Kitwara (2:04:28 pb) are among the many guys looking to take him down. What role, if any, will the meldonium ban play?

This race had it all. A WR for 30k, a lead change in the final 500 and a shocking win by a previous 2:09 guy.

In the last four years, Dubai has been won by four different guys - three of whom were making their debut and a fourth who was running just his second marathon. This year, the race is much more likely to be won by someone with experience. Watch it live on LetsRun.com on Thursday night at 9:30 pm ET. *Update: Coach Canova states the both Kebede and Abshero are out of the race.

Also Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32), Jonathan Maiyo (2:04:56), Markos Geneti (2:04:54), Dadi Yami (2:05:41), Feyisa Bekele (2:06:26) and Eliud Tarus (debut - 60:04 half).

This race is LOADED. The winners of last fall's three major marathons -- world record holder Dennis Kimetto (Berlin), Eliud Kipchoge (Chicago) and Wilson Kipsang (NYC) will all be in London, as there are a total of four sub-2:04 men and eight sub-2:05 men in the field (both the most ever in one race). You know a race is historically great if a pair of 2:03 guys (Geoffrey and Emmanuel Mutai) aren't even headliners.

Mary Keitany ran the third fastest time ever (66:02) to put away a stiff challenge by Mamitu Daska, who set a new Ethiopian record of 1:06:27. The men's race came down to a 5-way sprint but the big news was the drone that filmed parts of the race with stunning shots.

The 2015 Virgin Marathon London professional men's field has been announced and it's arguagly the best men's field ever. The field features World #1 Wilson Kipsang vs. world record holder Dennis Kimetto, plus world #2 Eliud Kipchoge, and the added bonus of 5,000/10,000 record holder Kenenisa Bekele. The field has all of the top 5 from the 2014 LRC rankings and 7 of the top 9. 
Discuss In Our Forum: 2015 London Marathon men's elite field is amazing - greatest ever?

With wins in London and NY, no one was as good as Wilson Kipsang. But where do we rank Kenenisa Bekele, Meb and others?

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).

Alan Webb says goodbye to track and field, fortune favors the bold and Galen Rupp and Mary Cain, and do we have an American challenger who can beat Mr. Rupp? A proposal to save the marriages of NCAA track coaches, a star retires at age 25, and those crazy youngsters - a teen runs two half marathon PRs to win $200,000, a look at Britain's great young talent, some fast NCAA times by Laura Roesler, and someone break up the Big Green of Dartmouth.