Saina struggled with food poisoning for the three days before Chicago and was forced to drop out after going through halfway in 4th place. Knowing she was in great shape, she wanted the chance for another race.

Kosgei comes in as the defending champion after winning in 2018 in 2:18:35 and then winning London in 2:18:20. She is joined by Betsy Saina (2:22:56) and Mexico's Madai Perez (2:22:59). Chumba won Chicago in 2015, but will only be the fourth fastest in the field as Dubai champ Getaneh Molla (2:03:34) and runner-up Herpasa Negasa (2:03:40) lead the way along with previously announced Mo Farah. USA's Amy Cragg, Chris Derrick and Brogan Austin have all withdrawn.

Two-time BAA 10k champ Stephen Sambu and Daniel Chebii face Geoffrey Koech (27:18), 58:42 half runner Stephen Kiprop, and Abdi Abdirahman. Aliphine Tuliamuk, former Boston champ Caroline Rotich, Betsy Saina and 30:06 woman Fancy Chemutai lead the women's race.

The women's race has former World champ Mare Dibaba, Betsy Saina and Sara Hall while the men are lead by previous runner-ups Kelkile Gezahegn (2:05:56) and Martin Kosgey (2:07:22) and 2:05:27 man Wilson Chebet

Also racing are Sally Kipyego, Betsy Saina, Buze Diriba and Mamitu Daska. On the men's side, Meb Keflezighi is racing as last year's winner Daniel Chebii leads the field with Stephen Sambu, Abdi Abdirahman, Chris Derrick and more.

They also face Desi Linden, Betsy Saina, Aliphine Tuliamuk, and Boston runner-up Sarah Sellers.

Reality tv star Chip Gaines wanted to run a marathon so he created one from scratch. Since raising money for  the Brave Like Gabe Foundation was the goal, everyone - even the pros like Betsy Saina - had to pay the $150 entry fee. Saina is glad she did as she walked away with the easiest $10,000 of her life.

We also spoke with top women Mary Keitany (focused on the win, not the course record), Edna Kiplagat, and Betsy Saina ("redebuting" under new coach Patrick Sang following her DNF in Tokyo) as well as Geoffrey Kamworor & defending men's champ Ghirmay Ghebreslassie.

Who are the leading ladies for Sunday's NYC Marathon? Find out here.

We break down the 2017 Tokyo women's race where Kenya's Lucy Kabuu (2:19:34 pb) returns to the marathon for the first time in two + years.

The top U.S.-based entrants in Sunday's Tokyo Marathon both hail from Jerry Schumacher's Bowerman Track Club. Saina is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Olympic 10,000, while Bumbalough, finally healthy after almost two years of injuries, is hoping to find success at the ultimate distance.

She'll face Betsy Saina in the half next weekend.

Sambu got a convincing win over US 10,000m Olympian Leonard Korir as Chepkoech beat out Betsy Saina. *Full Results

Sambu faces US 10K Olympian Leonard Korir, World marathon silver medalist Yemane Tsegay, Sam Chelanga, Abdi Abdirahman and Aaron Braun. Nukuri is up against Betsy Saina, Kim Smith, Sara Hall, Neely Spence Gracey and Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton.

Dibaba is so good she said this about a field that included Meseret Defar, "It was easy for me because the field was not that strong."

Both races had close finishes. Other notable finishes were Chris Thompson (7th - 14:00), Brett Gotcher (9th - 14:06), Alisha Williams (3rd - 15:51) and Betsy Saina (9th - 16:12).

After track season she decided to make the switch from the American Distance Project in Colorado Springs.

The former NCAA champ from Iowa State represented Kenya at Worlds where she was 8th in the 10,000.

Cheruiyot's time put her 5th on the all-time list as 42-year-old Jo Pavey was an impressive second (52:44) ahead of Gemma Steel (4th) and Betsy Saina (5th). For the men, Kipsiro beat out Emmanuel Kipsang by 8-seconds with Emmanuel Bett (3rd), Martin Mathathi (5th) and Japeth Korir (6th) also in the field.
*Full Results *Video Highlights