Ben True And Mary Keitany Face Super Deep Fields As They Return To Defend Their Titles At Beach To Beacon 10K True faces a deep field that includes Stephen Sambu, Tariku Bekele, Abdi Abdirahman, Cam Levins and Dan Huling while Keitany is up against Shalane Flanagan, Jordan Hasay, Meseret Defar, Joyce Chepkirui and Wude Ayalew.

Desi Linden says she'll be devastated if she doesn't win on Monday while Jordan Hasay revealed that Alberto Salazar said she's the most prepared athlete he's seen since he set the WR in 1981.

Can anyone stop the great Mary Keitany - a woman who has lost a grand total of 7 races over the last 8 years?

We break down the fields for you and note that the men's field is short on African talent - could that open the door for a win by America's Dathan Ritzenhein? Molly Huddle will have her hands full on November 6 as Mary Keitany is looking for a 3-peat against Berlin champ Gladys Cherono, 2015 NYC runner-up Aselefech Mergia and Joyce Chepkirui.

Men's race also has Sam Chelanga, Abdi Abdirahman and Eric Jenkins while Keitany faces defending champ Wude Ayalew, Joyce Chepkirui, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Sara Hall and Jordan Hasay.

A dramatic come from behind victory for Ethiopia's Atsede Baysa as Neely Spence Gracey was 9th.

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.

Defending champ Caroline Rotich is back, and she'll battle a deep field that is devoid of any studs. Dubai champ Tirfi Tsegaye (LRC World #1 in '14), Amsterdam/Honolulu champ Joyce Chepkirui and Buzunesh Deba (who finished 2nd behind doper Rita Jeptoo in '14) plus several others will look to wrest the crown from Rotich. Neely Spence Gracey (debut) and Sarah Crouch are the lone U.S. pros.

The women's race was super-tight and people are wondering if Huddle should have been given the DQ. Decide for yourself. *MB: Molly Huddle Interference? Should Huddle have been DQd for flailing her arms out at United Airlines NYC Half?

Other top names include Wilson Chebet (59:15), Zane Robertson (59:47), Sam Chelanga and Diego Estrada for the men. Caroline Rotich (68:52), Buzunesh Deba (68:59) and Neely Spence Gracey for the women.

Tadese faces 13 sub-60 minute runners (4 sub-59:00) including Bernard Koech (58:41), Stanley Biwott (58:56) and former marathon WR holder Wilson Kipsang. Women's field has 8 sub-68 women as Jeptoo is up against World Half champ Gladys Cherono and Common Wealth Games champion Joyce Chepkirui.

She's very confident as she's coming off a win and huge PB at the Amsterdam Marathon in October where she ran 2:24:11.

They lead a slew of other 2:04-2:06 men. Olympic champion Tiki Gelana heads the women's race against Flomena Cheyech (2:22:44) and Commonwealth Games 10,000 champ Joyce Chepkirui.

12:48 man Alamirew was 3rd while Kipsang was 7th and Kiptoo actually set a 10K PR with his split of 27:54. Joyce Chepkirui won the women's race in 51:34, beating Jackline Chepngeno by 4-seconds. *Full Results

 

Finishing one second behind Cheruiyot to secure a spot for Worlds was former NCAA champ Betsy Saina. Commonwealth champ Joyce Chepkirui was 3rd and World XC champ Agnes Tirop 5th. OTC's Sally Kipyego was a DNF.