42 Days Until the Olympics: Here are 42 Profiles for the Marathoners, One Every Day

I agree.

Galen Rupp in eighth. PB of 2.06.07 and bronze in the last Olympic marathon. Where do you think he will run his fall marathon and can he win it?

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

You could be right but I have her barely in the top ten, just behind Rose Chelimo who has a magnificent pedigree at big championships.

Mao, Rose, and the Namibian in the top ten, who else can compete with them?

In my latest rankings, I have Johannes at 16 and Chelimo at 17 with Mao further back.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Mao, Rose, and the Namibian in the top ten, who else can compete with them?

In my latest rankings, I have Johannes at 16 and Chelimo at 17 with Mao further back.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Mao, Rose, and the Namibian in the top ten, who else can compete with them?

In my latest rankings, I have Johannes at 16 and Chelimo at 17 with Mao further back.

So Helalia at 8th, almost 41 years old. Third in Valencia last December in 2.19.52, much quicker than her previous best when winning Nagoya the year before in 2.22.25. In between battled bravely into the bronze medal position in the oppressive heat at World Champs. Was poor at the last Olympics but better at the one before with an eleventh placed finish.

Kaan Obzilen for ninth although I have concerns at his times since 2019. He is 35 now. PB when second in Valencia in 2019 of 2.04.16. Also that year ran 2.05.27 in Rotterdam for second. He could have all he could handle with the local hope right behind him here.

Rose Chelimo was eighth at the last Olympics, the next year won Worlds, then in 2019 braved the humidity to capture a silver medal in Doha. My choice for 9th here: a PB of 2.22.51 when second in Boston in 2017, a course not eligible for records.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kaan Obzilen for ninth although I have concerns at his times since 2019. He is 35 now. PB when second in Valencia in 2019 of 2.04.16. Also that year ran 2.05.27 in Rotterdam for second. He could have all he could handle with the local hope right behind him here.

Rounding out the top ten is Japan’s hope for success here in Suguru Osako. Was third in the 2019 Grand Champs, top two were straight through to these games, so he had to defend his spot. He mastered that with a PB if 2.05.29 for fourth in Tokyo last year. His previous best was 21 sec slower when third in Chicago in 2018. Still holds NR’s for 3000 and 5000 on the track set in Europe in 2014 and 2015.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Rose Chelimo was eighth at the last Olympics, the next year won Worlds, then in 2019 braved the humidity to capture a silver medal in Doha. My choice for 9th here: a PB of 2.22.51 when second in Boston in 2017, a course not eligible for records.

Top 10 women for me also ends with a Japanese competitor. Mao Ichiyama became fourth fastest among her countrywomen all-time and quickest for 14 years when she won Nagoya last year in 2.20.29 to clinch the third place on the team. Ichiyama is still only 24 years old.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kaan Obzilen for ninth although I have concerns at his times since 2019. He is 35 now. PB when second in Valencia in 2019 of 2.04.16. Also that year ran 2.05.27 in Rotterdam for second. He could have all he could handle with the local hope right behind him here.

Rounding out the top ten is Japan’s hope for success here in Suguru Osako. Was third in the 2019 Grand Champs, top two were straight through to these games, so he had to defend his spot. He mastered that with a PB if 2.05.29 for fourth in Tokyo last year. His previous best was 21 sec slower when third in Chicago in 2018. Still holds NR’s for 3000 and 5000 on the track set in Europe in 2014 and 2015.

11th could be Gabriel Geay after his impressive debut in Milan. He was sixth in 2.04.55, NR for Tanzania.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Rose Chelimo was eighth at the last Olympics, the next year won Worlds, then in 2019 braved the humidity to capture a silver medal in Doha. My choice for 9th here: a PB of 2.22.51 when second in Boston in 2017, a course not eligible for records.

Top 10 women for me also ends with a Japanese competitor. Mao Ichiyama became fourth fastest among her countrywomen all-time and quickest for 14 years when she won Nagoya last year in 2.20.29 to clinch the third place on the team. Ichiyama is still only 24 years old.

Next lady may be Mimi Belete. Ran the 5000 at the last Olympics. Was 7th ten years ago over 1500m at World Champs. Has a PB at this classic distance of 2.21.22 from Amsterdam in 2019 when she was fifth. Has two other sub 2.23 times.

12th might be El Hassan El Abbassi, Asian record holder. Seventh at the last Worlds.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Top 10 women for me also ends with a Japanese competitor. Mao Ichiyama became fourth fastest among her countrywomen all-time and quickest for 14 years when she won Nagoya last year in 2.20.29 to clinch the third place on the team. Ichiyama is still only 24 years old.

Next lady may be Mimi Belete. Ran the 5000 at the last Olympics. Was 7th ten years ago over 1500m at World Champs. Has a PB at this classic distance of 2.21.22 from Amsterdam in 2019 when she was fifth. Has two other sub 2.23 times.

Belete not competing: Bahrain has Eunice Chumba and Tejitu Daba

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Next lady may be Mimi Belete. Ran the 5000 at the last Olympics. Was 7th ten years ago over 1500m at World Champs. Has a PB at this classic distance of 2.21.22 from Amsterdam in 2019 when she was fifth. Has two other sub 2.23 times.

Belete not competing: Bahrain has Eunice Chumba and Tejitu Daba

So with that, 11th woman becomes Honami Maeda. Second in Osaka this last Jan in 2.23.30 and winner of the Grand Champs in 2019 in 2.25.15, 3.47 ahead of second. Broke that selection event open with a 16.41 split between 20 and 25k. In 2020, ran the quickest 30k by anyone from an Asian country: 1.38.35.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Belete not competing: Bahrain has Eunice Chumba and Tejitu Daba

So with that, 11th woman becomes Honami Maeda. Second in Osaka this last Jan in 2.23.30 and winner of the Grand Champs in 2019 in 2.25.15, 3.47 ahead of second. Broke that selection event open with a 16.41 split between 20 and 25k. In 2020, ran the quickest 30k by anyone from an Asian country: 1.38.35.

Next lady is Eunice Chumba, who ran her PB just this last May 16 in Milan: third in 2.23.10. Then on 6/6 ran another over the classic distance in Kenya. Deserves a far better PB after her second in Abu Dhabi in 2.20.54 late in 2018 before the course was found to be short.

Aussiestatman wrote:

12th might be El Hassan El Abbassi, Asian record holder. Seventh at the last Worlds.

13th could be Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda, winner of an Olympic Gold already in 2012. Doubled up in 2013, winning World Champs Gold in Moscow. Fifth in Enschede this year doing laps of an airport. PB of 2.06.33 when second in Tokyo in 2015.

13th woman is Melat Kejeta, sixth in Berlin on debut in 2019 in 2.23.57. Impressive second in World Champs Half Marathon last year in 65.18.

Another Ugandan, the NR holder, is next. Felix Chemonges was third in Toronto in 2.05.12.

Aussiestatman wrote:

13th woman is Melat Kejeta, sixth in Berlin on debut in 2019 in 2.23.57. Impressive second in World Champs Half Marathon last year in 65.18.

Next female may be the other Ugandan NR holder. Juliet Chekwel also holds the NR over the half. On debut over this longer distance in Seville Juliet won in 2.23.13.