2018 Boston Marathon Women's Race - Will an American win for the first time in the professional era?

LetsRun.com wrote:

The way we see it, based on past accomplishments and recent form, five women have greater than five percent chance of victory -- Mergia, Kiplagat, Hasay, Flanagan, and Huddle -- and three of them are American. Considering how well all of the Americans have been running recently and the absence of a behemoth like Keitany or Tirunesh Dibaba, we feel confident in saying that the pre-race odds of an American victory in Boston in 2018 are the best they've been in the World Marathon Majors era. They're definitely WAY, WAY better than Flanagan's odds of victory in New York last fall as before that race as Keitany was coming off a 2:17:01 in London and was a HUMONGOUS favorite.

But that doesn't mean an American will win.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/04/2018-boston-marathon-womens-preview-shalane-flanagan-jordan-hasay-molly-huddle-desi-linden/

An American woman wins the Boston marathon for the first time in 33 years.

The clean female runners from the USA sweep Boston... and then marathon running in the USA goes crazy.

It's not a big surprise.

Hasay wins it, as does Rupp - obviously. NOP double victory.

Rojo and LRC go home DEVASTATED.

"Clean female runners from the USA" would eliminate Shalane and Jordan since they both will be wearing cheating gear in their Nike shoes. And since Hasay is linked to Salazar she automatically is suspect for drug cheating as well.

Hfuxhhxhjj wrote:

reed wrote:

Anyway...Flanagan for the win...Kiplagat goes home devastated, etc.

No way Flanagan wins. I bet odds are 50-50 she doesn’t even finish.

Then she’ll find a way to make the race about her when another American wins.

Shalane Flanagan mentors first American Woman to win Boston Marathon in xx years.

big sister wrote:

Hfuxhhxhjj wrote:

No way Flanagan wins. I bet odds are 50-50 she doesn’t even finish.

Then she’ll find a way to make the race about her when another American wins.

Shalane Flanagan mentors first American Woman to win Boston Marathon in xx years.

Esutrack05 wrote:

I just hope the Americans don’t find themselves in a position to win with a Kenyan in pursuit, run each other into the ground over the win and both bonk....and see someone else win.

Just sayin’

This is most likely to happen. However, if the weather is bad enough, I don't think anyone's going to pull ahead until the last possible moment. Hasay wins that race.

Unless Boston pulls a Carlsbad and forgets to invite half of Kenya, there's no chance on the mens or womens side. Runner up? Maybe. Win? Nope. There will always be somebody whose name ends in chirchir or kemboi to ruin it.

Hfuxhhxhjj wrote:

reed wrote:

Do people really think Huddle is capable of a 2:19 type of performance? She ran 2:28 in NYC without a huge negative split like Flanagan had. I don't think she is guaranteed any sort of huge improvement just because she's done one marathon, and I don't think that somebody's debut marathon is necessarily going to be slower than their next marathon.

Anyway...Flanagan for the win...Kiplagat goes home devastated, etc.

No way Flanagan wins. I bet odds are 50-50 she doesn’t even finish.

Then she’ll find a way to make the race about her when another American wins.

If Shalane loses to Hasay she will say (or her Dad will say) some snarky remark about not being sure Hasay is "clean." Honestly, I lost so much respect for Shalane after her comments following Jordan's Chicago run. Everyone knows NOP athletes are under much closer scrutiny the last couple of years than any other USA athletes. I believe Rupp and Hasay were among the most tested runners last year (according to LRC posters). So, in my book, if Shalane is anything but gracious to losing to the other 3 of the "Fab 4" on Monday, she will what little cred she has left.

Huddle is incredible, and no one should be surprised if she wins or is top USA runner. However, I hope Hasay wins (or is top USA runner). I would be very surprised if either Flanagan or Linden is the top USA runner. Just my two cents from Michigan.

bleeding blue wrote:

Huddle is incredible, and no one should be surprised if she wins or is top USA runner. However, I hope Hasay wins (or is top USA runner). I would be very surprised if either Flanagan or Linden is the top USA runner. Just my two cents from Michigan.

I don’t think Hasay will win or will be the top Americans but if Hasay is the top American, she will be remove any doubts anyone has of her ability.

My pick is Huddle because it’s her time. Flanagan has been great but she’s had her time... though Boston really would be a storybook end.

Pro era at Boston began in 1986

I'll go with Kiplagat, Huddle, Linden.