2022 Boston Marathon women's field looks AMAZING but the intro to Jonathan Gault's Boston marathon preview is even more amazing

JG really knocked that out of the park. I especially appreciated this nimble curveball:

"How did everyone run so fast in 2014? Well the most obvious reason is PEDs. In addition to Jeptoo, 4th placer Jemima Sumgong and 6th placer Aleksandra Duliba would later go on to serve doping bans. But other than that, there were three key factors: good weather, a deep field, and someone willing to push the pace early (in 2014, that was Shalane Flanagan, who would finish 7th in an American course record of 2:22:02).
Boston 2022 will have the first two. But will it have the third?"

I hardly imagine an Ethiopian will win

Crazy how different the US womens marathon scene was at the time compared to today lol

I just want Jordan Hasay to have one or two more decent races 😔

The section on Diana Kipyokei does a nice job of saying everything that needs to be said when no one's saying anything.

Sure, point out all the African dopers but give credit for pushing the pace to a former member and current coach of the Burrito Track Club.

Can't wait for Monday as Jonathan said perhaps the greatest Boston of all time, and Go Molly her training is right on spot, she is going to make Heartbreak Hill look like a mole hill, :)

I'm glad you liked that part as I can take a liitle credit for that part of it as the editor. ;)

I added in "since she hasn’t been announced for any other marathons. Behind the scenes, there has been a lot of chatter about her situation but nothing that anyone will state on the record." I felt like without that the adds it wasn't quite clear why it was unusual and what the unsaid implication is.

But it's a paragraph like that that shows you the best of letsrun. I mean how many other previews would even notice she's not in the race, let alone give you context (they might now after everyone reads our piece).

I feel like we need to figure out a way to sub-license our content to the Boston Globe during marathon week for Boston and NY Times during NY marathon week and. Hell I might even just give it away as I want the average sports fan who picks up the paper or their iphone to know what's really about to happen in the race.

Nowadays, without these previews, the races are not nearly as compelling. I can't possibly keep up with all the young new talent, esp. the East Africans. Gault always does a good job.

Unless you can point out SF's doping ban, the phrasing is quite alright.

As I LOVED this preview a LOT and a TON as my friend agrees with me that Galton is a hard hitting investigation journalismist as he REALLY knows how to right as he is a brit but as his teeth aren’t completely janky as does he have a green card and as do we need to call homeland security to see how this guy came over here but never left as who can blame him as USA is great and England is third world but we can’t afford everyone who wants to escape whatever shthole they from

Needs at least seven more “as” transitions to truly capture the Letsrun voice. A voice, incidentally, that has not evolved in the 20 years I’ve been visiting the site.

Friday is now over, is Azimeraw where JG landed for a winner?