how does anyone know that he will be favored for 1st or second without knowing the field? lets just throw some possible names who may or may not be halls competition.
wanjiru would be favored over hall
lel toss up
robert cheruiyiot defending champion toss up
evans cheuiyot looked tough in chicago toss up
mergia toss uup
tesgaye kebede toss up
z. tadesse said he wants to run his marathon debut in 2009 would be favored over hall.
rothlin, hall slightly favored.
gharib tough in olympics toss up.
goumri toss up
marilson dos santos toss up.
shami of qatar toss up.
these are just some names off the top of my head that would have a decent chance of beating hall, even if hall ran well. and then there are many kenyans and ethiopians who could develop into a great marathoner by april, japan, morrocco, each have a few top runners.
of course boston wont get all these runners, i am just saying how can we pick hall to win or get 2nd or 3rd without knowing the field? unless you think hall can beat anyone which on a given day he may be able to, but it would be an upset.