2012 BOA Chicago Marathon Full Field Released- 5 Sub-2:06 Guys/10 Sub-2:07s Will Race Ritz

I'll go out on a limb and say Ritz isn't top 5.

Men:

- on paper this should be a race between Sammy Kitwara and Kebede, but we all know HM ability doesn't always translate to the Marathon.

- no real superstars, because of London 2012 and G. Mutai and Makau running in Germany this fall

- a bit thin around 2:08/2:09, so not sure how Ritz is getting any pacing help

Women:

- Shobukova should make it, we all know Chicago drug testing isn't as bad as London 2012

Why are Hansons elites never on the alleged elite lists for Chicago or for Boston? Dot McMahan will be in Chicago and she's considerably faster than the American women listed here.

Nutella1 wrote:

Men:

- on paper this should be a race between Sammy Kitwara and Kebede, but we all know HM ability doesn't always translate to the Marathon.

Ummm....Lelisa?

george oscar bluth wrote:

Ummm....Lelisa?

That's why I said "on paper". His HM PR is half a minute slower than Kitwaras. Other than that, you're right.

it is going to be Wesley Korir for the win, you jive turkeys

predictions men

1. kitawara 2:05.55

2. ritz 2:06.09

3. kebede 2:06.14

women

1. worknesh kidane 2:16.38

2. shobukhova 2:18.40

3. e. dibababa 2:19.40

Doug, do you mind my asking why you think that Ritz will drop almost four minutes off his marathon pr here? Of course, he seems to have that ability with his 60:00 bronze and 12:56, but he has had a lot of chances at marathon and his bests are 2:10:00 and 2:09:55.

Aubergine wrote:

Why are Hansons elites never on the alleged elite lists for Chicago or for Boston? Dot McMahan will be in Chicago and she's considerably faster than the American women listed here.

That is odd.

I heard Stephen Pifer is racing as well. He has never raced anything this far but I'll still consider him an elite.

jjjjjj wrote:

Doug, do you mind my asking why you think that Ritz will drop almost four minutes off his marathon pr here? Of course, he seems to have that ability with his 60:00 bronze and 12:56, but he has had a lot of chances at marathon and his bests are 2:10:00 and 2:09:55.

well i am predicting as a fan, but it is realistic to double your half marathon and add 6 minutes, 2:09.55 is a poor personal best FOR SOMEONE WITH HIS 5000 AND HALF MARATHON BESTS.

2:06 is probably the fan in me wanting to see him run a good one, realistically he should go under 2:08.47 and be #3 on the american list after october 7th 2012.

ritz, salazar and the fans i am sure will be disappointed with a time not at least better than bob kempainens time.

Only on LR would 10 sub 2:07 runners "battle" an American who is 2-4 minutes slower.

Why would anyone try to predict Chicago, what with their history of funky weather?

douglas burke wrote:

predictions men

1. kitawara 2:05.55

2. ritz 2:06.09

3. kebede 2:06.14

women

1. worknesh kidane 2:16.38

2. shobukhova 2:18.40

3. e. dibababa 2:19.40

It's sad how little credit Wesley Korir gets. Ritz 2nd? I fell out of my chair laughing.

Lilesa

Kebede

W Korir

Your prediction on Kidane are way off. You really think she'll run a ethiopian record.

I think Atsede Baysa will get 1st place in 2:18:18 a new african record and Rita Jeptoo 2nd Liliya 3rd. My predictions are very close.

Doug is so wrong on Werknesh. She faded so bad in nyc 2:33:05. But Atsede Baysa and Rita Jeptoo have a chance of under 2:20:00 not Werknesh.

Werknesh runs slow 2:26:15 times. Liliya ran 7.55 faster.

I can tell Ejegayehu will dropped out before 10km. She already did it this year.