Paul Tergat
Stefano Baldini
Evans Rutto
Meb Keflezighi
Khalid Khannouchi
Sammy Korir
Jaouad Gharib
Gezahegne Abera
John Brown
Antonio Pinto
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
John Yuda
I'm thinking about who will win. Remember that this is a fast rabbited city marathon, not a tactical championship race, so some of these guys don't have a good chance to win. The winning time will be 2:04 to 2:05 probably. The 2:07+ guys have no chance in a super fast race, no offense Baldini/Keflezighi.
The only people who can run at a 2:04 or 2:05 pace now or could possibly improve and do it in Spring 2005 are: Paul Tergat, Evans Rutto, Khalid Khannouchi, and Sammy Korir. Also Haile Gebrselassie if he runs.
Khalid Khannouchi has had training problems with injury recently, hasn't been on top form for a while so even though he could win(like in 2002), I don't see it as likely. Sammy Korir although fast has not won any fast marathon yet, I think whatever he does, there's atleast one person gonna be ahead of him in London 2005.
Basically this is gonna be a showdown of...
PAUL TERGAT VS EVANS RUTTO VS HAILE GEBRSELASSIE
That's gonna be an insane matchup! I'd say there's a 90% chance that one of those three is gonna win. And of those three I think all three have equal chances. Remember, I'm talking about the race being fast! If the race is tactical like London 2003 then anybody can win, but in a fast race, there are only three people who I think will win.
I'm having a tough time choosing who will win.
If Paul Tergat wins he will have shown the world that it's not Evans Rutto or Stefano Baldini that is the top Male Marathoner but him, and will have avenged his Athens heartache and have another victory over Haile.
If Evans Rutto wins he will prove that he's the best marathoner in the world by taking down Paul Tergat head to head and defeating among others Haile and Baldini.
If Haile Gebrselassie wins, well I don't know what to say it would be amazing, I mean he's the greatest distance runner in history and to win over a field this caliber would be amazing. He'd be elevated to Godlike status by taking down Paul Tergat AND Evans Rutto, and The Olympic Champ Baldini.
Place your bets!
Who will it be everybody?
Paul? Evans? Haile?
The London Marathon 2005!!!