2016 Boston Marathon field announced

Why is Gracey Debuting at the trials

breh???? wrote:

Why is Gracey Debuting at the trials

claims it is her slow recovery from her last race. Sounds like a bid to maximize her value with a big money debut. I see no problem with that, but I don't like her saying that she wasn't recovering well enough. Seriously? Old man Meb ran NYC the day after Philly RNR and is coming to the trials.

The other guy! wrote:

so basically everyone who wasn't good enough to get into London.

Same procedure as every year.

Ridiculous. There are several big names in that list who I look forward to seeing race!

Meb did not run the Philly RNR one day before NYC. Get your facts straight.

Track Fan 1979 wrote:

Meb did not run the Philly RNR one day before NYC. Get your facts straight.

He's not saying that Meb ran it, only that their respective recovery times before the trials were the same (plus Meb ran a full not a half!).

But if she was injured after her philly half marathon, then I think Boston is a good move.

the Boston field obviously doesn't have Kipchoge, Kipsang, Kimetto or E. Mutai... That said it is still a strong field, definitely way better than Chicago 2015 imo

Glad I didn't get torn up for bad grammar, in typical LR fashion..

I meant *isn't.

But thanks! yea, that makes sense.. I guess if she doesn't realistically see herself in the top in contention for the team, it's better to chase the cash. Woulda been cool to have more horses in the thin woman's race in LA though

Where are all these Kenyans coming from?

The other guy! wrote:

so basically everyone who wasn't good enough to get into London.

That's a bit harsh.

The men's field does have 3 of the top 10 in the world from 2015. The women's field has just 1.

Our analysis piece of the field is now up on the front page.

The press release just came out.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/01/john-hancock-financial-announces-2016-boston-marathon-international-elite-field/

We've got an analysis of the field here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/01/three-quick-thoughts-2016-boston-marathon-field/

MEN Country Personal Best

Geoffrey Mutai Kenya 2:03:02 (Boston, 2011)

Sammy Kitwara Kenya 2:04:28 (Chicago, 2014)

Tsegaye Mekonnen Ethiopia 2:04:32 (Dubai, 2014)

Lelisa Desisa Ethiopia 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013)

Yemane Adhane Tsegay Ethiopia 2:04:48 (Rotterdam, 2012)

Getu Feleke Ethiopia 2:04:50 (Rotterdam, 2012)

Wilson Chebet Kenya 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)

Hayle Lemi Berhanu Ethiopia 2:05:28 (Dubai, 2015)

Stephen Chebogut Kenya 2:05:52 (Eindhoven, 2015)

Deribe Robi Ethiopia 2:05:58 (Eindhoven, 2015)

Wesley Korir Kenya 2:06:13 (Chicago, 2012)

Michael Kipyego Kenya 2:06:48 (Eindhoven, 2011)

Paul Lonyangata Kenya 2:07:14 (Shanghai, 2015)

Jackson Kiprop Uganda 2:09:32 (Mumbai, 2013)

Cuthbert Nyasango Zimbabwe 2:09:52 (Prague, 2014)

Abdi Nageeye Netherlands 2:10:24 (Amsterdam, 2015)

Abdelmajid El Hissouf Morocco 2:10:35 (Seoul, 2015)

Solonei Da Silva Brazil 2:11:32 (Padova, 2011)

Jordan Chipangama Zambia 2:11:35 (Duluth, 2015)

Ian Burrell USA 2:13:26 (Houston, 2014)

Girma Mecheso USA Debut; HM 1:02:16 (Houston, 2015)

WOMEN Country Personal Best Time

Tiki Gelana Ethiopia 2:18:58 (Rotterdam, 2012)

Buzunesh Deba Ethiopia 2:19:59 (Boston, 2014)

Tirfi Tsegaye Ethiopia 2:20:18 (Berlin, 2014)

Mamitu Daska Ethiopia 2:21:59 (Frankfurt, 2011)

Atsede Bayisa Ethiopia 2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)

Flomena Cheyech Daniel Kenya 2:22:44 (Paris, 2014)

Tadelech Bekele Ethiopia 2:22:51 (Dubai, 2015)

Jelena Prokopcuka Latvia 2:22:56 (Osaka, 2005)

Valentine Kipketer Kenya 2:23:02 (Amsterdam, 2013)

Caroline Rotich Kenya 2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)

Joyce Chepkirui Kenya 2:24:11 (Amsterdam, 2015)

Fatuma Sado Ethiopia 2:24:16 (Toronto, 2015)

Purity Cherotich Rionoripo Kenya 2:25:09 (Lisbon, 2015)

Fate Tola Ethiopia/Germany 2:25:14 (Berlin, 2012)

Lamei Sun China 2:27:55 (Beijing, 2012)

Sarah Crouch USA 2:32:44 (Chicago, 2014)

Neely Spence Gracey USA Debut; HM 69:59 (Philadelphia, 2015)

Criticism for the timing of the announcement should be directed to John Hancock, which selects and announces the team.

Also, one day I would love to see these races drop appearance fees (I know it'll never happen) and just focus on making the race about prize money.

This will sound elitist, but when most people from Boston hear that the winner receives $150,000 .... it does not draw the average viewer in. It is not all that head turning of a sum. It's a good amount of money, but for anyone in the Boston area, for instance, not life-changing.

Kenya

Oh I totally understand the life-changing effect in Kenya.

But for these races to grow, financially, it has to draw more interest from Americans. More Americans would be interested if they knew that say $500K went to the winner. This increased interest could lead to more TV deals, higher sponsorship fees, etc.... which leads to more money. Then that increased money may spur more kids to become interested in long distance running as a profession.

Because right now, kids are more likely to be drawn to sports shown on a national level, or where the stars earn millions.

As we know Boston during Olympic years as well as London are used as events to help select Kenyan and Ethiopian Olympic marathon teams.

A race within a race as they say.

Not a single top American. Just Ian Burrell at 2:13, and Sarah Crouch at 2:32. Are they ALL running the Olympic Trials? No Yuki K.'s in the USA?

The Americans wrote:

Not a single top American. Just Ian Burrell at 2:13, and Sarah Crouch at 2:32. Are they ALL running the Olympic Trials? No Yuki K.'s in the USA?

Not this year, but the USA has had Doug Kurtis and Mike Wardian who made the trials and ran frequent marathons, Wardian even ran a marathon the day after the trials marathon, so 2 marathons in 2 days.

The Americans wrote:

Not a single top American. Just Ian Burrell at 2:13, and Sarah Crouch at 2:32. Are they ALL running the Olympic Trials? No Yuki K.'s in the USA?

There will be plenty of Americans that didn't make the trials standard, and possibly a few trials drop outs looking to score big at Boston. But these guys will be in the 2:19-2:22 range... So, yes, not a single top American besides Ian.