Chicago Elite Marathon Field. Who is the favorite?

Kirui is your man.

Don't sleep on Droddy

Biwott

Kirui

Can't decide

Kipyego

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Rupp

RUPP RUPP RUPP

He has got SPEED. He is SMOOTH.

And most importantly, now he knows the marathon. It doesn't scare him. He's dialed in.

That, or Tadese will run everyone into the ground from what seems like too far out and hold on for the solo win. #Breaking2:06

People need to stop forgetting, Rupp isn't the same runner he was 3 or even 1 year ago. In his last 10k he struggled running a 28 mid...

Rupp gets top 3

I'm predicting a win for Tadesse and either Biwott or Kirui in second

East african blood is dope. wrote:

People need to stop forgetting, Rupp isn't the same runner he was 3 or even 1 year ago. In his last 10k he struggled running a 28 mid...

Not that one poor performance in career of great ones matters, but I'd imagine his 10k results over the past year or two has been affected primarily by the fact that he was trying to be both a 10k and marathon runner. Now he is all in on the marathon.

If Biwott is anywhere near his NYC 2015/London 2016 fitness then he's the overwhelming favorite. But I haven't seen anything to suggest that's the case.

I'd say Kirui has a good chance to repeat. Showed last year he can close very well and seems to have maintained his fitness this year.

Rupp should be in the mix but I don't see him winning. It will probably be like Boston where he's up there with a couple of miles to go but one or two guys will run away from him. Should be good enough for top 3.

Lelisa had a good 2016 but has been inconsistent so far this year. He's run good halfs but ran terrible at the London Marathon. Might be top 3 but I don't see him winning.

Kimetto will not be a factor. Top 5 would be a good comeback for him.

Tadese is a wildcard. Very accomplished 10K and half runner, maybe he finally gets it right this time. Could be anywhere from 1st to DNF.

One of the other lesser known 2:05/2:06 guys might sneak onto the podium, but I doubt the winner will come from that group.

My top 3:

Kirui

Rupp

Lelisa

You already know Droddy will come up and pull a fast one on this elite field!

Hoiya wrote:

You already know Droddy will come up and pull a fast one on this elite field!

I sure hope so!

Really looking forward to this one- Kimetto, Biwott, Lilesa, Kirui, Lemma, Chebii, Kipyego, Rupp, Tadese, Sambu

A strong American field- Who will break through? There's 10 runners in that first list. It'll be impressive if anyone below breaks into the top-5, top-8, top-10. Eggleston, Estrada, Bumbalough, Chelanga, Droddy, Derrick...

This race is going to be fun. I want to see Rupp run a fast time on a fast course but the weather looks like it'll be a 2:07-08 winning time. Plenty of big guns with fast marathon PRs. Will be interesting to see who can return to their old form.

Would have been better to see what Dibaba could throw down in the women's race with some better weather.

Rupp! 2:05:44

Hoping that Jordan Hasay gets second place or becomes the American Record holder!

Any chance they will get a 2:06:xx or better on sunday?

Last i saw for weather: about 60F at the start, rising to nearly 70 by finish. No cloud cover, although a few parts of the course have shade from buildings. Some wind from SW.

Not ideal, but not terrible. Doesn't favor super fast times. I think this puts Rupp in the conversation.

Sundayraces wrote:

Any chance they will get a 2:06:xx or better on sunday?

No. Sub-2:08 would be a shock considering the last two years.

NERunner053 wrote:

Really looking forward to this one- Kimetto, Biwott, Lilesa, Kirui, Lemma, Chebii, Kipyego, Rupp, Tadese, Sambu

A strong American field- Who will break through? There's 10 runners in that first list. It'll be impressive if anyone below breaks into the top-5, top-8, top-10. Eggleston, Estrada, Bumbalough, Chelanga, Droddy, Derrick...

I don't know, do we really expect all 10 of those guys to finish the race? I could see a number of those Americans finishing in the top 10.

ImissSpicey wrote:

NERunner053 wrote:

Really looking forward to this one- Kimetto, Biwott, Lilesa, Kirui, Lemma, Chebii, Kipyego, Rupp, Tadese, Sambu

A strong American field- Who will break through? There's 10 runners in that first list. It'll be impressive if anyone below breaks into the top-5, top-8, top-10. Eggleston, Estrada, Bumbalough, Chelanga, Droddy, Derrick...

I don't know, do we really expect all 10 of those guys to finish the race? I could see a number of those Americans finishing in the top 10.

I think that's what I was getting at, say 2-3 dnf or have off days, it'll open the door for some others to crack the top-10. With this field, I'd be impressed if anyone in the second list goes top-8 or top-5. That would be a solid result- I'm looking forward to watching.

Hard for me to pick between Biwott/Kirui/Rupp

One of the little known Africans will run away from Rupp in the last 2 miles to win in 2:07 low. Rupp 2nd in 2:07 mid.

Dibaba dominates women's race in 2:19. Hasay stays back and moves up to take 2nd in 2:21.