My pick for 6th in such a stacked field is Mule Wasihun, 25yo and ranked 12. He was 6th in Rotterdam and 2nd in Amsterdam last year. The previous year was 2nd in Dubai and 4th in Amsterdam, both in under 2.07.
My pick for 6th in such a stacked field is Mule Wasihun, 25yo and ranked 12. He was 6th in Rotterdam and 2nd in Amsterdam last year. The previous year was 2nd in Dubai and 4th in Amsterdam, both in under 2.07.
A bit of a gap in quality after the top 5 women, next is 21yo Roza Dereje. Hard to fathom her being ranked 3 in the world. No objective opinion would rank her there on the strength of a win in Dubai and second in Chicago. Roza won the Barca half marathon last month in 66.01. In August 2017, won Shanghai taking 2.34 off her PB. In October 2016 won two marathons in the month in Denmark and China. Letsrun considered her 2018 to be the 4th best overall, one above Keitany.
Next best male marathoner would have to be Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, 37yo and ranked 50. Won a small Japanese marathon in March last year in 2.19.35 then came third in Berlin. Has a long and decorated history at the distance, including winning Tokyo 2017. Was 5th in London 2016 then ran second in Berlin in 2.03.13 to cause this website to rank him 5th that year. His 2015 was almost as good, including a second in London, making him letsrun's 6th best marathoner.
Seventh among the females is Tadelech Bekele Alemu, who turns 28 on the 11th April and is ranked number nine. Was third here last year and won Amsterdam. In 2017 was 4th in Dubai, third in Prague, then won Amsterdam. Was 4th in 2014 in Berlin in her debut.
Eighth place could be Tamirat Tola, 27yo and ranked 25. 3rd in Dubai last year and 4th in New York causing Letsrun to rank him 10th. In 2017 won Dubai in 2.04.11, winning by 2.35, won Prague half marathon in 59.37, then second in the World Champs. These results were enough for this site to name him 3rd best in the World. Has won an Olympic bronze at 10000 metres on the track in Rio.
8th woman in my opinion, will be Haftamnesh Tesfay, ranked 19. Almost 25 years old, 5th in Dubai in 2018, 2.20.13. Then 2nd in Frankfurt, 2.20.47 in her first year at the distance. Previous years she has been a 3000 and 5000 runner with only one half in 2014. 8th in Valencia at age 20 showed early signs of what was to come.
Ninth man to finish, IMO, will be Abraham Kiptum. Ranked 19 as a marathoner and number one in other road runs, brought about by his breaking of the half marathon world record in Valencia last October. Is 29yo and made huge strides at the marathon late in 2017 after he finished 7th in a Chinese marathon running 2.14.38, then smashed that time, finishing 3rd in Amsterdam in 2.05.26. Last year he broke the course record, running 2.06.29, in winning Daegu then crushed that time in December, coming second in Abu Dhabi in 2.04.16, even though the course was measured short afterwards.
Anyone know how Brexit will affect the London Marathon? For athletes, fans and locals?
A bit has been said elsewhere about the improved chances of American athletes Sisson and Huddle here in London after their impressive wins over 10000 metres. I say they may need to put together some fast kilometres during the marathon to stay with the top six here and i hardly think they will have enough left in their tanks when the last few difficult miles come. Their profiles soon.
Ninth woman in this field should be Birhane Dibaba, 25 years old and ranked 42. Listed 10th in the world by this site for her 2018 results. Won Tokyo in 2.19.51, ridding herself of all challengers between 30 and 40 km with 5k splits of 16.26 and 16.22. Had previously won there as well in 2015, in that year was also 3rd in Chicago. Dibaba has broken 2.24 eight times.
Aussiestatman wrote:
Kipchoge must win it. He is the G.O.A.T. No doubt. World Record Holder, owner of two other of the top 8 times of all-time. Undefeated in London. Winner of many more majors. What else can be said? After winning in Berlin, breaking the WR, he said he was interested in winning another marathon in 2.02.something so he could be the only owner of a 2,01, 2.02, 2.03, etc. Before him, no one had run sub 61.00 for either half of a marathon. In Berlin he ran the second half in 60.33 after a 61.06 opening half. enough superlatives? He is 34 years old and has won two marathons, mostly majors, in 4 of the last 5 years.
If you count his breaking2, he could be the owner of 2:00, 2:01, 2:03, 2:04, 2:05 2:08 (Olympics!)
He just needs 2:02 to complete his set!
Tenth placed will be Daniel Wanjiru [Daniel Kinyua on his IAAF profile]. He is almost 27yo and ranked 164. Last year was 8th in London and 5th in New York, after a mighty 2017. Daniel won London in 2.05.48 then was 8th in the World Champs. In 2016 he won Amsterdam in 2.05.21.
Next female should be Linet Masai, 29yo and ranked 90. Her profile is under Linet Chepkwemoi Masai at IAAF. Ran a half marathon last month in Lisbon, running 4th in 68.50. Last year was 5th in Amsterdam in 2.23.46. Upset winner at Berlin World Champs beating Defar over 10000 on the track. 4th in Beijing Olympics 10000 in 2008 as an 18yo.
Finishing 11th for Callum Hawkins would be a deserved result after the notoriety that he received this month last year on the Gold Coast. He was leading the Comm games race by 2 minutes with 7 km remaining when he collapsed on a hot day and failed to finish. He is 26yo and ranked 140 and later in 2018 ran the half in Valencia in 61.00 but had 18 runners finish before him. 2017 was a better year, running his PB of 2.10.17 in the World Champs, finishing 4th.
Aussiestatman wrote:
A bit has been said elsewhere about the improved chances of American athletes Sisson and Huddle here in London after their impressive wins over 10000 metres. I say they may need to put together some fast kilometres during the marathon to stay with the top six here and i hardly think they will have enough left in their tanks when the last few difficult miles come. Their profiles soon.
11th would be an acceptable result for Molly Huddle if she can run close to her best time or beat it. Molly is 25yo and ranked 85. One of the few elite athletes in Boston last year to bother to finish, 15th in 2.50.28. Much better was her 4th in New York in 2.26.44, her PB. In 2017 Huddle won the NY half in 68.19 and last weekend ran a very quick 10 km [30.58], just behind Sisson.
Aussiestatman wrote:
Aussiestatman wrote:
A bit has been said elsewhere about the improved chances of American athletes Sisson and Huddle here in London after their impressive wins over 10000 metres. I say they may need to put together some fast kilometres during the marathon to stay with the top six here and i hardly think they will have enough left in their tanks when the last few difficult miles come. Their profiles soon.
11th would be an acceptable result for Molly Huddle if she can run close to her best time or beat it. Molly is 25yo and ranked 85. One of the few elite athletes in Boston last year to bother to finish, 15th in 2.50.28. Much better was her 4th in New York in 2.26.44, her PB. In 2017 Huddle won the NY half in 68.19 and last weekend ran a very quick 10 km [30.58], just behind Sisson.
I think she's closer to 35 mate
PeteMesquite89 wrote:
Aussiestatman wrote:
11th would be an acceptable result for Molly Huddle if she can run close to her best time or beat it. Molly is 25yo and ranked 85. One of the few elite athletes in Boston last year to bother to finish, 15th in 2.50.28. Much better was her 4th in New York in 2.26.44, her PB. In 2017 Huddle won the NY half in 68.19 and last weekend ran a very quick 10 km [30.58], just behind Sisson.
I think she's closer to 35 mate
oops, sorry, 34
Twelfth place will be Brett Robinson in his debut. He is almost 28, ranked 32 as a 5000m track runner, and 303 as a road runner. Ran 10km in Hobart last month in 28.30. Last year ran a PB half marathon in Melbourne in 64.15. Represented Australia in the Rio Olympics and World Champs in 2015 on the track over 5000m. Is this his debut if he has DNF's at Fukuoka in 2017 and last Dec?
Aussiestatman wrote:
A bit has been said elsewhere about the improved chances of American athletes Sisson and Huddle here in London after their impressive wins over 10000 metres. I say they may need to put together some fast kilometres during the marathon to stay with the top six here and i hardly think they will have enough left in their tanks when the last few difficult miles come. Their profiles soon.
Emily Sisson makes her anticipated debut here at 27yo. Ranked 77 as a road runner and 8 on the track over 10000m. 5th in Houston half in 67.30 in Jan was a good result but was a long way behind the first three there(Kosgei won it). I would even think at this lesser distance that Emily would finish behind a 21yo running her first half last weekend, Dorcas Tuitoek. Both the last 2 years Sisson was second in NY at the half and in 2016 was tenth in the trials to run for the US at the Olympics over 10k on the track. Must have been disappointing to finish a full 76 sec slower than she had the year before.
24 down, 26 to go. Will get back to it tues or wed this week, after Boston