John Wesley Harding wrote:
This is what I have for the men right now.
1. Eliud Kipchoge - I hope he fails at the Ineos Project just to keep things interesting.
2. Kenenisa Bekele - Going to defer to His Greatness now and ask questions later.
3. Lawrence Cherono - 2:04:06 CR in Amsterdam last fall & outkicked Desisa to win Boston this spring. Enters Chicago as co-favorite with Farah, I would say.
4. Lelisa Desisa - NYC (2:05:59) and W.C. (2:10:40) wins in the past 12 months, and a narrow 2nd to #3 in Boston as well. I think he must be very mentally strong, but might be in trouble in a very fast race.
5. Mosinet Geremew - Impressive string of results since his breakout 2:04:00 win in Dubai ‘18: 2nd at Chicago (2:05:24), London (2:02:55) and W.C.s (2:10:44) but at risk of becoming always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
6. Birhanu Legese - Won Tokyo in February in 2:04:48 and 2nd in Berlin in 2:02:48 (#3 performer AT) after laying down some crazy fast splits after 30k.
7. Marius Kipserem - Won in Abu Dhabi in 2:04:04 before both the course and second-placer were found to be illegitimate, and then ran a CR 2:04:11 in Rotterdam this year...will pace the Ineos attempt and race in Abu Dhabi.
8. Shura Kitata - Great year in 2018 placing 2nd in London and NYC, but stepped back to 4th in London this year in 2:05:01. I thought he was slated to run the WCs, and hope he’s able to contend a fall marathon in good form.
9. Getaneh Molla - 2:03:34 CR debut in Dubai this year after running 12:59 for 5,000 in 2018, he went halfway back to the track (8:18 2 mile at Pre) before committing to Chicago...I’m rooting for him to confirm his presence as a reliable marathon contender.
10. Mule Wasihun - 2nd in Amsterdam in ‘18 (2:04:37) and 3rd in London this spring (2:03:16, now #8 performer AT) but took a DNF at WCs today—we’ll see how he bounces back, but a standout performer in Chicago could bump him off in the meantime.
Honorable mention:
-Mo Farah - Hard to leave him off as I think he might be the favorite for Chicago, but a) Everybody ranked has run a better marathon in 2019 and b) Everybody ranked has run faster than Farah’s 2:05:11 PB (Kitata at 2:04:49 is the closest)...he has every opportunity to make the list next weekend.
-Sisay Lemma - 2:03:36 in Berlin makes him the #10 performer AT, though the top list is changing quite rapidly.
-Amos Kipruto - Had to throw a bone to the W.C. bronze medalist, who placed top-3 at two WMMs in 2018.