The 2022 Boston Marathon Women’s Field Is Out & It’s INCREDIBLE – Best in Race’s History

By LetsRun.com
January 11, 2022

The women’s elite field for the 2022 Boston Marathon was announced today, and it is nothing short of the greatest lineup of female talent in the race’s history – appropriate since 2022 marks 50 years since Boston officially began accepting female entrants.

The race is headlined by a showdown between the two best marathoners in the world, both from Kenya: Olympic/New York City Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir (2:17:16 pb) and Joyciline Jepkosgei, whose 2:17:43 to win the London Marathon was the fastest time in the world in 2021. Boston also secured a third 2:17 woman in Degitu Azimeraw of Ethiopia (2nd at 2021 London in 2:17:58) plus Olympic 4th-placer Roza Dereje and five-time major champion Edna Kiplagat. All together, a record seven sub-2:20 women are scheduled to race Boston in 2022.

The American field is also loaded, led by Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel. She’ll be joined by Sara Hall (#2 American all-time at 2:20:32), 2018 Boston champ Des Linden, Kellyn Taylor, Stephanie Bruce, and last year’s top American in Boston, Nell Rojas.

Full women’s elite field can be found here. We offer some early analysis of the race below, which will be held on April 18.

With no London (and no Dubai and maybe no Tokyo), this is the best Boston women’s field ever

The London Marathon has the biggest elite budget of any World Marathon Major, so it is no surprise that, year after year, the best elite fields can be found in London. And while that led to incredible races in the British capital, it made it difficult for the other spring major that had to recruit against London: Boston. This year, however, London is being held in October, and the Dubai Marathon, typically held in late January, isn’t being held at all. Which means if you want to run a major this season, your options are Tokyo (March 6) or Boston (April 18). Making Boston even more attractive is the fact that Tokyo organizers have already stated they are willing to cancel the race if asked to do so by government officials, so committing to that race may be financially risky. Boston took advantage of the limited competition and secured the best women’s field in race history.

Jepchirchir vs. Jepkosgei is the matchup we have been dreaming about

Over the past two years, Peres Jepchirchir and Joyciline Jepkosgei have been the two best female marathoners in the world. In 2020, they went 1-2 in the Valencia Marathon (Jepchirchir won in 2:17:16, Jepkosgei 2nd in 2:18:40), and last year they won the two most competitive marathons on the planet, with Jepchirchir taking the Olympic crown (and New York, to boot) and Jepkosgei winning London. Sixteen months on from their last showdown in Valencia, it’s time for the two to race again, with the winner of this race earning the title of world’s greatest marathoner.

Of course, it’s possible that neither of the two superstars wins on Patriots’ Day as there is good depth behind them, most notably budding Ethiopian star Degitu Azimeraw. Still just 22 years old, Azimeraw has run 2:19:26, 2:19:56, and 2:17:58 in her three career marathons, the latter performance good for runner-up honors in London in October, making her just the 10th woman in history under 2:18. With American Molly Seidel and Ethiopian Roza Dereje, Boston also has three of the top four finishers from August’s Olympic marathon. Plus (who has gone 1st, 8th, 2nd, 2nd in the last four Bostons) and Viola Cheptoo, who surprised by taking 2nd in her debut in New York in November.

In all, there are three women sub-2:18, seven sub-2:20, and nine sub-2:21. How crazy is that? Well, before this year, the fastest woman ever to race in Boston was four-time champ Catherine Ndereba, whose personal best was 2:18:47. This year, Boston has four women with pbs of 2:18:30 or faster.

Recent Boston Marathon women’s elite fields by personal best

Year	Sub-2:19	Sub-2:20	Sub-2:21	Sub-2:22	Sub-2:23	Sub-2:24
2022	4	7	9	9	12	13
2021	0	2	5	6	12	13
2019	0	4	6	7	11	12
2018	0	3	4	7	8	9
2017	0	3	3	3	6	7

The American field is great, too

The American fields in Boston are typically competitive because it’s the only US major in the spring; if you’re an American pro looking to get paid, it’s by far your best option. Going after Molly Seidel was a no-brainer: she’s the best US marathoner right now and has a connection with Boston having lived and trained there in the past. She’ll take on Sara Hall, who beat Seidel in their last encounter (2020 London) and was 3rd in Chicago last fall. That’s about as good as it gets when it comes to American matchups right now.

Plus Des Linden is back. Linden has said that she’ll stop racing majors when she no longer feels that she can be competitive, and she endured a rough fall in 2021, finishing 17th in Boston (her worst finish in a major since her debut in 2007) before withdrawing from New York. But to quote the woman herself, Linden is “not dead yet” and will be back for her ninth Boston in April.

What do you think of the 2022 Boston Marathon field? Be a fan and talk about it on our world-famous messageboard / fan forum: MB: Boston Women’s field is out and it’s LOADED – Jepchirchir vs Jepkosgei vs Seidel.

2022 Boston Marathon Elite Women’s Field:

Peres Jepchirchir, KEN, 2:17:16 (Valencia, 2020)
Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN, 2:17:43 (London, 2021)
Degitu Azimeraw, ETH, 2:17:58 (London, 2021)
Roza Dereje, ETH, 2:18:30 (Valencia, 2019)
Zeineba Yimer, ETH, 2:19:28 (Valencia, 2019)
Edna Kiplagat (40+), KEN, 2:19:50 (London, 2012)
Tigist Girma, ETH, 2:19:52 (Amsterdam, 2019)
Maurine Chepkemoi, KEN, 2:20:18 (Amsterdam, 2021)
Sara Hall, USA, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
Desiree Linden, USA, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)
Viola Cheptoo, KEN, 2:22:44 (New York City, 2021)
Purity Changwony, KEN, 2:22:46 (Ampugnano, 2021)
Charlotte Purdue, GBR, 2:23:26 (London, 2021)
Kellyn Taylor, USA, 2:24:28 (Duluth, 2018)
Molly Seidel, USA, 2:24:42 (New York City, 2021)
Malindi Elmore (40+), CAN, 2:24:50 (Houston, 2020)
Mary Ngugi, KEN, 2:25:20 (Boston, 2021)
Monicah Ngige, KEN, 2:25:32 (Boston, 2021)
Natasha Wodak (40+), CAN, 2:26:19 (Chandler, 2020)
Nell Rojas, USA, 2:27:12 (Boston, 2021)
Stephanie Bruce, USA, 2:27:47 (Chicago, 2019)
Dakotah Lindwurm, USA, 2:29:04 (Duluth, 2021)
Roberta Groner (40+), 2:29:09 (Rotterdam, 2019)
Angie Orjuela, COL, 2:29:12 (Valencia, 2020)
Bria Wetsch, USA, 2:29:50 (Chandler, 2020)
Maegan Krifchin, USA, 2:30:17 (Chicago, 2021)
Elaina Tabb, USA, 2:30:33 (Boston, 2021)
Lexie Thompson, USA, 2:30:37 (Philadelphia, 2021)
Kate Landau (40+), 2:31:56 (Boston, 2019)
Sydney Devore, USA, 2:32:39 (Pittsburgh, 2018)
Kodi Kleven, USA 2:32:45 (St. George, 2021)
Briana Boehmer (40+), 2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Caitlin Phillips, USA, 2:34:43 (Berlin, 2019)
Kate Bazeley, CAN, 2:36:43 (Chicago, 2021)
Kathy Derks, USA, 2:36:47 (Carmel, 2021)
Maria Velez, MEX, 2:37:04 (Valencia, 2021)
Rachel Hyland, USA, 2:37:22 (Sacramento, 2018)
Ashlee Powers, USA, 2:38:20 (Chandler, 2020)
Kayla Lampe, USA, 2:38:25 (Chicago, 2021)
Ali Lavender, GBR, 2:38:41 (Berlin, 2021)
Annmarie Tuxbury, USA, 2:39:05 (Atlanta, 2020)
Erika Fleuhr, USA, 2:39:31 (Sacramento, 2021)
Lindsay Nelson, USA, 2:39:33 (Chandler, 2020)
Paula Pridgen, USA, 2:39:34 (Duluth, 2021)
Abby Hamilton, USA, 2:39:36 (Portland, 2021)
Joanna Thompson, USA, 2:39:47 (New York City, 2021)
Ziyang Liu, CHN, 2:40:17 (Carmel, 2021)
Rena Elmer, USA, 2:40:21 (Indianapolis, 2019)
Mary Denholm, USA, 2:41:08 (Atlanta, 2021)
Gina Rouse (40+), 2:41:19 (Boston, 2019)
Katie Kellner, USA, 2:41:42 (Atlanta, 2020)
Laurie Knowles (40+), 2:41:58 (Atlanta, 2020)
Angela Moll (40+), 2:43:18 (Sacramento, 2019)
Hilary Corno (40+), 2:45:07 (Boston, 2021)
Jennifer Hughes (40+), 2:45:28 (Sacramento, 2019)
Sara Ibbetson (40+), 2:46:08 (Indianapolis, 2019)
Aisling Cuffe, USA, Debut (1:12:57 Half)

2022 Boston Marathon American Elite Field
Sara Hall, USA, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
Desiree Linden, USA, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)
Kellyn Taylor, USA, 2:24:28 (Duluth, 2018)
Molly Seidel, USA, 2:24:42 (New York City, 2021)
Nell Rojas, USA, 2:27:12 (Boston, 2021)
Stephanie Bruce, USA, 2:27:47 (Chicago, 2019)
Dakotah Lindwurm, USA, 2:29:04 (Duluth, 2021)
Roberta Groner, USA (40+), 2:29:09 (Rotterdam, 2019)
Bria Wetsch, USA, 2:29:50 (Chandler, 2020)
Maegan Krifchin, USA, 2:30:17 (Chicago, 2021)
Elaina Tabb, USA, 2:30:33 (Boston, 2021)
Lexie Thompson, USA, 2:30:37 (Philadelphia, 2021)
Kate Landau, USA, (40+), 2:31:56 (Boston, 2019)
Sydney Devore, USA, 2:32:39 (Pittsburgh, 2018)
Kodi Kleven, USA 2:32:45 (St. George, 2021)
Briana Boehmer, USA (40+), 2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Caitlin Phillips, USA, 2:34:43 (Berlin, 2019)
Kathy Derks, USA, 2:36:47 (Carmel, 2021)
Rachel Hyland, USA, 2:37:22 (Sacramento, 2018)
Ashlee Powers, USA, 2:38:20 (Chandler, 2020)
Kayla Lampe, USA, 2:38:25 (Chicago, 2021)
Annmarie Tuxbury, USA, 2:39:05 (Atlanta, 2020)
Erika Fleuhr, USA, 2:39:31 (Sacramento, 2021)
Lindsay Nelson, USA, 2:39:33 (Chandler, 2020)
Paula Pridgen, USA, 2:39:34 (Duluth, 2021)
Abby Hamilton, USA, 2:39:36 (Portland, 2021)
Joanna Thompson, USA, 2:39:47 (New York City, 2021)
Rena Elmer, USA, 2:40:21 (Indianapolis, 2019)
Mary Denholm, USA, 2:41:08 (Atlanta, 2021)
Gina Rouse, USA (40+), 2:41:19 (Boston, 2019)
Katie Kellner, USA, 2:41:42 (Atlanta, 2020)
Laurie Knowles, USA (40+), 2:41:58 (Atlanta, 2020)
Angela Moll, USA  (40+), 2:43:18 (Sacramento, 2019)
Hilary Corno, USA (40+), 2:45:07 (Boston, 2021)
Jennifer Hughes (40+), 2:45:28 (Sacramento, 2019)
Sara Ibbetson (40+), 2:46:08 (Indianapolis, 2019)
Aisling Cuffe, USA, Debut (1:12:57 Half)