Ryan Bolton ran side-by-side with Meb in college, made the 2000 US Olympic Triathlon team, and coached Caroline Rotich to her stunning Boston Marathon victory last month, but first and foremost he's a runner. Learn all about the American who played a key role in Rotich's Boston victory.

If you want to dominate your Boston office pool read this as we give you insight on just about everyone. Ritz is getting help from Greg Meyer and Hartmann, Tadese hopes to have figured out the marathon, Makau is ready, Tadese still looks great, not to mention Teg, Cabada and oh yeah a guy named Meb. Interviews and more.

Mare Dibaba is ready to go; so is Buzenesh Deba and nearly everyone we spoke to. We break down the women's press day in terms of Good News/Bad News for the American women. And some words of wisdom: "Life is today. Tomorrow is a dream."

 

It's been 30 years since an American woman won Boston. Can Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Linden or Amy (Hastings) Cragg follow in Meb's footsteps and take the laurel wreath? We break it down.

2014 Chicago champ Mare Dibaba leads the field, though she'll be challenged by fellow sub-2:20 woman Buzunesh Deba, who would have set a course record last year if not for drug cheat Rita Jeptoo. World junior record holder Shure Demise Ware and former champs Caroline Kilel and Sharon Cherop will also be on the start line.

For the first time in 31 years, an American enters Boston as the defending champion. If Meb can't repeat, can Ritz, Teg, Eggleston, Arciniaga, Cabada or anyone else from the US of A shock the world?

2013 champ Lelisa Desisa and former world record holder Patrick Makau (2:03:38 PR) are the headliners, but there's depth behind them with five sub-2:05 men overall and five more sub-2:07 + HM world record holder Zersenay Tadese (58:23).

We examine an Olympic Trials preview in the women's race and wonder whether Jeffrey Eggleston, Nick Arciniaga or Fernando Cabada can manage a breakthrough in Boston.

Other top men include Dathan Ritzenhein (running his first marathon since 2013), Nick Arciniaga (7th at Boston last year), Jeffrey Eggleston (8th at Boston last year) and Fernando Cabada (coming off a 2:11:36 PR in Berlin). Desiree Linden (10th last year) and Amy Hastings (5th in Chicago last year; Boston debut) join Flanagan in the women's field.

Fastest qualifiers can register first.