Boston Marathon men’s preview

One of the six world marathon majors, the Boston Marathon regularly attracts some of the top talent on earth. This year is not different, the last three champions and a former world record holder toeing the start line.

The top runner in the field is likely the 2013 champion Lelisa Desisa. Desisa, beyond a 2014 DNF on the Boston course, hasn’t finished worse than second at any distance since 2012 and holds a 2:04:45 personal best, the second fastest in the field. He also seems to be a fan of Boston’s streets, winning the BAA Half two years in a row. The Ethiopian also only 25.

The Kenya looking to upset is former world record holder Patrick Makau. He won the Berlin Marathon twice in 2010 and 2011, setting what was then a world record in the second win. He struggled with injury for a few years, but last December won the Fukuoka Marathon. His 2:08:22 in Japan was a fry cry from his 2:03:38 PB, but with a best that fast he’s always a threat.

Two former champs, American Meb Keflezighi and Wesley Korir of Kenya, are both also set to race. Both are examples of what can make the Boston Marathon as exciting as it is. Keflezighi, against any predictions, won last year over the top marathon runners the BAA could find. Korir won in 2012 in similar fashion. Keflezighi set his PB of 2:08:37 on the course one year ago at the age of 38. That time puts 12 runners ahead of him based on best times. Korir – married to Canadian Tarah Korir, racing in Toronto on Sunday – holds a 2:06:13 best from his 2012 race in Chicago.

Three other Ethiopians to watch are Yemane Tsegay, Tadese Tola and Gebre Gebremariam, which similar 2:04-high PBs. Gebremariam has twice finished third in Boston, in 2011 and 2013. Tsegay has a Canadian connection, winning in 2:06:54 last spring in Ottawa, the fastest time ever in Canadian soil, before moving up to the major marathons of the world.

Kenyan Wilson Chebet was runner up last year, at 40K looking sure to overtake Keflezighi but eventually falling back to finish runner-up by 11 seconds. His 2:05:27 personal puts him fast enough to run with the best.

Dylan Wykes will be the Canadian man to watch. He hasn’t run a marathon since the 2012 Olympics, but he holds the seconds fastest Canadian time ever.

The men’s race, is is usually the case in Boston, likely won’t be particularly fast. The course is hilly and tactics often play a major role, though Geoffrey Mutai proved it can certainly be done in 2011.

The men’s race starts from Hopkinton at 10:00 a.m. EDT, about 30 minutes after the women’s elite start.