2015 Boston Marathon elite field: Dylan Wykes to take on tough field

Dylan Wykes will race his first Boston Marathon in 2015 alongside some of the world’s top talent.

The 31-year-old Kingston native is Canada’s second fastest marathon runner ever and a new dad, his wife having given birth to their first daughter at the beginning of November. Wykes represented Canada in the 2012 Olympic marathon.

Other recognizable names on the deep, strong start list include former world record holder Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03:38 at the 2011 Berlin Marathon, and the previous champions in Boston: Meb Keflezighi, Lelisa Desisa and Wesley Korir.

In total, the elite men’s start list has five runners with personal bests below 2:05.

Though Wykes will be the only Canadian-born elite on the startline, Korir also has plenty of Canadian connections. His wife, Tarah, is Canadian and was born in Southern Ontario. The two are regulars at Canadian road races and split their time between Kenyan, where Wesley is a member of parliament, and Canada.

The women’s start list is also impressive. Last year’s runner-up to drug-busted Rita Jeptoo, Buzunesh Deba will be returning. In 2014 her and Jeptoo were the only two runners to post a result under 2:20. Also on the start list is Mare Dibaba, last years third finisher in Boston. Dibaba recently posted a new personal best, winning the Xiamen International Marathon in 2:19:52 on the third day of 2015.

American Shalane Flanagan will also be returning. Last year she led the women through 30K, ultimately finishing seventh. She has run personal bests in her previous two marathons.

This year the Boston Marathon will fall on April 20.