2011 Boston Marathon - The Men

2011 Boston Marathon - The Men
By Sharon Ekstrom

Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot | Geoffrey Mutai | Ryan Hall | Gilbert Yegon | Evans Cheruiyot | Tekeste Kebede | Gebre Gebremariam | Peter Kamais

We could write a book on most of these men. And, as always, there are too many to write about. Use this guide as reference and background on these top men - all of who are expected and likely to be in the top 10 finishers and ultimately Boston Marathon champion.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Kiprono Cheruiyot winning the 2010 Boston Marathon

Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
PB: 2:05:52, 2010 Boston Marathon

Defending Boston Marathon Champion, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, not to be confused with the four-time winner of the Boston Marathon Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, is returning to the Boston field after setting an incredible course record in 2:05:52 in 2010. Part of a new generation of runners solely focusing on the marathon, Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya debuted in the 26.2 mile distance at the 2008 Frankfurt Marathon with a 2:07:21 victory. He soon tested himself at the 2009 Boston Marathon finishing 5th (2:10:06) and returned to Frankfurt Marathon in the autumn unable to defend his title, but bettering his time with a 2:06:23.

Well off the radar at the 2010 Boston Marathon, Kiprono Cheruiyot went out with the veteran runners at the start and held the pace even as former Boston champion Deriba Merga worked to drop the field. But Kiprono Cheruiyot displayed such fortitude when he broke free from Merga at 40K and ran to victory, shattering the standing course record in 2:05:52.

At 22 and still a newcomer to the distance, Kiprono Cheuiyot could not repeat his performance in Chicago and was left in the dust at the 2010 edition of the race, unable to keep up with top London Marathon performers Tsegaye Kebede and Sammy Wanjiru. He finished in 6th place (2:09:28) just behind training partner Vincent Kipruto.

Kiprono Cheruiyot who ran to an easy victory in 2010 will have an extra deep field to contend with with the return of the likes of Tekeste Kebede and Ryan Hall. But it's runners like 2:04 finisher Geoffrey Mutai and New York City Marathon champion Gebre Gebremariam amongst many others he will have to additionally keep an eye out for.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Mutai at the 2010 RAK Half Marathon

Geoffrey Mutai
PB: 2:04:55, 2010 Rotterdam Marathon

Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya, the 6th fastest marathoner in the world, will be the fastest in the 2011 Boston Marathon field. Having three years of marathon experience under his belt, doesn't seen like enough to guarantee that he will be a top performer; but his two runner-up finishes at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon in 2:04:55 and Berlin Marathon in 2:05:10 seem to solidify his status.

No slouch on the roads, Mutai won both the 2010 Ras al Khamah (59:43) and New Delhi Half (59:38) prior to his top marathon performances. He also has significant accolades in 10000m - twice winning silver at the Kenyan National Championships in the 10000m in 2008 and 2010. and a bronze at the 2010 African Championships.

In 2010 and 2011 he proved himself a stand out in cross country with a win at the Kenyan National Cross Country 12.0k Championships and taking 5th at the 2011 World Cross Country 12.0k in late March. No one can be sure what to expect of Mutai on the Boston Marathon course. While different than the fast, flat courses on which he's recorded two of the top 5 fastest times in 2010, Mutai's experience on hilly cross country courses can give him an added bonus. Let's hope his 3 strong performances will translate on race day.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Hall at the 2010 Boston Marathon

Ryan Hall
PB: 2:06:17, 2008 London Marathon

Olympian Ryan Hall is touted as one of the best American marathoners today and the fastest currently-competing American marathoner. While Hall has had a number of disappointing performances, many are eyeing the 2011 Boston Marathon as a comeback and have not ruled out an American victory of the esteemed event.

With strong track performances launching his early career, Hall came into prominence on the roads with a half-marathon debut at the 2007 Houston Half Marathon (59:43) - the first American to ever run sub 60 minutes and the fastest Half Marathon ever by a non-African born runner. Hall next turned heads with his debut marathon, running 2:08:24 at the 2007 London Marathon. His strategy was one for the books - starting in the second pack briefly catching the leaders and comfortably mixing it up with the toughest marathoners in the world. He then set the fastest debut ever by an American-born runner. Later that year, Hall easily won the 2008 US Olympic Team Trials Marathon with a time of 2:09:02 - the fastest time run in North America that year. Hall's next foray into the marathon was the 2008 London Marathon where he finished 5th (2:06:17), becoming the second-fastest American marathoner behind only Khalid Khannouchi whose 2:05:38 at the 2002 London Marathon remains the American record.

With that success and promise, Hall's tenth place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in 2:12:33 was a disappointment. With that behind him in 2009, Hall, initially planning to return to London, opted instead to run the 2009 Boston Marathon in an attempt to become the first American to win that race since 1983. Hall pushed a breakneck world record pace in the opening miles of the event running sub-4:45 miles, but faded at the Newton Hills as the field surged. All was not lost as Hall made a remarkable recovery to finish in third in 2:09:40 . With the lessons from that day, Hall regained confidence and headed to the 2009 New York City Marathon, a favorite in the field he ran a 4th place finish at the in a 2:10:36 - on a course much easier than the hilly criterium course of the 2008 Olympic Trials (where he ran over a minute and a half faster).

For 2010 Hall returned to Boston and pressure mounted for an American, specifically Hall, to win the esteemed event. Hall studied the Boston course several times leading up to the event. Earlier in the season a 64:08 (2nd place) from the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half-Marathon seemed a minor glitch for this speedy half marathoner; but Hall believed he could achieve the first American win in 37 years - perhaps it was too grand a leap of faith. Hall finished 4th in 2:08:41. Discouraged, his racing took a hit - 13th place in the Philadelphia Distance Run (43:56) and withdrawing from the 2010 Chicago Marathon squelching the buzz of his attempt to set a new American Record. Hall left Coach Terence Mahon and the Mammoth Lakes training camp and began to self-coach.

Hall entered 2011 with a 2nd place finish at the USA Half Marathon Championships (62:20) then followed-up with a lackluster performance at the 2011 New York City Half Marathon where he finished 21st in 63:53. Hall attributed the performance to "feeling flat" perhaps as a result of running the two events so close to one another. Hall has had much time to return to the marathon distance and although the 2011 Boston race will be light on elite American athletes, he will have to rematch top African runners he has raced against over the past two years.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Yegon at the 2010 Boston Marathon

Gilbert Yegon
PB: 2:06:18, 2009 Amsterdam Marathon

Gilbert Yegon of Kenya was a fresh young talent that exploded onto the running circuit virtually out of no where. In one of the fastest debut marathons ever, Yegon ran the 2009 Amsterdam Marathon in a 2:06:18 setting a new course record (prior record of 2:06:20 set in 2005 was held by Haile Gebrselassie, current marathon World Record Holder). Yegon cited that cramps in the final meters slowed his pace; but he believes that he was capable of a faster finish.

Not much else is known about Yegon, except that he ran the 2010 Boston Marathon to a rather disappointing finish 2:21:12, a 22nd place finish. While it was only his second marathon, he still can exceed expectation if he has learned from his mistakes. And while there are some athletes who are one hit wonders in the marathon, we can only wait to see what Yegon has in store at the 2011 Boston Marathon. But with a personal best half marathon (61:26) in Berlin in 2009, he should not be ruled out yet.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Cheruiyot at the 2011 Dubai Marathon

Evans Cheruiyot
PB: 2:06:25, 2008 Chicago Marathon

Evans Cheruiyot, bronze medalist from the 2007 World Half Marathon Championships (59:05), will be returning to the Boston Marathon for the second time. Of no relation to the defending champion Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot or the former four time winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Evans Cheruiyot made quite a name for himself on the road circuit in the half marathon. This Kenyan is 7th fastest half marathoner in the world with 5 sub-60:00 half marathons to his resume. It would be expected that his performances could translate into the marathon distance - as with marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie and former half marathon world record holder Sammy Wanjiru.

Evans Cheruiyot got his start in the marathon at the 2007 Milan Marathon, winning in his debut in a 2:09:16 - a time which was worthy of top elite fields. In 2008, following a top performance at the Rotterdam Half, he won the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:06:25 tackling 70 degree temperatures.

Gaining confidence in the marathon distance, Evans Cheruiyot took on the esteemed 2009 Boston Marathon, an event well-respects in Kenya as one of the highest achievements; but he failed to perform well. Evans Cheruiyot took 8th place in a 2:12:45 - perhaps an indicator of a beginning injury that would impede his racing through 2010. But he didn't take a rest, instead finishing the year at the 2009 Fukuoka Marathon in 5th (2:09:46). In 2010, not in full fitness, Evans Cheruiyot won the Discovery Half Marathon in Eldoret; which was a price to pay down the road. Following a poor performance one month later at the Rotterdam Half, he was forced to withdraw from the 2010 Boston Marathon and took an absence from racing.

Evans Cheuiyot returned to racing at the 2011 Dubai Marathon taking 2nd place in 2:08:17. Months later he ran the Lisbon Half Marathon finishing 6th in 61:50. If this is indicative of his return to fitness, he may be able to rival the top elites in the 2011 Boston Marathon field.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Kebede at the 2010 Boston Marathon

Tekeste Kebede
PB: 2:07:23, 2010 Boston Marathon

Tekeste Kebede is a marathon specialist with 13 marathons to his name. And at age 29, he is finally taking the spotlight. No relation to London and Chicago Marathon champion Tsegaye Kebede, he made his debut at the 2004 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon, taking 3rd in 2:11:48 and despite a number of top ten finishes in less competitive fields, he represented top Ethiopians when there were not as dominant in the men's marathon fields.

Kebede struggled to break the 2:10 mark over the next 5 years. That was until the Boston Marathon. Kebede's history at the Boston Marathon have been notable milestones in his marathon career. At the 2007 edition of the race well-remembered for the Nor'easter that hit Boston that morning, he had a DNF. At the 2009 Boston Marathon, he finished 4th in a 2:09:49 - the first time he broke the 2:10 mark in his tenth marathon. He ended that year as a runner-up in 2:07:52 at the 2009 Fukuoka Marathon, before returning to Boston once again in 2010. At the 2010 race Kebede up against some heavy hitters held onto the leaders as the pack splintered and winner Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot shattered the course record in 2:05:52. While Kebede was off-the-mark by that point, he picked off fading countryman Deriba Merga (a former champion of the race) to take runner-up in a personal best time of 2:07:23.

There is no clear indicator of what Kebede is capable of at the 2011 Boston Marathon. While he ran the 2010 Fukuoka Marathon in an unimpressive 2:14:44 (7th place) and has yet to race in 2011, we shall see if his consistent improvements at boston will continue.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Gebremariam winning the 2010 ING New York City Marathon

Gebre Gebremariam
PB: 2:08:14, 2010 New York City Marathon

Ethiopian Gebregziabher "Gebre" Gebremariam began racing, as most every experienced marathoners have - with a lengthy track and cross-country background. His talents emerged at an early age as he collected accolades from 2002 to present. Among them double-world juniors medals in the 5,000m (bronze) and 10,000m (gold) in 2002, a victory at the Reebok Invitational 3,000m race in 2005 and a 4th place at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games behind legendary Hicham el Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele in 5,000m when he was merely 20 years of age. He also has a number of top 10 World Championship performances spanning almost a decade.

His foray into road racing began in 2008, when he took second in his 13.1 mile debut at the Great North Run (61:29) losing to top marathoner Tsegaye Kebede. In 2009 he won the title World Cross Country champion and continued to shine in 2010 with victories at esteemed road races like the Healthy Kidney 10K in New York (27:42 course record), Beach to Beacon (27:41) and Falmouth Road Race (32;20). His winning streak ended the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon; but he was pleased with his performance of 60:25, a 2nd place finish and a personal best improvement of over 30 seconds.

Gebremariam debuted at the 2010 New York City Marathon. His transition to the marathon distance has been effortless. And as fellow countryman Haile Gebrselassie who has served as a role model to many in his career, Gebremariam's smooth running stride saw him dominate the roads in his first races in America. And in his debut won the New York City Marathon in 2:08:14 battling out against the likes of top marathons James Kwambai, Emmanuel Mutai, Abel Kirui, Abderrahim Goumri and Meb Keflezighi.

For 2011, Gebremariam returned to New York to test his fitness at the 2011 New York City Half Marathon. Despite a 2nd place finish, he ran an impressive race (60:25), losing in the final hundred meters to Mo Farah who was fresh off a 3000m gold medal win of the 2011 European Championships weeks earlier. Gebremariam was pleased with the results - as his focus had solely been on Boston and its hills and less on speed work, he still retained a ferocious kick. While factoring in recovery time between races, he would also have four weeks between the half and Boston, unlike the 7 week lead in to his his debut in New York City.

Gebremariam has an amazing speed along with endurance for the distance and if he hasn't left it on the roads in New York, he may just see a victory in Boston, and perhaps a course record which he believes is achievable. With the growing number of talented Ethiopians in the distance, he will soon be looking for a qualifier to make the Ethiopian Olympic marathon team (a 2:05-2:06 finish), but the selection will be open until May 2012…for now a victory of Boston will suffice.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Kamais at the 2010 NYC Half Marathon

Peter Kamais
PB: 2:14:58, 2010 New York City Marathon

Kenyan Peter Kamais may be best known as a 10k specialist finishing the events in the top ten and placing first or second 15 of 21 races in the distance. His personal best of 27:09 could pit him up against winners of the Berlin, Boston, London and Chicago Marathons if they were competing in the 10K (Haile Gebrselassie, Deriba Merga, Martin Lel, Sammy Wanjiru respectively). We will see how being a great 10k specialist will translate over into marathoning, as Kamais debuts in the 26.2 mile distance for the first time at the 2010 New York City Marathon.

Kamais first raced in New York at the 2010 New York City Half. In this second attempt at the distance, he won the event in 59:53. He returned to New York's Central Park to race the Healthy Kidney 10K and lost to Gebre Gebremariam who had a stronger finishing kick. Despite his denial when asked in the spring, if he would be attempting the marathon distance in the near future; it was of no surprise to find him on the elite roster for the 2010 New York City Marathon. Kamais, enticed perhaps by the more lucrative marathon prize winnings, went head-to-head once again against Gebremariam, in his marathon debut as well. Whether or not Kamais had enough training to perform well, given the quick shift in training to refocus on the marathon, he took the chance.

Kamais finished in 2:14:58 (12th place) at the 2010 New York City Marathon. He returned with Gebremariam to the 2011 New York City Half Marathon and did some leading in the race and took a tumble on the course. He managed to recover; but fell off pace unable to rival the leaders. Kamais finished in 60:46 (5th place) - not too bad considering 1st and 3rd at the race were finishing up strong track seasons. While a number of Kenyans are starting in the marathon in their early 20s, Kamais who is now 34 has had a relatively late start. And while his debut marathon performance could have been a blip on his resume, he could be a wild card in this 2011 Boston field or not a threat at all.