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The 121st Running of the Boston Marathon - The Men's Race
by John Elliott
As we've written in multiple places throughout our 2017 Boston Marathon coverage, the quality and composition of the 2017 Boston elite field was one of the best in history. The field may not have had the very fastest runners it had ever held, but it offered a well balanced field and a variety of seasoned and up-and-coming Americans that could figure into the competitive race.
Anyone's Race + Americans
The 2017 Boston Marathon race was unique in that it did not favor any particular athlete - it was a race of equals. Some of the men in the field had nominal personal best times that were two or three minutes faster than others, but Boston is a hilly and tactical course - and the day was expected to be hot - all factors that would further level the playing field. The defending champion, Lemi Hayle, could be considered a favorite - but along with him were several other Africans as well as, exciting for Americans, a contingent of virtually ALL of the top American men. In the field were the three American men who represented the USA at the 2016 Olympics: Bronze medalist Galen Rupp, Jared Ward (who finished sixth at the Olympics) and past Boston (and New York) champion Meb Keflezighi at the sunset of his career in his penultimate marathon. Also among the American contingent was another Masters American - Abdi Abdirahman - whose career spanning from a 2:08:56 personal best at the 2006 Chicago Marathon to his third place finish at the 2016 New York City Marathon highlighted a long and successful and continuing career. And rounding out the American crew, Shadrack Biwott who had his best year in 2013 when he podiumed at nearly every USATF championship race and won the USATF series but seems to having a comeback with his fifth place finish at the 2016 New York City Marathon....
The Race Underway - The Early Miles
Competition at the Boston Marathon doesn't usually start in earnest until the runners arrive at the Newton Hills around mile 18. The opening miles are downhill and relatively easy and so the pack starts large and showcases all of the favorites in the race. When there is a headwind, the runners tend to line up in a wedge allowing runners at the front to block the wind. For 2017, the tailwind allowed runners to spread across the field not risking wind resistance and we enjoyed watching all of our favorite runners. Meb Keflezighi would take the lead for much of the early miles - as he likes to do; and Emmanuel Mutai, arguably the man with the fastest legs also worked to set the pace - and the pace was a good one. We were happy to see most of the Americans running in the lead pack and looking good, it seemed the Americans would be able to make the podium.
Into the Hills, then Kirui
Into the hills, the field began to break apart with Galen Rupp pushing the pace. With Rupp, Geoffrey Kirui, Sammy Kitwara, Abdi Abdirahman, Lemi Hayle, Wilson Chebet and Suguru Osako kept pace. Rupp continued to push the pace and ultimately, the race was between only two runners: Galen Rupp and Geoffrey Kirui. Beginning with mile 22, Kirui dropped three exceedly fast miles: 4:39, 4:47 and 4:28 to run away from Rupp and claim the victory in 2:09:37.
Behind the winner, the remaining field drifted in. Galen Rupp took second in 2:09:58. Suguru Osako of Japan was third in 2:10:28.
The Real Winners: Newcomers, Americans, Alberto Salazar
What was most amazing was that the podium for the Boston Marathon was made up of runners who were new to the Marathon. The winner, Kirui was running just his second marathon. Galen Rupp, the runner-up, was running his third marathon. Suguru Osako, third place finisher, was running his debut marathon. Between the three men on the podium, they had only run three previous marathons - amazing, and a promising situation for the future of marathoning.
Americans made up six of the top ten positions - and while some might suggest the field was weakened by the hot weather and some dropouts - the success of this many Americans also provides hope for the USA against the stronger African teams.
And, perhaps most interesting, was the success of one coach in particular. Alberto Salazar, the 1980 Boston Marathon winner, 3 time new York City Marathon winner and now famous coach. Three of the runners on the podium were training with Salazar and two of those three had podiumed in their debut marathon. Galen Rupp has succeeded in the marathon under Salazar with three podium finishes in three outings (including an Olympic Silver Medal). Now Suguru Osako, third in the men's race; and Jordan Hasay, third in the women's race will be adding to Salazar's legend having both gained the podium in their debut marathons at age 25.
Overall, another great Boston Marathon, and an opportunity to witness and have hope in the future of American's ability to compete at the distance.
Top Finishers:
1. Geoffrey Kirui (KEN) 2:09:37 - $150,000
2. Galen Rupp (USA) 2:09:58 - $75,000
3. Suguru Osako (JPN) 2:10:28 - $40,000
4. Shadrack Biwott (USA) 2:12:08 - $25,000
5. Wilson Chebet (KEN) 2:12:35 - $15,000
6. Abdi Abdirahman (USA) 2:12:45 - $12,000 + $10,000
7. Augustus Maiyo (USA) 2:13:16 - $9,000
8. Dino Sefir (ETH) 2:14:26 - $7,400
9. Luke Puskedra (USA) 2:14:45 - $5,700
10. Jared Ward (USA) 2:15:28 - $4,200
11. Sean Quigley (USA) 2:15:34 - $2,600
12. Yemane Tsegay (ETH) 2:16:47 - $2,100
13. Meb Keflezighi (USA) 2:17:00 - $1,800 + $5,000
14. Cutbert Nyasango (ZIM) 2:17:40 - $1,700
15. Wesley Korir (KEN) 2:18:14 - $1,500
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