The men will be led out by the incomparable Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner in history by performance, accolades, and any other measure, for the first time, as he looks to tick one more item off his ever-shortening bucket list over 26.2 miles.
Here’s what you need to know about the elite fields.
Boston Marathon men’s elite field
Start time: 9:37 a.m.
2022 winner: Evans Chebet, Kenya, 2:06:51
Course record: 2:03:02 (Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya, 2011)
There is no bigger headliner in distance running than Eliud Kipchoge. The accolades speak for themselves: two Olympic gold medals, a world record — 2:01:09 — that once seemed unthinkable, dominance at every major marathon outside of New York and Boston, four of the six fastest performances in history, a mind-boggling run of 1:59:40 at a special event in Vienna in 2019 that doesn’t count for record purposes, but remains one of the sport’s greatest achievements.
Kipchoge has long been the BAA’s biggest prize for its marquee race (getting his name above the dotted line was nicknamed “Project Eagle” internally), and he’s finally scheduled to answer the gun in Hopkinton on April 17.
Even for the most dominant marathoner in history, it’s no gimme. He’ll have six men with personal bests better than 2:05 for company, including a pair of 2:03:00 performers in defending champion Evans Chebet and Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay. Former winners Lelisa Desisa and Benson Kipruto will be tough outs, too.
And regardless of what time Kipchoge runs, if he breaks his own world record it won’t count. Here’s why.
| NAME |
COUNTRY |
PERSONAL BEST |
| Eliud Kipchoge |
Kenya |
2:01:09 WR |
| Evans Chebet^ |
Kenya |
2:03:00 |
| Gabriel Geay |
Tanzania |
2:03:00 NR |
| Herpasa Negasa |
Ethiopia |
2:03:40 |
| Benson Kipruto^ |
Kenya |
2:04:24 |
| Lelisa Desisa^ |
Ethiopia |
2:04:45 |
| Shura Kitata |
Ethiopia |
2:04:49 |
| John Korir |
Kenya |
2:05:01 |
| Nobert Kigen |
Kenya |
2:05:13 |
| Ghirmay Ghebreslassie |
Eritrea |
2:05:34 |
| Andualem Belay |
Ethiopia |
2:05:45 |
| Mark Korir |
Kenya |
2:05:49 |
| Filmon Ande |
Eritrea |
2:06:38 |
| Andamlak Belihu |
Ethiopia |
2:06:40 |
| Isaac Mpofu |
Zimbabwe |
2:06:48 NR |
| Hamza Sahli |
Morocco |
2:07:15 |
| Michael Githae |
Kenya |
2:07:28 |
| Albert Korir |
Kenya |
2:08:03 |
| Conner Mantz |
United States |
2:08:16 |
| Scott Fauble |
United States |
2:08:52 |
| Melikhaya Frans |
South Africa |
2:09:24 |
| Matt McDonald |
United States |
2:09:49 |
| Nico Montanez |
United States |
2:09:55 |
| Mick Iacofano |
United States |
2:09:55 |
| Mustafa Mohamed |
Sweden |
2:10:03 NR |
| Hendrik Pfeiffer |
Germany |
2:10:18 |
| CJ Albertson |
United States |
2:10:23 |
| Nathan Martin |
United States |
2:11:05 |
| Colin Mickow |
United States |
2:11:22 |
| Wilkerson Given |
United States |
2:11:44 |
| Turner Wiley |
United States |
2:11:59 |
| Jonas Hampton |
United States |
2:12:10 |
| Ben True |
United States |
2:12:53 |
| Mick Clohisey |
Ireland |
2:13:19 |
| Brian Shrader |
United States |
2:13:27 |
| Paul Hogan |
United States |
2:14:55 |
| JP Flavin |
United States |
2:14:55 |
| Sam Chelanga |
United States |
2:15:02 |
| Pardon Ndhlovu |
United States |
2:15:04 |
| Joe Whelan |
United States |
2:15:36 |
| Connor Weaver |
United States |
2:15:49 |
| Zachary Ornelas |
United States |
2:16:01 |
| Fernando Cabada |
United States |
2:16:52 |
| Edward Mulder |
United States |
2:16:55 |
| Matt Lenehan |
United States |
2:17:02 |
| Andrew McCann |
United States |
2:17:07 |
| Jon Mott |
United States |
2:17:20 |
| Jack Mastandra |
United States |
2:17:28 |
| Brian Harvey |
United States |
2:17:40 |
| Eduardo Garcia |
United States |
2:17:44 |
| Adam Wollant |
United States |
2:17:53 |
| Mark Messmer |
United States |
2:17:56 |
| Jason Ayr |
United States |
2:18:14 |
| Luis Carlos Rivero |
Guatemala |
2:18:30 |
| Eric Ashe |
United States |
2:18:42 |
| Austin O’Brien |
United States |
2:18:43 |
| Gilles Rubio |
France |
2:18:53 |
| Sergio Reyes |
United States |
2:19:51 |
| Prescott Leach |
United States |
2:19:57 |
| Augustine Choge |
Kenya |
2:20:53 |
| Markus Ploner |
Italy |
2:22:39 |
| Simon Poulin |
Canada |
2:22:55 |
| Dave Archer |
Great Britain |
2:25:04 |
| Steven Lawrence |
United States |
2:25:22 |
| Chip O’Hara |
United States |
2:25:36 |
| Anthony Bruns |
United States |
2:25:45 |
| Miguel Morone |
Brazil |
2:25:54 |
| Iain Hunter |
United States |
2:26:06 |
| Dennis Mbelenzi |
Canada |
2:26:07 |
| Zouhair Talbi |
Morocco |
Debut |
SOURCE: Boston Athletic Association
Boston Marathon women’s elite field
Start time: 9:47 a.m.
2022 winner: Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya, 2:21:01
Course record: 2:19:59 (Buzunesh Deba, Ethiopia, 2014)
In 2019, the fastest entrant for the women’s elite race was Ethiopia’s Aselefech Mergia with a personal best of 2:19:31. In 2023, eight women will hit the road in Hopkinton boasting better marks than that one, led by Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso, whose stunning run in Valencia in December made her the third fastest woman in history at 2:14:58.
Three former women’s champions return: American Des Linden, Ethiopian Atsede Baysa, and the timeless Edna Kiplagat.
| NAME |
COUNTRY |
PERSONAL BEST |
| Amane Beriso |
Ethiopia |
2:14:58 NR |
| Sheila Chepkirui |
Kenya |
2:17:29 |
| Joyciline Jepkosgei |
Kenya |
2:17:43 |
| Lonah Salpeter |
Israel |
2:17:45 |
| Angela Tanui |
Kenya |
2:17:57 |
| Fancy Chemutai |
Kenya |
2:18:11 |
| Gotytom Gebreslase |
Ethiopia |
2:18:11 |
| Hiwot Gebremaryam |
Ethiopia |
2:19:10 |
| Edna Kiplagat^ |
Kenya |
2:19:50 |
| Celestine Chepchirchir |
Kenya |
2:20:10 |
| Maurine Chepkemoi |
Kenya |
2:20:18 |
| Mary Ngugi |
Kenya |
2:20:22 |
| Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet |
Eritrea |
2:20:29 NR |
| Sara Hall |
United States |
2:20:32 |
| Ababel Yeshaneh |
Ethiopia |
2:20:51 |
| Vibian Chepkirui |
Kenya |
2:20:59 |
| Atsede Baysa^ |
Ethiopia |
2:22:03 |
| Desiree Linden^ |
United States |
2:22:38 |
| Viola Cheptoo |
Kenya |
2:22:44 |
| Nienke Brinkman |
Netherlands |
2:22:51 NR |
| Emma Bates |
United States |
2:23:18 |
| Dakotah Lindwurm |
United States |
2:25:01 |
| Laura Thweatt |
United States |
2:25:38 |
| Hellen Obiri |
Kenya |
2:25:49 |
| Nell Rojas |
United States |
2:25:57 |
| Annie Frisbie |
United States |
2:26:18 |
| Sara Vaughn |
United States |
2:26:23 |
| Haruka Yamaguchi |
Japan |
2:26:35 |
| Aliphine Tuliamuk |
United States |
2:26:50 |
| Maggie Montoya |
United States |
2:28:07 |
| Hanna Lindholm |
Sweden |
2:28:59 |
| Maegan Krifchin |
United States |
2:29:12 |
| Militsa Mircheva |
Bulgaria |
2:29:23 NR |
| Jane Bareikis |
United States |
2:30:04 |
| Sydney Devore |
United States |
2:31:07 |
| Annmarie Tuxbury |
United States |
2:31:31 |
| Kaitlin Goodman |
United States |
2:32:08 |
| Kodi Kleven |
United States |
2:32:45 |
| Jess Watychowicz |
United States |
2:33:09 |
| Briana Boehmer |
United States |
2:33:20 |
| Nina Zarina |
Russia |
2:33:22 |
| Jesse Cardin |
United States |
2:33:34 |
| Savannah Berry |
United States |
2:33:42 |
| Olivia Pratt |
United States |
2:34:22 |
| Anne-Marie Blaney |
United States |
2:34:38 |
| Mckale Montgomery |
United States |
2:35:01 |
| Liza Howard |
Canada |
2:35:29 |
| Esther Atkins |
United States |
2:36:32 |
| Sylvia Bedford |
United States |
2:36:32 |
| English Jackson Tomlinson |
United States |
2:36:51 |
| Aisling Cuffe |
United States |
2:37:23 |
| Rachel Coogan |
United States |
2:37:40 |
| Claire McCarthy |
Ireland |
2:38:26 |
| Ann Centner |
United States |
2:38:30 |
| Tennille Ellis |
Australia |
2:39:08 |
| April Lund |
United States |
2:39:23 |
| Carmen Hussar |
Canada |
2:39:51 |
| Gina Rouse |
United States |
2:41:19 |
| Natasha Bliss |
United States |
2:43:28 |
| Julie Lajeunesse |
Canada |
2:44:49 |
| Laurie Knowles |
United States |
2:44:53 |
| Jennifer Hughes |
United States |
2:45:19 |
| Jenny Hitchings |
United States |
2:45:32 |
| Hilary Corno |
United States |
2:45:34 |
| Rebecca Brown |
Australia |
2:45:43 |
| Erika Kemp |
United States |
Debut |
| Danielle Moreno |
United States |
Debut |
| Maria Coffin |
United States |
Debut |
SOURCE: Boston Athletic Association
Boston Marathon men’s wheelchair elite field
Start time: 9:02 a.m.
2022 winner: Daniel Romanchuk, United States, 1:26:58
Course record: 1:18:04 (Marcel Hug, Switzerland, 2017)
American Daniel Romanchuk and Switzerland’s Marcel Hug have won each of the last seven men’s wheelchair races and will be the favorites this year, too. Ten-time winner Ernst Van Dyk, historically dominant on this course from 2001 to 2014, will race Boston for the final time at age 50.
| NAME |
COUNTRY |
PERSONAL BEST |
| Marcel Hug^ |
Switzerland |
1:17:47 WR |
| Ernst van Dyk^ |
South Africa |
1:18:04 |
| Josh Cassidy^ |
Canada |
1:18:25 |
| Aaron Pike |
United States |
1:20:02 |
| Johnboy Smith |
Great Britain |
1:20:05 |
| Hiroki Nishida |
Japan |
1:20:28 |
| Kota Hokinoue |
Japan |
1:20:54 |
| Daniel Romanchuk^ |
United States |
1:21:36 |
| Rafael Botello |
Spain |
1:22:18 |
| Patrick Monahan |
Ireland |
1:22:23 |
| Sho Watanabe |
Japan |
1:24:00 |
| Hermin Garic |
United States |
1:24:18 |
| James Senbeta |
United States |
1:24:27 |
| Simon Lawson |
Great Britain |
1:25:06 |
| David Weir |
Great Britain |
1:26:17 |
| Brian Siemann |
United States |
1:26:46 |
| Evan Correll |
United States |
1:27:19 |
| Jason Robinson |
United States |
1:29:01 |
| Phillip Croft |
United States |
1:30:14 |
| Jetze Plat |
Netherlands |
1:30:44 |
| Wyatt Willand |
United States |
1:31:50 |
| Mark Millar |
Ireland |
1:33:50 |
| Sean Frame |
Great Britain |
1:36:19 |
| Hitoshi Matsunaga |
Japan |
1:36:27 |
| Valera Jacob Allen |
United States |
1:43:59 |
| Dustin Stalberg |
United States |
1:44:28 |
| Aidan Gravelle |
United States |
1:49:05 |
| Jake Lappin |
Australia |
1:56:21 |
SOURCE: Boston Athletic Association
Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair elite field
Start time: 9:05 a.m.
2022 winner: Manuela Schär, Switzerland, 1:41:08
Course record: 1:28:17 (Schär, 2017)
Tatyana McFadden and Manuela Schär have held an American-Swiss duopoly over the women’s wheelchair division, sharing the last nine titles between them.
The two will be challenged by Susannah Scaroni, the fastest entrant in the field.
| NAME |
COUNTRY |
PERSONAL BEST |
| Susannah Scaroni |
United States |
1:27:31 |
| Manuela Schär^ |
Switzerland |
1:28:17 (CR) |
| Madison de Rozario |
Australia |
1:31:11 |
| Tatyana McFadden^ |
United States |
1:31:30 |
| Jenna Fesemyer |
United States |
1:33:50 |
| Marie Emmanuelle Alphonse |
Mauritius |
1:35:14 |
| Christie Dawes |
Australia |
1:37:12 |
| Vanessa de Souza |
Brazil |
1:40:23 |
| Aline Dos Santos Rocha |
Brazil |
1:41:39 |
| Michelle Wheeler |
United States |
1:45:45 |
| Yen Hoang |
United States |
1:47:29 |
| Patricia Eachus |
Switzerland |
1:47:06 |
| Eden Rainbow Cooper |
Great Britain |
1:47:27 |
| Emelia Perry |
United States |
1:49:55 |
| Eva Houston |
United States |
1:59:49 |
| Hannah Dedrick |
United States |
2:02:23 |
| Hannah Babalola |
Nigeria |
2:11:42 |
SOURCE: Boston Athletic Association
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.
