The 127th edition of the Boston Marathon includes 15 men who have run under 2:07, led by Olympic champion and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge. The women’s star studded race also boasts a number of star athletes spear headed by world champion Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreselasse.
An elite field that features 15 men and five women who have broken two hours seven minutes and two hours 18 minutes respectively, the 2023 Boston Marathon could be one for the history books.
World gold winner Gotytom Gebreselase of Ethiopia and Israel’s Lonah Salpeter, who was third in Eugene, are on a start list that also includes former Boston Marathon champions Des Linden (2018), Edna Kiplagat (2017, 2021), and Atsede Baysa (2016).
Though first time in the race, the 2022 Valensia Marathon winner and Ethiopian national record holder Atsede Bayesa and reigning New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi are expected to bring about shocking surprises.
Two time winner and two time runner-up Ethiopian Lelisa Deksisa is expected to pull the string to take home his third victory. The other Kenyan who could pull a surprise is Benson Kipruto, the 2022 Chicago marathon champion who won the 2021 Boston Marathon.
Lelisa won the 2013 edition. Shortly afterwards, two explosives went off at the finish line, killing three spectators and injuring hundreds. Lelisa donated his winner’s medal back to the city of Boston in recognition of the tragedy, which will also be in the minds of many on race day, 10 years on.
Assuming there are no withdrawals until the race day on April 17, the 2023 Boston Marathon will set a record for most sub 2:18 women on a start line with five. But the field is not just strong at the top- there are nine sub 2:20 women, 16 sub 2:21 and 22 sub 2:25. No race in history has ever had a depth like this.
