Ekiru to battle Bekele in Boston's fastest ever field

Titus Ekiru, the fastest marathon runner in the world last year having run 2:02:57 in Milan headlines a stellar Kenyan contigent to the this year's Boston Marathon set for 18 April.

Ekiru won the Generali Milan Marathon for a second time on 16 May 2021 in a course record and world leading time of 2:02:57 with second placed Reuben Kipyego 58 seconds adrift.

His time improved the course record he set in 2019 of 2:04:46 by 1 minute 49 seconds, as he became the joint fifth fastest marathoner of all time. His winning time went into the records as the fastest time run in a marathon in May, and an Italian all-comers record.

Ekiru leads a 10-man Kenyan contigent named in the elite list as organisers revealed their fastest ever men’s field for the 126th edition of the World Athletics Platinum Elite Label road race.

The field features 12 men with lifetime bests faster than 2:06, led by three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, the second fastest marathon runner in history with a PB of 2:01:41.

Seven of the past eight winners will also return to Boston, including 2021 champion Benson Kipruto, olympian Lawrence Cherono (2019), Yuki Kawauchi (2018), Geoffrey Kirui (2017), Lemi Berhanu (2016), and Lelisa Desisa (2015 and 2013) are the other six former winners.

"Being back in Boston as a champion is very exciting, but at the same time I feel the pressure and the responsibility to defend my title,” said Kipruto. “I really admire those athletes that managed to be multiple champions in big races. I really want to do my best to be one of them and I really hope to make my name among those Boston champions that people will remember for a long time.”

Other contenders include 2020 world leader Evans Chebet, New York City Marathon winner Albert Korir, and three-time world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor.

Elite men's field:

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41

Titus Ekiru (KEN) 2:02:57

Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:03:00

Lawrence Cherono (KEN) 2:03:04

Bernard Koech (KEN) 2:04:09

Lemi Berhanu (ETH) 2:04:33

Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 2:04:45

Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:04:55

Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:13

Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:05:23

Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:47

Bethwell Yegon (KEN) 2:06:14

Geoffrey Kirui (KEN) 2:06:27

Eyob Faniel (ITA) 2:07:19

Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2:07:27

Albert Korir (KEN) 2:08:03

Amanuel Mesel (ERI) 2:08:17

Bayelign Teshager (ETH) 2:08:28

Tsegay Tuemay Weldibanos (ERI) 2:09:07

Scott Fauble (USA) 2:09:09

Colin Bennie (USA) 2:09:38

Trevor Hofbauer (CAN) 2:09:51

Jared Ward (USA) 2:09:25

Ian Butler (USA) 2:09:45

Mick Iacofano (USA) 2:09:55

Jake Riley (USA) 2:10:02

Jerrell Mock (USA) 2:10:37

Jemal Yimer (ETH) 2:10:38

Juan Luis Barrios (MEX) 2:10:55

Matt McDonald (USA) 2:11:10

Matt Llano (USA) 2:11:14

Elkanah Kibet (USA) 2:11:15

CJ Albertson (USA) 2:11:18

Diego Estrada (USA) 2:11:54

Additional reporting by World Athletics