Mateiko ready to rumble with favourites in Boston
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 20.04.25. | 14:19
He goes to battle against a star-studded field led by defending champion Sisay Lemma
Valencia Marathon bronze medalist Daniel Mateiko is keen to challenge for a place on the podium as he makes his debut at the Boston Marathon, against a deep elite field, on Monday, 21 April.
The 26-year-old is looking to follow up a series of eye-catching results in the half marathon and build on his third-place finish in the classic distance from the Spanish race last December.
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“My preparation has been good ahead of Boston, and I am heading there well-focused psychologically and physically. I hope everything will be well. I am looking forward to posting great results on Monday,” the Kaptagat-based runner told Daily Sport ahead of his trip to the US.
Mateiko, who represented Kenya in the 10,000m at both the 2022 World Championships and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, heads to the race with a 2:04:24 personal best (PB).
The 58:17 runner in the half marathon debuts in Boston in what will be his fourth marathon.
He made his debut in London in April 2023 and was on the road again for the Chicago Marathon in October 2023, failing to finish in both instances.
He was back in London in April 2024, but the distance proved too demanding even then.
Despite the DNFs, Mateiko, who Eliud Kipchoge has pinpointed as heir to his throne when it comes to distance dominance, showed flashes of brilliance in said races.
For instance, the 2024 RAK half-marathon champion was the only man who chose to go stride for stride with the late Kelvin Kiptum in his world-record-breaking race in Chicago, making it to about 30km.
“Chicago and London were great lessons, and making the podium in Valencia last year after three DNFs gave me confidence that I am heading in the right direction. I am looking forward to expanding my boundaries in the distance in Boston,” he went on.
Mateiko says training alongside two-time Olympic champion and former world record holder Kipchoge and Rotterdam champion Geoffrey Kamworor, among other top runners, has been a learning curve that has toughened him.
He goes to battle against a star-studded field led by defending champion Sisay Lemma, who is also the fastest entrant in the men’s field. His PB of 2:01:48, set when winning in Valencia in 2023, makes him the fourth-fastest marathon runner in history.
Four of the top seven men’s finishers from last year’s Boston Marathon return, including two-time winner Evans Chebet, who was third last year.
Chicago Marathon champion John Korir, who finished fourth last year and is the second fastest in the field with the PB of 2:02:44 he ran to win in Chicago, will also return.
Cybrian Kotut and Haymanot Alew were second and third at last year’s Berlin Marathon, and both have lifetime bests inside 2:04.
World champion Victor Kiplangat seeks to become the first Ugandan man to win in Boston, while two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris will be making his marathon debut.
Other leading names include two-time Boston winner Lelisa Desisa, Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu, Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana, Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, and Eritrea’s Yemane Haileselassie.
Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who were eighth and ninth, respectively, in the Olympic marathon last year before finishing in the top 10 at the New York Marathon, lead the US charge.
Elite Field
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48
John Korir (KEN) 2:02:44
Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:03:00
Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22
Haymanot Alew (ETH) 2:03:31
Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:04:24
Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) 2:04:38
Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 2:04:45
Victor Kiplangat (UGA) 2:05:09
Asefa Boki (ETH) 2:05:40
Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:18
Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 2:06:49
Tsegay Weldlibanos (ERI) 2:07:25
Patrick Tiernan (AUS) 2:07:45
Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:47
Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:08:01
CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17
Amanuel Mesel (ERI) 2:08:17
Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) 2:08:25
Erenjia Jia (CHN) 2:08:32
Zach Panning (USA) 2:09:16
Colin Bennie (USA) 2:09:38
Brian Shrader (USA) 2:09:46
