Meb Keflezighi wins the 2014 Boston Marathon (© Getty Images)
Olympic medallists Meb Keflezighi and Shalane Flanagon will lead a strong US presence at the Boston Marathon on 17 April, organisers announced.
Keflezighi, 41, is a four-time Olympian, whose victory at the 2014 edition of this race was the first by a US athlete since 1983. The Olympic silver medallist in 2004, Keflezighi was fourth in the London Olympic marathon in 2012 an finished second at the US Olympic Trials marathon earlier this year.
Flanagan, 35, is also a four-time Olympian, who finished sixth in the Rio 2016 Olympic marathon, her most recent outing over the distance. She has a 2:21:14 lifetime best set in 2014 in Berlin.
They will be joined by Galen Rupp who will be making his Boston debut. The 2012 Olympic silver medallist in the 10,000m, Rupp took bronze in August's Olympic marathon in just his second race over the distance.
The men's field also includes Jared Ward, who finished sixth in Rio in 2:11:30, a lifetime best, after a third place showing at the US Olympic trials.
Others announced include four-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, who finished third at the New York City Marathon in November, and Shadrack Biwott, a university teammate of Rupp's at the University of Oregon with a personal best of 2:12:01.
Joining Flanagan in the women's field is two-time Olympian Desiree Linden, who boasts a career best of 2:22:38. A consistent competitor, the 33-year-old has six top-five finishes to her credit in Abbott World Marathon Majors races.
Jordan Hasay's entry is expected to attract considerable attention domestically as the 25-year-old sets out to make her marathon debut. A standout on the track as a junior – she took silver at the 2007 IAAF World Youth Championships at 1500m – and in the collegiate ranks, Hasay has struggled to make an impact at the senior level but has recently said that she may be best suited for the marathon.
Organisers for the IAAF
