by Justin Lagat@PeresJepchirch3 Tokyo 2020 Gold medals pic.twitter.com/g092DaeQ8I
— Peres Jepchirchir (@PeresJepchirch3) August 26, 2021
The BAA Boston Marathon announced an incredible field on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Justin Lagat is writing about Peres Jepchirchir and Joyciline Jepkosgei and their intentions to race at 2022 Boston.
Jocyline Jepkosgei, winner, #londonmarathon, 2:17.43, 2021 Virgin Money London marathon, photo by @londonmarathon media, @WMMajors, @stuartweir, @lagatjustin, @runningnetwork, @coachathletics, @euroathletics, #worldathletics, @theshoeaddicts, @adidasrunning, @spencernel, pic.twitter.com/aBoVurKceU
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) October 16, 2021
Two of the world’s top-ranked female marathon runners will be part of the impressive elite field announced for the Boston Marathon this April. The 126th edition of the race will celebrate 50 years since the inaugural women’s division in 1972. The announcement came from the race organizers on Tuesday 11th January.
Tokyo Olympic Marathon champion, Peres Jepchirchir, and 2021 London Marathon champion, Joyciline Jepkosgei will be returning into action after a wonderful 2021 they had in which they both ended up sharing the top WMM jackpot prize.
Jepchirchir is currently ranked as the world’s best female marathon runner by World Athletics while Jepkosgei is ranked second. This will definitely create an exciting head-to-head competition between the two of them as Jepchirchir will be seeking to maintain her status while Jepkosgei will be aiming to beat her and become the world’s best.
Being the only World Marathon Major race in the spring, Boston was bound to assemble the best runners in the world as there will be no other major races for them to focus on.
This will arguably be one of the fastest women’s elite fields ever assembled for a marathon race. Seven women on the start list have their personal best times under 2:20:00 with Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw (2:17:58) joining Jepchirchir (2:17:16) and Jepkosgei (2:17:43) as the fastest entrants with times under 2:18:00.
“As we look to celebrate the trailblazing women of 1972, we are delighted to welcome the fastest and most accomplished women’s field in the history of the Boston Marathon. Though there have been many milestones in the five decades since the women’s division was established in Boston, this field of Olympic and Paralympic medalists, Boston champions, and global stars will make this a race to remember on Patriots’ Day,” B.A.A. President and CEO Tom Grilk said.
USA’s Bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, Molly Seidel, and Kenya’s Violah Cheptoo Lagat who finished second behind Jepchirchir at the New York City Marathon last year will also be some of the interesting runners to watch out for in the competitive field that has twelve runners with times under 2:23:00.
The men’s professional field will be released tomorrow, Thursday 13th January.
