LINDEN TO DOUBLE BACK FOR BOSTON MARATHON AFTER OLYMPIC TRIALS

LINDEN TO DOUBLE BACK FOR BOSTON MARATHON AFTER OLYMPIC TRIALS
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2024 Race Outcomes Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission. 

(10-Jan) — On April 15, two-time Olympian Desiree Linden will contest the Boston Marathon for the eleventh time this yr simply 72 days after operating her fifth USA Olympic Workforce Trials in Orlando, the Boston Athletic Affiliation introduced at present. The 40-year-old Linden, who gained the bitterly chilly and rain-soaked 2018 version of the race, will probably be attempting for her sixth top-5 Boston end.

“At this level in my profession, it’s a straightforward resolution to return to the Boston Marathon and make it my high precedence race of the spring,” stated Linden in a press release. The longtime Brooks-sponsored athlete continued: “I can’t wait to tackle the enduring course for an eleventh time and have the chance to combine it up with a few of the finest runners on this planet.”

Since making her marathon debut in Boston in 2007, when she ran a modest 2:44:56, Linden has made the Massachusetts capital her second dwelling for operating. In 2011, simply her second time operating the race, she got here near successful, ending second in 2:22:38, simply two seconds behind race winner Caroline Kilel of Kenya.

“I felt like I may run with anybody,” she stated that day. “The final 800 meters, my legs have been fried. I used to be attempting, simply attempting, to maintain contact.”

In 2018, on one of many worst climate days ever for the Boston Marathon, Linden willed herself to the end line first after about three-quarters of the elite area dropped out behind her. She turned the primary American girl to win the race in 33 years.

“It was form of comical how sluggish you have been operating,” Linden noticed on the 2018 post-race press convention, saying that she was repeatedly “stood up” by the wind. She added: “Positively hardest circumstances on the chilly aspect that I’ve run in.”

The B.A.A. additionally stated that one other high American, Emma Bates, would line up for Boston. Bates, who completed fifth on the 2023 version of the race in a private finest of two:22:10, scratched final week from the USA Olympic Trials, saying that she ran out of time to arrange correctly attributable to an damage. She is one in all 13 USA ladies who had achieved the 2024 Olympic Video games qualifying customary (she really did it twice).

“The excellent news is that I’m again to doing exercises with Workforce Boss (her coaching group),” she stated in a video posted to her Instagram account. “Unhealthy information is I’m withdrawing from the Trials. I simply know there’s not sufficient time for me to be the place I must be. So, one other 4 years to attend for an additional Olympic workforce. I’ll be OK.”

On the entrance of the race, Kenyan powerhouse Hellen Obiri will defend her title. The 34-year-old, who gained final yr’s race in her marathon debut, is getting ready now together with her On Athletics Membership teammates in Boulder, Colo., below coach Dathan Ritzenhein and can run Sunday’s Aramco Houston Half-Marathon to check her health.

“I’m excited to return to the 2024 Boston Marathon to attempt to defend my title,” stated Obiri by way of a press release. “Boston is an historic race and I wish to add my title additional to its historical past on April 15. Successful such a historic marathon with my household ready on the end line was an incredible expertise.”

Elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea hasn’t made it simple for Obiri, who additionally gained final November’s TCS New York Metropolis Marathon. She’ll be going through 11 high Ethiopians, together with Tadu Teshome (2:17:36 private finest), Worknesh Degefa (2:17:41), Hiwot Gebremaryam (2:17:59), and Senbere Teferi (2:19:21). There are seven high Kenyans within the area along with Obiri, together with 2022 World Athletics Championships Marathon silver medalist Judith Korir, two-time Boston Marathon winner Edna Kiplagat, four-time top-ten finisher Mary Ngugi, and 2022 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi.

Within the skilled wheelchair competitors, American Paralympian Susannah Scaroni hopes to retain her title. Her major rival will probably be Switzerland’s Manuela Schär, who had a tire puncture final yr and was unable to complete.

“The Boston Marathon is proud to showcase the world’s finest athletes year-in and year-out on Patriots’ Day,” stated Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Affiliation. “This yr’s ladies’s area is exceptionally quick and showcases many who’ve been podium finishers on the worldwide stage. It’ll make for an thrilling race from Hopkinton to Boston, and we look ahead to crowning our champions on April 15.”

The Boston Marathon is a part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and is a World Athletics Platinum Label Street Race. The highest-5 finishers at Boston will probably be credited with 2024 Paris Olympic qualifying marks, regardless of the downhill course, as a result of top-5 finishers at Platinum Label marathons earn Olympic qualifying marks below World Athletics guidelines. Nevertheless, athletes ending beneath fifth place won’t be able to earn Olympic qualifying instances as a result of the course is about thrice the allowable restrict in elevation loss.

The Boston Marathon takes place on the third Monday in April, Patriot’s Day, a state vacation in Massachusetts and Maine. The race had 26,598 finishers in 2023 and was the third-largest marathon in the USA.

2024 BOSTON MARATHON WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL FIELD (with private finest instances):
Tadu Teshome, ETH, 2:17:36 (Valencia, 2022)
Worknesh Degefa, ETH, 2:17:41 (Dubai, 2019)
Hiwot Gebremaryam, ETH, 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
Judith Korir, KEN, 2:18:20 (Eugene, 2022)
Meseret Belete, ETH, 2:18:21 (Amsterdam, 2023)
Tiruye Mesfin, ETH, 2:18:47 (Valencia, 2022)
Worknesh Edesa, ETH, 2:18:51 (Berlin, 2022)
Zeineba Yimer, ETH, 2:19:07 (Berlin 2023)
Senbere Teferi, ETH, 2:19:21 (Berlin, 2023)
Dera Dida, ETH, 2:19:24 (Berlin, 2023)
Edna Kiplagat (40+), KEN, 2:19:50 (London, 2012)
Mary Ngugi, KEN, 2:20:22 (London, 2022)
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet, ERI, 2:20:29 (Eugene) NR
Ababel Yeshaneh, ETH, 2:20:51 (Chicago, 2019)
Vibian Chepkirui, KEN, 2:20:59 (Vienna, 2022)
Helah Kiprop, KEN, 2:21:27 (Tokyo, 2016)
Hellen Obiri, KEN, 2:21:38 (Boston, 2023)
Emma Bates, USA, 2:22:10 (Boston, 2023)
Desiree Linden (40+), USA, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)
Buze Diriba, ETH, 2:23:11 (Toronto, 2023)
Sharon Lokedi, KEN, 2:23:23 (New York Metropolis, 2022)
Malindi Elmore (40+), CAN, 2:23:30 (Berlin, 2023)
Fatima Gardadi, MAR, 2:25:03 (Rabat, 2023)
Angie Orjuela, COL, 2:25:35 (Berlin, 2023) NR
Fabienne Konigstein, GER, 2:25:48 (Hamburg, 2023)
Jackie Gaughan, USA, 2:27:08 (Berlin, 2023)
Dominique Scott, RSA, 2:27:31 (Chicago, 2023)
Grace Kahura, KEN, 2:29:00 (Sacramento, 2023)
Katie Kellner, USA, 2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)
Briana Boehmer, USA, 2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021)
Dylan Hassett, IRL, 2:33:25 (Pulford, 2021)
Parley Hannan, USA, 2:33:43 (Carmel, 2023)
Sara Lopez, USA, 2:33:48 (Eugene, 2023)
Annie Heffernan, USA, 2:34:33 (Lowell, 2023)
Nera Jareb (40+), AUS, 2:35:00 (Queensland, 2022)
Johanna Backlund, SWE, 2:35:10 (Hamburg, 2019)
Argentina Valdepenas Cerna (40+), MEX, 2:35:34 (Chicago, 2022)
Ariane Hendrix Roach, USA, 2:35:39 (Sacramento, 2022)
Michelle Krezonoski, CAN, 2:36:39 (Sacramento, 2022)
Shannon Smith, USA, 2:36:43 (Columbus, 2023)
Caroline Williams, USA, 2:37:01 (Sacramento, 2022)
Gina Rouse (40+), USA, 2:37:10 (Sacramento, 2023)
Kim Krezonoski, CAN, 2:37:20 (Sacramento, 2022)
Abigail Corrigan, USA, 2:37:45 (Sacramento, 2023)
Marissa Lenger, USA, 2:38:41 (Chicago, 2022)
Emilee Risteen, USA, 2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)
Isabelle Pickett, AUS, 2:38:46 (Valencia, 2023)
Allie Hackett, USA, 2:38:52 (Duluth, 2023
Mary Christensen, USA, 2:38:55 (Large Bear, 2023)
Olivia Anger, USA, 2:39:13 (Indianapolis, 2023)
April Lund (40+), USA, 2:39:23 (Houston, 2022)
Sarah Quick, AUS, 2:39:51 (Valencia, 2023)
Maura Lemon, USA, 2:40:30 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Sarah Sibert, USA, 2:40:31 (Philadelphia, 2022)
Lauren Ames, USA, 2:40:34 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
Kassie Harmon (40+), USA, 2:41:48 (Utah Valley, 2023)
Elizabeth Camy (40+), USA, 2:42:51 (Sacramento, 2022)
Alexandra Niles (40+), USA, 2:43:23 (Hartford, 2022)
Amber Morrison (40+), USA, 2:43:50 (Sacramento, 2022)
Mindy Mammen (40+), USA, 2:44:01 (Duluth, 2023)
Ziyang Liu (40+), USA, 2:44:56 (Eugene, 2023)