Five Sub-2:05 Performers Highlight Field

By Scott Bush

To be expected, the New York Road Runners have once again assembled a rock star cast of competitors to race the TCS New York City Marathon. Past champions, young talent and a fine display of Americans define this year’s field. Here a look at the top men heading into Sunday’s competition.

Wilson Kipsang (KEN)

Stats: 2:03:23 marathon best, former world record holder (Berlin ’13), 58:59 half marathon best; Owns six sub-2:05 performances, most in history; 2014 TCS New York City Marathon champion

Breakdown: Kipsang is the most celebrated entry in this year’s field. The reigning champion seeks a repeat in New York City, but enters as a bit of an unknown having not finished the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in August. Kipsang finished second at the Virgin Money London Marathon earlier this year, a mere five seconds behind champion Eliud Kipchoge.

Lelisa Desisa (ETH)

Stats: 2:04:45 marathon best and 59:30 half marathon best; Reigning Boston Marathon champion, won Boston and Dubai marathons in 2013; Owns track PRs of 13:22.91 (5k) and 27:11.98 (10k)

Breakdown: Desisa narrowly lost to Kipsang in New York last year and one can imagine he doesn’t want to let that happen again. He enters Sunday’s contest coming off a seventh place showing in the marathon at the IAAF World Championships. Earlier in the year, he placed second in the Dubai Marathon and won the Boston Marathon by 31 seconds. His fourth marathon this year, it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the late stages of the race.

Yemane Tsegaye (ETH)

Stats: 2:04:48 marathon best, 61:37 half marathon best; Owner of 12 sub-2:10 performances; Won silver in the marathon at the IAAF World Championships this summer

Breakdown: Tsegaye is just as consistent as Kipsang and Desisa, but doesn’t quite have the major marathon wins. His second place effort in Beijing in August at the IAAF World Championships should give him plenty of confidence Sunday, along with his runner-up showing at the Boston Marathon, finishing only behind Desisa, earlier this year.

Gebre Gebremariam (ETH)

Stats: 2:04:53 marathon best; 2010 New York City Marathon champion

Breakdown: Gebremariam can never be overlooked. He stands out in the field, being taller than most of his competition, but quietly establishes himself in the front group nearly every time he races. He placed third behind Kipsang and Desisa in NYC last year and continues to break through and achieve the greatness he earned through victory in 2010.

Stanley Biwott (KEN)

Stats: 2:04:55 marathon best, 58:56 half marathon best; Owns three sub-2:07 performances

Breakdown: The Kenyan often times gets overlooked, as fellow countrymen Kipsang, Eliud Kipchoge and Dennis Kimetto get most of the accolades, but Biwott continues to put himself in the top five at major marathons time and time again. He finished fifth in New York last year, which came after a runner-up showing in London where he only lost to Kipsang. He took home fourth in London this year.

Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)

Stats: 2:06:12 marathon best, 58:54 half marathon best; Owns track PRs of 13:12.23 (5k) and 26:52.65 (10k); Won 10,000m silver at the 2015 IAAF World Championships, gold at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and gold at the 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships

Breakdown: Only 22 years old, Kamworor continues to challenge for the “world’s best” crown. While he isn’t as experienced in the marathon as his top rivals in New York, his accolades in track, cross country and half marathon distance make him the most versatile runner in the world. He’s finished third in Berlin twice and fourth once, which gives him an opportunity to improve his best major marathon finish, as well as challenge himself over a new, less speedy course.

Yuki Kawauchi (JPN)

Stats: 2:08:14 marathon best

Breakdown: The wiley marathon veteran might not have a top five marathon PR in the field, but he’s never one fans can overlook, always positioning himself well among his competition in major marathon events. He placed eleventh in New York last year, surely seeking a much higher finish this time around.

Meb Keflezighi (USA)

Stats: 2:08:37 marathon best; 2009 New York City Marathon Champion

Breakdown: It seems like only yesterday that Meb cruised down the final stretch in Central Park, inspiring Americans from coast to coast with his NYC victory. That was 2009, but not much has changed. Meb finished fourth at last year’s edition and while pre-race chatter wonders what type of effort the Olympic medalist will give considering the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials are three and a half months away, lets just say Meb is a top five contender with a shot at victory.

Nick Arciniaga (USA)

Stats: 2:11:30 marathon best

Breakdown: For the past few years, Arciniaga has consistently ranked a top 5-6 marathoner in the United States. He placed tenth overall last year in New York, while placing a somewhat disappointing fourteenth in Boston this past spring. Similar to Keflezighi, Arciniaga will look to establish himself as a frontrunner heading into the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and another top ten performance in NYC would certainly help with the effort.

Daniele Meucci (ITA)

Stats: 2:11:08 marathon best

Breakdown: The Italian ran an inspired race in Beijing at the IAAF World Championships this summer, placing eighth overall in the marathon. While it remains to be seen just how well he can double back from such an intense effort, he’ll undoubtedly be running with the lead back as long as he can.

The Rest of the Field

Craig Leon (USA): 2:13:53 marathon best

Zicheng Li (CHN): 2:13:12 marathon best

Juan Luis Barrios (MEX): 2:14:20 marathon best

Will Nation (USA): Debut

Chris Bendtsen (USA): Debut