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Kipsang, Saina Headline 2017 Tokyo Marathon Elite FieldsPublished by
World Marathon Majors Get Underway on February 26By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor Kenya's Wilson Kipsang, the fourth-fastest man to ever run a marathon and the only one to ever run under 2:04 three times, is set to compete at the Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 26. Kipsang, 34, has previously won the Berlin Marathon, New York City Marathon and London Marathon, so a win in Tokyo would give him his fourth World Marathon Major course victory out of the six (only Boston and Chicago would remain). Kipsang enters Tokyo as the prohibitive favorite, coming off a runner-up showing in Berlin last fall, where he ran 2:03:13. Although he earned a new personal best and the time moved him up to fourth best all-time, it left him 10 seconds behind Kenenisa Bekele, whose 2:03:03 ranks him second-best all-time. Kipsang is joined by a strong contingent of experienced marathon pros, including Dickson Chumba, who won the Tokyo Marathon in 2014 and the Chicago Marathon in 2015. Ethiopian stars Tsegaye Kebede and Tadese Tola are also entered. Of U.S. note, Bowerman Track Club's Andrew Bumbalough makes his marathon debut. On the women's side, Lucy Kabuu and Amane Beriso enter with the fastest PRs in the field, both having run 2:20. Add in Amane Gobena, whose best falls at 2:21 and the field has plenty of top-end speed. Perhaps the most intriguing entry is Bumbalough's BTC teammate Betsy Saina. The former Iowa State University standout and fifth-place finisher in the 10,000 at the Rio Olympics, runs Tokyo as the 13th-fastest to ever run 10,000 on the track. How her track speed translates to the 26.2-mile distance remains to be seen. Saina is joined by American Sara Hall, who is the top U.S. entry. Men's Top EntriesWilson Kipsang (KEN) Women's Top EntriesLucy Kabuu (KEN) 2:20
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