Boston Marathon champs will defend titles
Kenyan runners Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel will defend their 2011 Boston Marathon titles in the 116th edition of the famed footrace next April 16, organisers said on Thursday.
Mutai's winning effort last year of 2hr 3min 2sec was the fastest marathon ever clocked but is not recognised as a world record because the IAAF has ruled Boston's course is too flat and lacks proper change in elevation.
"I want to return to Boston to defend my title," Mutai said. "I very much liked the race in 2011 because I made the best time ever run in the marathon."
Mutai followed up his Boston triumph by setting a course record of 2:05:06 to win last November's New York Marathon, becoming the first man to break Boston and New York course records in the same year.
Mutai edged countryman Moses Mosop by four seconds to win last year while Kilel's winning time of 2:22:36 in the women's race was the fourth-fastest in race history and two seconds ahead of US runner-up Desiree Davila.
"I've chosen the Boston Marathon because I had a good experience by winning in 2011," Kilel said. "I hope I can do the same this year."
A host of top runners will use the race to try and impress their homeland's Olympic selection committees ahead of the London Olympics athletics events next August.