Getty Images Sport / Jim Rogash

Boston Marathon - Previous Head-To-Head Results
by MarathonGuide.com Staff

There are two components to successful marathoning - the ability to run fast and the ability to keep in the game and compete head to head against the competition. Beyond the best times and personal bests, we like to look at the times when these men and women have run against each other - and sometimes that can tell us about mental toughness. The chart below shows the times when the elite runners in the 2010 Boston Marathon field have run against each other and what we think that tells us.

For many reasons, we are sad that Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot has withdrawn from the field due to injury. Cheruiyot, beyond all of the others has shown that he can compete and beat the others. Abderrahim Goumri has yet to WIN a major marathon, but he has shown that - on the same course and on the same day - he can run faster and ahead of anyone else who will be in the Boston field. Goumri's previous inability to garner a win has been more about the one better runner in the field than about his own toughness - and losses to Martin Lel or Sammy Wanjiru do not say anything negative about a runner and those two men will not be in the Boston field. One other man - Meb Keflezighi - is worth a note. Keflezighi does not have the fastest times in the field, but except for a few occasions when he has been ill, Keflezighi has shown he is able to compete with anyone in this field.

Among the women, we would have expected Catherine Ndereba to continue her dominance of the women in this Boston field. But Ndereba has withdrawn due to injury. Two of the remaining runners stand out based on their performances against the others. Salina Kosgei at 33 years old and Dire Tune at 24 years old are at opposite ends of the age spectrum, but both continue to show that they are stronger than the others they will face.

Past performances don't necessarily predict what will happen in the future and not all of these runners have faced each other before, but this adds to our knowledge and we like it.

Men 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon - Jan 14, 2012 1 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:08 2 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:09:30 18 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:14:35 New York City - Nov 6, 2011 6 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:13 7 ABDELLAH FALIL (MAR) 2:10:35 Boston - Apr 18, 2011 4 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:04:58 6 Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:06:43 13 Gilbert Yegon (KEN) 2:13:00 Boston - Apr 19, 2010 1 Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:05:52 2 Tekeste Kebede (ETH) 2:07:23 3 Deriba Merga (ETH) 2:08:39 4 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:08:41 5 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:26 6 Gashaw Asfaw (ETH) 2:10:53 9 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:12:24 10 Alejandro Suarez (MEX) 2:12:33 12 Antonio Vega (USA) 2:13:47 13 Elijah Keitany (KEN) 2:14:48 14 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:14:50 15 Chala Dechase (ETH) 2:14:57 22 Gilbert Yegon (KEN) 2:21:12 New York City - Nov 1, 2009 1 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:15 2 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:09:56 4 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:10:36 10 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:14:39 Amsterdam - Oct 18, 2009 1 Gilbert Yegon (KEN) 2:06:18 2 Elijah Keitany (KEN) 2:06:41 Chicago - Oct 11, 2009 2 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:06:04 11 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:16:38 London - Apr 26, 2009 6 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:08:25 9 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:21 Boston - Apr 20, 2009 1 Deriba Merga (ETH) 2:08:42 3 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:09:40 4 Tekeste Kebede (ETH) 2:09:49 5 Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:10:06 6 Gashaw Asfaw (ETH) 2:10:44 9 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:13:00 New York City - Nov 2, 2008 2 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:09:07 7 Josh Rohatinsky (USA) 2:14:23 8 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:14:30 Frankfurt - Oct 26, 2008 1 Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:07:21 3 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:08:24 7 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:09:58 Beijing Olympics - Aug 24, 2008 4 Deriba Merga (ETH) 2:10:21 7 Gashaw ASFAW (ETH) 2:10:52 10 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:12:33 20 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:15:00 Boston - Apr 21, 2008 1 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:07:46 4 Gashaw Asfaw (ETH) 2:10:47 London - Apr 13, 2008 3 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:05:30 5 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:06:17 6 Deriba Merga (ETH) 2:06:38 New York City - Nov 4, 2007 2 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:09:16 7 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:13:41 New York City Trials - Nov 3, 2007 1 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:09:02 5 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:12:54 8 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:15:09 9 Josh Rohatinsky (USA) 2:15:22 Chicago - Oct 7, 2007 4 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:15:13 5 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:16:59 London - Apr 22, 2007 2 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:07:44 7 Ryan Hall (USA) 2:08:24 Boston - Apr 16, 2007 1 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:14:13 3 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:14:47 6 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:16:04 94 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:38:05 Paris - Apr 15, 2007 2 Gashaw Asfaw (ETH) 2:09:53 11 Deriba Merga (ETH) 2:13:33 New York City - Nov 5, 2006 2 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:10:06 21 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:22:02 Chicago - Oct 22, 2006 1 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:07:35 8 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:11:53 San Diego - Jun 4, 2006 3 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:11:45 5 Tekeste Kebede (ETH) 2:13:15 Boston - Apr 17, 2006 1 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:07:14 2 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:08:21 3 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:56 Las Vegas - Dec 4, 2005 1 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:11:58 3 Tekeste Kebede (ETH) 2:14:38 New York City - Nov 6, 2005 3 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:56 4 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:11:01 San Diego - Jun 5, 2005 2 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:09:51 5 Tekeste Kebede (ETH) 2:13:16 Chicago - Oct 10, 2004 7 Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:09:21 9 Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:13:17 12 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:14:23 Birmingham Trials - Feb 7, 2004 2 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:11:46 10 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:16:27 Chicago - Oct 12, 2003 7 Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:10:03 20 Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) 2:18:24

Women Boston - Apr 18, 2011 6 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:25:08 15 Tatyana Pushkareva (RUS) 2:29:20 London - Apr 17, 2011 17 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:27:02 32 Yurika Nakamura (JPN) 2:41:22 Paris - Apr 10, 2011 2 Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 2:24:43 3 Korene Jelila (ETH) 2:26:57 7 Meseret Legesse (ETH) 2:29:09 New York City - Nov 7, 2010 9 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:29:53 12 TEYBA ERKESSO (ETH) 2:31:06 15 TATYANA PUSHKAREVA (RUS) 2:34:05 16 SALINA KOSGEI (KEN) 2:34:14 Frankfurt - Oct 31, 2010 2 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:23:44 3 Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 2:24:07 Boston - Apr 19, 2010 1 Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 2:26:11 2 Tatyana Pushkareva (RUS) 2:26:14 3 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:28:35 5 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:29:12 6 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:30:31 7 Yurika Nakamura (JPN) 2:30:40 8 Weiwei Sun (CHN) 2:31:14 11 Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 2:33:21 14 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:36:04 21 Chaofeng Jia (CHN) 2:40:33 23 Michelle Frey (USA) 2:42:38 Yokohama - Nov 15, 2009 3 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:29:13 4 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:29:57 Chicago - Oct 11, 2009 3 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:26:47 4 Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 2:26:56 Berlin World Championships - Aug 23, 2009 8 Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS) 2:27:08 13 Weiwei Sun (CHN) 2:29:39 23 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:32:42 Boston - Apr 20, 2009 1 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:32:16 2 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:32:17 6 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:34:20 Turin - Apr 19, 2009 1 Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 2:26:22 3 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:30:51 Rome - Mar 22, 2009 7 Albina Ivanova (RUS) 2:30:21 9 Weiwei Sun (CHN) 2:32:03 New York City - Nov 2, 2008 5 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:29:14 7 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:29:28 Beijing Olympics - Aug 17, 2008 2 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:27:06 10 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:29:28 13 Yurika NAKAMURA (JPN) 2:30:19 15 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:31:16 17 Bruna GENOVESE (ITA) 2:31:31 19 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:31:47 Boston - Apr 21, 2008 1 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:25:25 6 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:30:52 9 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:35:37 London - Apr 13, 2008 4 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:26:30 14 Weiwei Sun (CHN) 2:36:34 Tokyo - Nov 18, 2007 2 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:23:31 3 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:27:35 New York City - Nov 4, 2007 4 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:28:37 5 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:29:08 Osaka World Championships - Sep 2, 2007 1 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:30:37 15 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:35:17 32 Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS) 2:42:56 Boston - Apr 16, 2007 1 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:29:18 3 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:30:16 New York City - Nov 5, 2006 3 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:26:58 5 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:27:21 European Championships - Aug 12, 2006 5 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:31:15 12 Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS) 2:35:26 Nashville - Apr 29, 2006 3 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:35:15 3 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:39:10 Boston - Apr 17, 2006 4 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:25:28 16 Michelle Frey (USA) 2:40:23 New York City - Nov 6, 2005 4 Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:25:30 5 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:27:15 8 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:27:48 Helsinki World Championships - Aug 14, 2005 2 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:22:01 11 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:26:50 37 Dire Tune (ETH) 2:39:13 Boston - Apr 18, 2005 1 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:25:13 3 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:29:51 New York City - Nov 7, 2004 9 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:29:57 12 Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 2:34:39 Athens Olympics - Aug 22, 2004 2 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:26:32 10 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:32:50 40 Albina Ivanova (RUS) 2:47:23 Chicago - Oct 12, 2003 4 Albina Ivanova (RUS) 2:25:35 12 Madai Pérez (MEX) 2:31:34 London - Apr 13, 2003 2 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:19:55 14 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:32:58 Boston - Apr 15, 2002 2 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:21:12 6 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:29:02 Boston - Apr 16, 2001 1 Catherine N'dereba (KEN) 2:23:53 9 Bruna Genovese (ITA) 2:30:39