FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympic & Paralympic Medalists Headline Fastest and Most Decorated
Women's Field for 126th Boston Marathon
April's Race Celebrates 50 Years Since The Inaugural Women's
Division In 1972
BOSTON- The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today the
fastest and most decorated women's professional field for the 126th Boston
Marathon, to be run on April 18, 2022. Reigning Olympic marathon medalists
Peres Jepchirchir (gold) and Molly Seidel (bronze), as well as Paralympic
marathon gold medalist Madison de Rozario and three-time Boston Marathon
champion Manuela Schär headline the field competing on Patriots' Day.
Headlining the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team are 12 women who have
run under 2:23, including the fastest women in the world in 2020 (Kenya's
Jepchirchir, 2:17:16) and 2021 (Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2:17:43). The
Monday, April 18th race, which will be the first Boston Marathon held on
Patriots' Day since 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of the first official
women's field, which in 1972 was comprised of eight finishers.
"As we look to celebrate the trailblazing women of 1972, we are delighted
to welcome the fastest and most accomplished women's field in the history
of the Boston Marathon," said B.A.A. President and CEO Tom Grilk. "Though
there have been many milestones in the five decades since the women's
division was established in Boston, this field of Olympic and Paralympic
medalists, Boston champions, and global stars will make this a race to
remember on Patriots' Day."
Jepchirchir will make her Boston Marathon debut less than a year after
claiming both the Olympic marathon gold medal in Tokyo and the TCS New York
City Marathon title. She'll square off against Tokyo bronze medalist
Seidel, a former Boston resident who became only the third American woman
in history to medal in the Olympic marathon.
"My high expectations is to be a winner and I would like to arrive at the
day of the race in my best shape," said Jepchirchir. "I have time enough to
prepare for it and I will do my best in training to be ready to run against
some of the best marathon runners in the world."
"When I lived and trained in Boston I just became totally enamored with the
Boston Marathon. Every Patriots' Day I would go to Heartbreak Hill to watch
the runners, and whenever I trained on the course I dreamed of getting to
run the race someday," said Seidel. "There's something uniquely special
about the Boston Marathon, and I absolutely can't wait to line up in
Hopkinton this April for the race!"
In addition to Jepchirchir and Seidel, this year's women's professional
open field includes Boston Marathon champions Edna Kiplagat (2017) and Des
Linden (2018), 2021 London and 2019 New York City Marathon winner Joyciline
Jepkosgei, as well as four sub-2:20 Ethiopian contenders in Degitu
Azimeraw, Roza Dereje, Zeineba Yimer and Tigist Girma.
Beyond Seidel and Linden, a strong American contingent includes Sara Hall,
the second-fastest American marathoner in history (2:20:32), Nell Rojas,
the top American and sixth place finisher in Boston in October (2:27:12),
and USA Olympic Marathon Trials top-ten finishers Kellyn Taylor (2:24:28
personal best) and Stephanie Bruce (2:27:47 PB). From Canada is Olympian
and national record holder Malindi Elmore and two-time Olympian Natasha
Wodak, while Charlotte Purdue of Great Britain is the fastest European in
the field and third fastest British marathoner of all-time (2:23:26).
Fronting the women's wheelchair field are Schär (Switzerland) and de
Rozario (Australia), who have dominated the marathon distance in recent
years. Schär earned five Paralympic medals (two gold) and her third Boston
Marathon victory at October's 125th edition, while de Rozario won
Paralympic gold in the marathon then made history by becoming the first
Australian woman to win the TCS New York City Marathon last fall. Schär
also holds the world record and Boston Marathon course record of 1:28:17,
set in 2017.
"It's always very exciting to return to Boston," said Schär. "It will
probably be the first race after a very intense 2021 season, so it will be
good to see where I stand. I am very eager to return to the roads."
Also competing among the women's wheelchair division are five-time Boston
winner and 20-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden (USA), reigning
Paralympic marathon bronze medalist Nikita den Boer (Netherlands),
Paralympic 5000m gold medalist Susannah Scaroni (USA), and five-time Boston
champion Wakako Tsuchida (Japan).
Top finishers return within the Para Athletics Divisions, as American
Paralympian Liz Willis and Brazil's Tayana Pasos defend their lower-limb
and visually impaired division titles from the 125th Boston Marathon.
Accomplished trail runner Jacky Hunt-Broersma will also compete in the T64
division. During the pandemic Hunt-Broersma became the first lower-limb
impaired athlete to run 100 miles on a treadmill, running 23 hours, 38
minutes, and in 2020 she was named to the Boston Marathon's Honorary Team.
The complete field of women's professional athletes entered in the 126th
Boston Marathon can be found below. The men's professional field will be
released on Thursday, January 13. More information regarding the 50th
anniversary of the 1972 inaugural women's division will be announced in the
coming months as well.
For the 37th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the
Boston Marathon. The men's professional field will be announced on
Thursday, January 13.
WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL OPEN DIVISION -- NAME, PERSONAL BEST, COUNTRY
Peres Jepchirchir, 2:17:16 (Valencia, 2020), Kenya
Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2:17:43 (London, 2021), Kenya
Degitu Azimeraw, 2:17:58 (London, 2021), Ethiopia
Roza Dereje, 2:18:30 (Valencia, 2019), Ethiopia
Zeineba Yimer, 2:19:28 (Valencia, 2019), Ethiopia
Edna Kiplagat^, 2:19:50 (London, 2012), Kenya
Tigist Girma, 2:19:52 (Amsterdam, 2019), Ethiopia
Maurine Chepkemoi, 2:20:18 (Amsterdam, 2021), Kenya
Sara Hall, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020), USA
Desiree Linden, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011), USA
Viola Cheptoo, 2:22:44 (New York City, 2021), Kenya
Purity Changwony, 2:22:46 (Ampugnano, 2021), Kenya
Charlotte Purdue, 2:23:26 (London, 2021), Great Britain
Kellyn Taylor, 2:24:28 (Duluth, 2018), USA
Molly Seidel, 2:24:42 (New York City, 2021), USA
Malindi Elmore^, 2:24:50 (Houston, 2020), Canada
Mary Ngugi, 2:25:20 (Boston, 2021), Kenya
Monicah Ngige, 2:25:32 (Boston, 2021), Kenya
Natasha Wodak^, 2:26:19 (Chandler, 2020), Canada
Nell Rojas, 2:27:12 (Boston, 2021), USA
Stephanie Bruce, 2:27:47 (Chicago, 2019), USA
Dakotah Lindwurm, 2:29:04 (Duluth, 2021), USA
Roberta Groner^, 2:29:09 (Rotterdam, 2019), USA
Angie Orjuela, 2:29:12 (Valencia, 2020) NR, COL
Bria Wetsch, 2:29:50 (Chandler, 2020), USA
Maegan Krifchin, 2:30:17 (Chicago, 2021), USA
Elaina Tabb, 2:30:33 (Boston, 2021), USA
Lexie Thompson, 2:30:37 (Philadelphia, 2021), USA
Kate Landau^, 2:31:56 (Boston, 2019), USA
Sydney Devore, 2:32:39 (Pittsburgh, 2018), USA
Kodi Kleven, 2:32:45 (St. George, 2021), Canada
Briana Boehmer^, 2:33:20 (Sacramento, 2021), USA
Caitlin Phillips, 2:34:43 (Berlin, 2019), USA
Kate Bazeley, 2:36:43 (Chicago, 2021), Canada
Kathy Derks, 2:36:47 (Carmel, 2021), USA
Maria Velez, 2:37:04 (Valencia, 2021), Mexico
Rachel Hyland, 2:37:22 (Sacramento, 2018), USA
Ashlee Powers, 2:38:20 (Chandler, 2020), USA
Kayla Lampe, 2:38:25 (Chicago, 2021), USA
Ali Lavender, 2:38:41 (Berlin, 2021), Great Britain
Annmarie Tuxbury, 2:39:05 (Atlanta, 2020), USA
Erika Fleuhr, 2:39:31 (Sacramento, 2021), USA
Lindsay Nelson, 2:39:33 (Chandler, 2020), USA
Paula Pridgen, 2:39:34 (Duluth, 2021), USA
Abby Hamilton, 2:39:36 (Portland, 2021), USA
Joanna Thompson, 2:39:47 (New York City, 2021), USA
Ziyang Liu, 2:40:17 (Carmel, 2021), China
Rena Elmer, 2:40:21 (Indianapolis, 2019), USA
Mary Denholm, 2:41:08 (Atlanta, 2021), USA
Gina Rouse^, 2:41:19 (Boston, 2019), USA
Katie Kellner, 2:41:42 (Atlanta, 2020) , USA
Laurie Knowles^, 2:41:58 (Atlanta, 2020), USA
Angela Moll^, 2:43:18 (Sacramento, 2019), USA
Hilary Corno^, 2:45:07 (Boston, 2021), USA
Jennifer Hughes^, 2:45:28 (Sacramento, 2019), USA
Sara Ibbetson^, 2:46:08 (Indianapolis, 2019), USA
Aisling Cuffe, Debut (1:12:57 Half), USA
Athletes with ^ next to their names are Masters (40+) athletes
WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL WHEELCHAIR DIVISION
Manuela Schär, 1:28:17 (Boston, 2017) WR/CR, Switzerland
Susannah Scaroni, 1:30:42 (Duluth, 2019), USA
Madison de Rozario, 1:31:11 (Tokyo Paralympics, 2021), Australia
Tatyana McFadden, 1:31:30 (Duluth, 2019), USA
Jenna Fesemyer, 1:37:02 (Duluth, 2019), USA
Shelly Woods, 1:37:44 (Padova, 2008), Great Britain
Nikita den Boer, 1:38:16 (Tokyo Paralympics, 2021), Netherlands
Wakako Tsuchida, 1:38:32 (Oita, 2001), Japan
Margriet van den Broek, 1:38:33 (Boston, 2017), Netherlands
Vanessa de Souza, 1:40:21 (Seville, 2020), Brazil
Arielle Rausin, 1:40:51 (Duluth, 2019), USA
Merle Marie Menje, 1:44:51 (London, 2021), Germany
Michelle Wheeler, 1:45:55 (Oita, 2018), USA
Yen Hoang, 1:51:24 (Boston, 2021), USA
Eva Houston, 2:41:52 (Boston, 2021), USA
PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS TOP CONTENDERS
Tayana Passos, 3:22:27, Brazil, T13 (Vision Impairment)
Liz Willis, 4:04:01, USA, T64 (Lower Limb Impairment)
Jacky Hunt-Broersma, 23:38 for 100 mi., Netherlands, T64
(Lower Limb Impairment)
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