We Are the Champions

Boston Champions, World Record Holders, Olympians, and Paralympians Set to Face Of on October 11

The world’s best come to run Boston year in and year out. That’s been a fact on Patriots’ Day for more than a century. But the professional field established for this year’s contest—featuring 14 champions, world record holders, global medalists, and Abbott World Marathon Majors winners—arguably is the strongest in recent memory. All that matters is who can cover the 26.2 miles between Hopkinton and Boston quickest

ABDI ABDIRAHMAN 5-TIME OLYMPIAN

Country: USA (AZ)

Personal Best: 2:08:56

One of the rare five-time Olympians in track and field, Abdirahman is coming off a 41st-place finish at the Tokyo Olympic Marathon. His career best in Boston was a sixth-place finish in 2017 (2:12:45).

SCOTT FAUBLE AMERICAN CONTENDER

Country: USA (AZ)

Personal Best: 2:09:09

Fauble took the lead in the 2019 Boston Marathon on Heartbreak Hill and wound up finishing seventh overall and the first American in a new lifetime best. He’s a member of the Hoka One One Northern Arizona Elite team.

DANIEL ROMANCHUK DEFENDING CHAMPION

Country: USA (IL)

Personal Best: 1:21:36

Romanchuk made history in 2019 by becoming the first American man to win the wheelchair division since 1993. Romanchuk returned to Boston to win the 2019 B.A.A. 10K and throw out a first-pitch strike at Fenway Park

MARCEL HUG COURSE RECORD HOLDER

Country: Switzerland

Personal Best: 1:18:04

Hug is a four-time Boston Marathon wheelchair champion and notched the fastest wheelchair marathon en route to winning the 2017 title. He’s known as the Swiss Silver Bullet thanks to his signature helmet.

ERNST VAN DYK 10-TIME BOSTON CHAMPION

Country: South Africa

Personal Best: 1:18:04

The most decorated champion in Boston history, van Dyk has 10 Boston wins to his name. In his 20 previous Boston Marathons, the South African star has made the podium 17 times.

JOSH CASSIDY 2012 CHAMPION

Country: Canada

Personal Best: 1:18:25

Cassidy won the 2012 Boston Marathon in a then-course record of 1:18:25. He’s been a member of the Canadian Paralympic team four times, and has more than 30 national titles.