HALL, ABDIRAHMAN IN, RITZENHEIN OUT OF 118TH BOSTON MARATHON
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
© 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(03-Mar) -- John Hancock Financial, organizers of the elite athlete fields for the 2014 Boston Marathon, announced today that Olympic marathoners Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman will take part in this year's race from Hopkinton to Boston on April 21, while Dathan Ritzenhein and Moses Mosop have withdrawn due to injury.

Hall, 31, placed fourth at the 2011 Boston Marathon in 2:04:58, the fastest marathon ever run by an American. Since placing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January of 2012, Hall has faced numerous injury troubles which have prevented him from completing a marathon in over two years.

The California native dropped out of the 2012 Olympic Marathon and subsequently withdrew from the 2012 ING New York City Marathon (prior to the race being cancelled due to Superstorm Sandy), 2013 Boston Marathon, and 2013 ING New York City Marathon. Next month, he hopes to rebound and return to prime form.

"I am incredibly excited to participate in this year's Boston Marathon," said Hall in a statement. "After watching the tragic events that unfolded at last year's race and knowing the resilience of both the running and Boston communities, I knew this year's race was going to be a run of redemption that I am eager to be a part of."

Hall has placed in the top-four in each of his three Boston Marathon appearances. In 2009, Hall was third overall in 2:09:40, then a year later took fourth in 2:08:41 before placing fourth again in 2011 (2:04:58). Hall was the top American finisher in each of those races.

"This year's race will undoubtedly be the most historically significant marathon in Boston's storied history," Hall added.

Joining Hall on the starting line will be four-time Olympian Abdirahman, 37. Abdirahman's most recent completed marathon was also the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, where he placed third and punched his ticket to the 2012 Olympics.

Like Hall, Abdirahman has been bit by the injury bug before his last two marathon attempts: In December of 2013, Abdirahman withdrew from the Honolulu Marathon with a knee injury. Five days before last year's Boston Marathon, Abdirahman scratched after becoming ill with the flu.

Having run eight marathons over the course of his career, Abdirahman will be racing his first Boston Marathon.

"It has been a dream of mine to run the Boston Marathon," said Abdirahman through a news release. "There is so much history behind the race and I'm glad to be to be part of it this year."

The entire 2012 United States Men's Olympic Marathon team will now be racing the Boston Marathon, as Hall and Abdirahman will be accompanied by Meb Keflezighi, who placed fourth overall in London. Keflezighi was the only American male to finish the Olympic Marathon.

With the addition of Hall and Abdirahman came the withdrawal of American Dathan Ritzenhein and Kenyan Moses Mosop. Ritzenhein, 31, is coached by Alberto Salazar as part of the Nike Oregon Distance Project. A groin injury has forced him to pull out of the race, which would have been his debut at Boston.

"I am very disappointed to withdraw from this year's Boston Marathon," said Ritzenhein. "A groin injury this winter has kept me from doing the training it takes to run with the best in the world. April 21st will be a show of strength and community after last year's events and I wanted so badly to be part of that. But I am resilient and will be back."

Mosop placed second at the 2011 Boston Marathon in 2:03:06, the second fastest marathon run in any conditions. A problem in his knee will keep him on the sidelines.

"Boston has a special place in my heart and deserves my best. Due to a knee injury my training has suffered and I am not at the top of my game, yet," he said. "I hope to join the Boston Marathon next year, as watching this race is not what I am about."

In addition, Kenya's Mathew Bowen, husband of 2012 Boston Marathon champion Sharon Cherop, will be racing. Australian Jeffrey Hunt, last year's eighth place finisher, has withdrawn due to setbacks.

The 2014 Boston Marathon, the race's 118th edition, will be held on April 21, Patriots' Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Both defending champions Lelisa Desisa and Rita Jeptoo are scheduled to compete.


PHOTO: Meb Keflezighi and Ryan Hall with their fathers, Russom Keflezighi and Mickey Hall, after the 2010 Boston Marathon (photo by Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly).

ENDS