Past champion Geoffrey Mutai withdraws from Boston Marathon
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Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai, the 2011 Boston Marathon champion, has withdrawn from the upcoming race after failing to meet his training goals, according to the Boston Athletic Association.
Mutai, 34, was slated to make his first return to the Boston Marathon since winning in a course record of 2:03:02. The time was the fastest marathon in history at the time. World records do not count on the Boston Marathon course due to its point-to-point setup with a net elevation loss that exceeds the IAAF’s limits for records.
Mutai’s success on the World Marathon Majors stage has been upended by his recent struggles. Last year, Mutai dropped out of April’s London Marathon and then ran 2:09:29 for fifth place at the Berlin Marathon in September. In 2014, he strung together two sixth place finished at the London Marathon in 2:08:18 and New York City Marathon in 2:13:44.
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The last time Mutai finished on the podium after a marathon was his 2:08:24 victory in the 2013 New York City Marathon. He also won in 2011 before Hurricane Sandy canceled the 2012 edition of the race.
Amane Beriso of Ethiopia, who ran 2:20:48 at the Dubai Marathon in January, has been added to the women’s elite field.
- Christopher Chavez
