Photo via TrackTownPhoto

The Daily Relay staff looked in the crystal ball and made their predictions for the 2014 Boston Marathon.  Be sure to follow the Daily Relay Twitter account for all the updates from Monday’s race.

Jim

Men’s winner:  Lelisa Desisa
Time:  2:06:39
Leader at halfway: Dennis Kimetto
Race is decided in:  Mile 23
Americans in the top 10: 2 (Meb, Hall)
Americans out of contention by: Mile 17
Top American:  Ryan Hall
Time: 2:08:38
Overperforms: Tilahun Regassa
Underperforms: Meb Keflezighi
Something bold:  Hall will finish in the Top 5

Women’s winner:  Mare Dibaba
Time:  2:23:59
Leader at halfway: Buzunesh Deba
Race is decided in: Mile 25
Americans in the top 10: 2  (Flanagan, Linden)
Americans out of contention by: Mile 22
Top American:  Shalane Flanagan
Time: 2:25:36
Overperforms: Lannie Marchant
Underperforms: Rita Jeptoo
Something bold:  No Americans in Top 5

Pat

Men’s winner:  Dennis Kimetto
Time:  2:04:45
Leader at halfway: Tilahun Regassa
Race is decided in:  Mile 25
Americans in the top 10: 4 (Meb, Jason Hartmann, Hall, Abdi Abdirahman)
Americans out of contention by: Mile 20.5
Top American:  Meb Keflezighi
Time: 2:08:55
Overperforms:Hartmann, again
Underperforms: Markos Geneti
Something bold:  Hall runs with leaders and performs near where the “old,” consistent Hall did

Women’s winner:  Shalane Flanagan
Time:  2:21:15
Leader at halfway: Mare Dibaba
Race is decided in: Mile 25
Americans in the top 10: 3  (Flanagan, Linden, Serena Burla)
Americans out of contention by: NEVER!
Top American:  Shalane Flanagan
Time: 2:21:15
Overperforms: Burla
Underperforms: Meselech Melkamu
Something bold:  Linden runs patiently and walks everyone down in the last 2 miles.

Jesse

Men’s winner:  Lelisa Desisa
Time:  2:09:31, but it’s Boston so time doesn’t matter
Leader at halfway: Ryan Hall
Race is decided in:  Mile 26
Americans in the top 10: 2
Americans out of contention by: Mile 21
Top American:  Brett Gotcher
Time: 2:12:01
Overperforms: Frankline Chepkwony
Underperforms: Dennis Kimetto
Something bold:  Chepkwony is in contention until Hereford Street

Women’s winner:  Jemima Jelagat
Time: 2:25:11
Leader at halfway: Mare Dibaba
Race is decided in:  Mile 23
Americans in the top 10: 2
Americans out of contention by: Mile 23
Top American:  Shalane Flanagan
Time: 2:26:10
Overperforms: Yeshi Esayias
Underperforms: Rita Jeptoo
Something bold:  Lanni Marchant becomes the fastest Canadian in Boston history, comes closest Canuck to winning since Odette LaPierre’s third place in 1988

Kevin

Men’s winner:  Dennis Kimetto
Time:  2:07:45
Leader at halfway: Lelisa Desisa
Race is decided in:  Mile 24
Americans in the top 10: 3 (Meb, Hartmann, Hall)
Americans out of contention by: Mile 15
Top American:  Meb Keflezighi
Time: 2:10:55
Overperforms: Lusapho April
Underperforms: Gebre Gebremariam
Something bold:  2 Americans will finish ahead of Hall

Women’s winner:  Rita Jeptoo
Time:  2:24:02
Leader at halfway: Buzunesh Deba
Race is decided in: Mile 26
Americans in the top 10: 2  (Flanagan, Linden)
Americans out of contention by: Mile 24
Top American:  Shalane Flanagan
Time: 2:25:06
Overperforms: Aleksandra Dublina
Underperforms: Sharon Cherop
Something bold:  Flanagan sets a personal best, but finishes out of the top 3