U.S. Women Could Emerge

The 1983 Boston Marathon was dubbed “Joanie’s Record Run”: Joan Benoit shattered the world record and set a course record she held for almost 20 years.

It now has been two decades since Benoit and Greg Meyer swept Boston’s 1983 titles for the United States. No American man has won since then and a sweep hasn’t even been hinted at since 1985, when Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach won the women’s division and Gary Tuttle finished second in the men’s.

The American dominance in the Boston Marathonhas long since passed to the Kenyans, who have won 11 of the last 12 men’s races and three consecutive women’s.

Defending champion Rodgers Rop leads another strong Kenyan contingent today’s 107th running of the event that includes two-time runner-up Christopher Cheboiboch.

But the women’s race offers the United States its best hope in a decade.

Defending champion Margaret Okayo, who broke Benoit’scourse record last year by finishing in 2 hours 20 minutes 43 seconds, is back among a field that includes three Americans with top-10 ability. Marla Runyan and Milena Glusac -- fourth and ninth in the New York City Marathon in November -- are entered, along with Jill Gaitenby, who was the top American in Boston the last two years (14th and 13th overall).