File- This Nov. 5, 2017, file photo shows Shalane Flanagan of the United States posing for pictures after crossing the finish line first in the women’s division of the New York City Marathon in New York. Flanagan will run in Boston next year in a fourth attempt to win her hometown race. The four-time Olympian and reigning Chicago Marathon champion will be joined on the men’s side by Galen Rupp in a field of elite Americans announced Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, by race sponsor John Hancock. Olympians Desiree Linden, Dathan Ritzenhein, Abdi Abdirahman, Deena Kastor and Molly Huddle also are signed up for the 122nd edition of the world’s oldest annual marathon, which is being held April 16.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
BOSTON — Reigning New York City Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan will run in Boston next year in a fourth attempt to win her hometown race.
The four-time Olympian and reigning Chicago Marathon champion will be joined on the men’s side by Galen Rupp in a field of elite Americans announced Monday by race sponsor John Hancock. Olympians Desiree Linden, Dathan Ritzenhein, Abdi Abdirahman, Deena Kastor and Molly Huddle also are signed up for the 122nd edition of the world’s oldest annual marathon, which is being held April 16.
Last month, Flanagan became the first American woman to win New York since 1977. No U.S. woman has won Boston since 1985. But last April, the Americans had their best finishes since then, grabbing two of the top four women’s spots and six of the top ten for men.