International athletics news round-up including details of Boston Marathon and NYRR Millrose Games entries

Top names for Boston

The elite fields for the 120th Boston Marathon, which will take place on April 18, have been announced.

The winners from 2015, Ethiopia s Lelisa Desisa and Kenya s Caroline Rotich, will return to defend their titles. Former men s champions Geoffrey Mutai (2011) and Wesley Korir (2012), both of Kenya, will also return to the race.

The 2016 race will offer a rematch between the top three from 2015, as Yemane Adhane Tsegay of Ethiopia and Wilson Chebet of Kenya join Desisa in the line-up. The 2014 Dubai Marathon champion Tsegaye Mekonnen has also been named in the field; he is also set to compete in Dubai in January. The 2015 Dubai Marathon champion, Hayle Lemi of Ethiopia, will also race in Boston.

Another marathon winner in 2015 in the line-up is Stephen Chebogut of Kenya, the Eindhoven Marathon champion. Dutch Abdi Nageeye leads the European challenge.

In the women s race, a group of very strong Ethiopians will challenge Rotich: Olympic marathon champion Tiki Gelana, 2014 Boston runner-up Buzunesh Deba, 2014 Berlin and Tokyo marathon champion Tirfi Tsegaye and top half marathoner Mamitu Daska. Kenya will also have other strong contenders, among them are the top two from the 2015 Amsterdam Marathon, Joyce Chepkirui and Flomena Cheyech. Another 2015 marathon champion in the field is Warsaw champion Fatuma Sado of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia s Tadelech Bekele is the fastest in the field, based on performances from last year; she ran 2:22:51 in Dubai. Neely Spence Gracey will be one of the favourite US athletes; she will make her debut here.

Drouin vs Kynard

The 109th NYRR Millrose Games on February 20 will have some interesting duels. The men’s high jump is set to feature world champion Derek Drouin and Olympic medalist Erik Kynard. The women’s 800m is set to see US top runners Ajee Wilson and Brenda Martinez compete against each other.

Collins vs Rodgers

The opening meet of IAAF World Indoor Tour in Karlsruhe on February 6 will have an interesting men’s 60m field with Kim Collins, Mike Rodgers and home sprinter Lucas Jakubczyk.

In the 32nd edition of the meet in the women’s 60m Dafne Schippers will meet with Dina Asher-Smith. Also already earlier announced was the duel in the pole vault between Renaud Lavillenie and Raphael Holzdeppe.

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