Cherono to lead Boston Marathon line up

Edna Kiplagat, of Kenya, wins the women's division of the 121st Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Defending champion Lawrence Cherono and two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat will lead a stellar cast at the 2020 Boston Marathon set for April 20.

Cherono will face three other former Boston champions in 2017 world champion Geoffrey Kirui, two-time winner and world champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia as well as 2018 winner victor Yuki Kawauchi of Japan.

Other Kenyan entrants are Albert Korir, the runner-up in New York last year, Kenneth Kipkemoi, Philemon ‘Baby Police’ Rono, Benson Kipruto and Felix Kandie.

Uganda’s 2012 Olympic champion and 2013 world champion Stephen Kiprotich will make his Boston Marathon debut. Ethiopian Dejene Debela his first World Marathon Majors victory.

Jemal Yimer, the Ethiopian record-holder for the half marathon and winner of last week’s Houston Half Marathon, will make his marathon debut.

Ten men in the start list hold personal best times inside 2:07, and most having competed against each other in championship events, the race upfront should prove competitive on the challenging Boston course.

Kiplagat, the 2015 champion and Caroline Rotich will lead Kenyan contingent in the women’s event, a race that has 12 athletes with personal bests faster than 2:23 and five runners with sub-2:20 bests.

Magdalyne Masai and Caroline Chepkoech will make their Boston debuts. Masai won in Toronto last year while Kipkirui is the seventh-fastest woman in half marathon.

Four-time New York Marathon winner Mary Keitany has been invited to run in Boston, but she is currently sidelined with a back injury.