Ryan Hall- A Boston Marathon Champion?

April 20, 12:37 AMSt. Louis Running Fitness ExaminerDarrell Lewis

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Ryan Hall talks to the media of April 17, 2009 in Boston

We are now just a few hours away from the Boston Marathon.  Ryan Hall, with a personal best of 2:06:16, will begin his quest to try to become the first American winner of the Boston Marathon since Greg Meyer won in 1983.  Hall was barely a year old the last time an American won the race. 

In an article listed on the Universal Sports website Meyer was quoted as saying, "I have a gut feeling that this could be the year!...Ryan Hall runs the hills great, is not afraid of going up front, and if the humidity is low, I think he can win.  It won't be easy, but he has the talent and approach to racing that will put him in a position to win."

Hall, who is only 26 years old, has a very good racing resume already.  He was the winner of the 2008 United State Olympic Trials Marathon.  Later he finished 10th in a hot and humid Olympic Marathon with a time of 2:12:33.  Hall set the American Record in the half-marathon with a time of 59:43.  He is the first and only American to break the one hour barrier for the half-marathon distance.

LetsRun.com, a very popular running information website, has given Hall 7-2 odds of winning the event.  Boston is known for not treating first-timers very well.  Regardless of what history tells us Ryan has a chance.  His coach, Terrence Mahon, is quoted in a USA Today article as saying, "He's the strongest he's ever been."  If that is true then he is a real threat because Hall already holds the fastest personal best for the marathon out of all the competitors entered into the race.

 For more info: You can watch Hall's race live by going to the Universal Sports website.