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Beach to Beacon’s women’s elite field of 15 features Edna Kiplagat, a two-time Boston Marathon winner who was named the 2024 Beach to Beacon winner after Faith Chepkoech was disqualified because she tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Also in the field is Sanford native Rachel Smith, who was fifth last year. Smith gave birth to her second child in April and said she does not expect to contend for the title in her first competitive race in 11 months. Then there’s Orono’s Ruth White who in her freshman season at the University of New Hampshire set the American junior (U20) 10,000-meter outdoor track record with a time of 32 minutes, 20.60. White will start with the elite women at 8 a.m.

We think these five women will be at the front, with a chance to win as the field approaches Fort Williams Park. Mary Keitany set the course record of 30:41 in 2017.

Edna Kiplagat, Kenya: She’s 44, but no one in the race has her pedigree, with two Boston Marathon wins, two World Championships titles, and victories at the London and New York City marathons. She has trained and lived in Boulder, Colorado, the last five years, and she clocked 32:17 at last year’s Beach to Beacon. “I see we have a strong field, but I trust in my training and my condition, so I have a hope to do my best and see how I do.”

Susanna Sullivan, United States: Sullivan was the top American a year ago when she finished fourth (elevated to third after Chepkoech’s suspension) with a time of 32:22. Sullivan, 35, primarily focuses on the marathon. She was seventh in Chicago last October and 10th in London in April. She also ran a sub-1:09 half marathon in January.

Izzy Batt Doyle, Australia: She represented Australia at the 2024 Olympics, placing ninth in the 5,000. The 10K distance on the roads is relatively new for Batt Doyle, 29, but she set an Australian record and has the best 2025 time in the field with her 30:44 in a Tokyo race in May. In February, she set another Aussie record of 1:07:17 for the half marathon.

Natosha Rogers, United States: A 34-year-old from Colorado, Rogers posted a personal-best 2:23:51 to place seventh at the Nagoya Women’s Marathon in March. She has run a 31:10 for 10,000 meters on the track. In July, Rogers finished seventh and was the top American at the Peachtree 10K (32:26).

Vibian Chepkirui, Kenya: Coming off a win at the Bix 7-mile race last weekend in Iowa, she has a sub-2:21 marathon PR. Chepkirui placed 13th at the 2024 Boston Marathon.