Negussie, Onsare head star-filled Boston field

There will be no shortage of stars bidding for the lead role in next month's big road show -- a.k.a. the 110th Boston Marathon.

Defending champion Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia highlights an impressive list of elite runners announced yesterday by principal sponsor John Hancock.

Negussie will again have runner-up Wilson Onsare of Kenya hot on his heels. Negussie finished last year's race in 2:04:32, while Onsare crossed the finish line in 2:05:04.

Two other past champions, Timothy Cherigat (2004) and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (2003), both of Kenya, also will be in the field for the April 17 race.

In addition, two of the fastest men in the world last year, Kenya's Benjamin Maiyo and Patrick Ivuti, will be in Hopkinton for the noon gun. Maiyo finished second in the Chicago and Los Angeles marathons in 2005, and Ivuti is a two-time World Cross-Country silver medalist.

Meb Keflezighi, who won a silver medal in the Athens Olympics, and Alan Culpepper, who finished fourth in Boston last year, highlight a strong American contingent.

The women's field is led by Olympian Elfenesh Alemu of Ethiopia, who has a pair of runner-up finishes on her Boston résumé. Among her stiffest competition will be Jelena Prokopcuka of Lativa and countrywomen Derartu Tulu. Prokopcuka won the New York and Osaka marathons in 2005. Tulu is a four-time Olympian, earning a pair of gold medals and a bronze in the 10,000 meters.