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Champs back in Boston but top Americans are resting for Rio

In this Friday, April 15, 2016 photo, Neely Spence Gracey poses during a media availability prior to the 120th running of the Boston Marathon in Boston. Fifty years after Bobbi Gibb sneaked into the Boston Marathon wearing her brother's Bermuda shorts and a hoodie covering her long hair, the race celebrates a half-century of women who broke barriers and the finish-line tape. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) In this Friday, April 15, 2016 photo, Neely Spence Gracey poses during a media availability prior to the 120th running of the Boston Marathon in Boston. Fifty years after Bobbi Gibb sneaked into the Boston Marathon wearing her brother's Bermuda shorts and a hoodie covering her long hair, the race celebrates a half-century of women who broke barriers and the finish-line tape. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

By Associated Press April 18, 2016 1 min read

BOSTON (AP) – With the top American marathoners resting for the Rio Olympics, Neely Spence Gracey could be the best U.S. hope for a podium finish in Boston on Monday.

The 26-year-old Coloradan will be making her marathon debut.

But the marathon has always been a part of her life. Her father, Steve Spence, was a bronze medalist at the 1991 world championships. He finished 19th in Boston in 1989 and was the No. 2 American overall.

And Neely was born while her father was running Boston in 1990.

Defending champions Lelisa Desisa and Caroline Rotich will lead the field of more than 30,000 runners across the start in Hopkinton on Monday morning for the 26.2-mile trek to Boston’s Back Bay.

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