London Marathon organizers know how to treat their fans to a high-quality race.

Eight men in this year's elite field have run a marathon in under 2 hours, 5 minutes in their careers, including four under 2:04 and the current and former world record holders.

Fans in the United States should set their alarms and catch this race in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Here are the runners to watch at the front of the pack.

THE FAVORITES

Wilson Kipsang, Kenya (2:03:23 personal best): The former world record holder is on a three-marathon winning streak. His last loss was a fifth-place finish in London in 2013, before going on to a then-world record 2:03:23 time in Berlin later that year.

With rain in the London forecast this weekend, Kipsang is the favorite given the tactically-sound race he ran while winning the 2014 New York City Marathon. He has an eye picking up areas where his competitors may be faltering before injecting his winning surge into the race.

Kipsang also will be running London for the fourth time in his career, so experience is on his side. His previous finishes here: first in 2012 (2:04:44); fifth in 2013 (2:07:47) in 2013; first in 2014 (2:04:29).

Dennis Kimetto, Kenya (world record 2:02:57): This is Kimetto's first race since setting the world record in Berlin last September. There is no telling what kind of shape he may be in, though, after he withdrew from a half-marathon in Spain in February. However, it is hard to bet against the world record holder (his odds of winning are at 5-2, just behind 2-1 for Kipsang), especially because he won Tokyo and Chicago in 2013.

He's proven on the World Marathon Majors stage, but his is a mystery only Kimetto will have the answers to Sunday.

KENYAN CONTENDERS

Eliud Kipchoge (2:04:05): The 2014 Chicago Marathon champion has made a seamless transition from the track to the roads. He opened the 2015 campaign with a 1:00:50 half-marathon in February as part of his preparation for London, and his current fitness level just about matches his preparation for last April's Rotterdam Marathon, where he came away with a 2:05 victory.

All four of Kipchoge's marathons have been run in 2:05 or faster, which is pretty good for a guy who was the 5,000-meter world champion in 2003. This will be his first time facing Kimetto, but Kipchoge did finish second to Kipsang's record run in Berlin in 2013. Kipchoge could break up the clash of titans that has been hyped by race organizers.

Geoffrey Mutai (2:03:02): Mutai's personal best, set in Boston in 2011, was once the world's fastest time ever, but it was not recognized as a world record because of the point-to-point (net downhill) nature of the Boston course. Mutai entered last season unbeaten in a marathon since 2010, but he finished sixth in both London and New York in 2014.

Mutai's initial plan was to headline the 2015 Tokyo Marathon, but he backed out due to injury and was a late addition to the London field. Unless Mutai is in top form again, he might not hang with training partners Kimetto and Kipsang as long as he once did. Finally, Mutai's most recent win came in NYC, which is much different course than London's.

Emmanuel Mutai (2:03:13): Mutai has been the bridesmaid recently, finishing second to Kipsang and Kimetto's record runs, in London and Chicago in 2013, and at the 2011 IAAF World Championships. His odds to win Sunday are listed at 15-2, which is low for the second-fastest marathoner of all time (who also dipped below the previous record in Berlin last year). Mutai said earlier this week he would feel comfortable with a 61:45 split through the halfway point in London.

Sammy Kitwara (2:04:28): Kitwara is slowly but surely finding his stride in the marathon, dropping his personal best in each of the past three years. He was second to Kipchoge in Chicago last fall, and won the World's Best 10K in Puerto Rico in early March.

ETHIOPIAN CHALLENGER

Tsegaye Mekonnen, Ethiopia (2:04:32, world junior record): Mekonnen is only 19 years old, but already has a victory under his belt from his marathon debut in Dubai in 2013. He ran 2:04:32 there, and while many believe Dubai times don't always translate well to the WMM courses, he did crack last year's top five in London.

Mekonnen appears to be Ethiopia's best hope after Kenenisa Bekele withdrew from the race following an injury in Dubai.

PREDICTION

Kipsang can handle any type of race. With rain in the forecast, he can rely on the same tools that helped him win in the cold in New York City last fall and get another victory in London. A battle of finishing kicks between Kipsang and Kimetto in the last half-mile could be a treat for spectators.