Atlanta Track Club Announces Elite Field for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race

Atlanta, July 1, 2009 – True to tradition, a world-class field will line up at the start for the 40^th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race on Saturday, July 4.  This year’s event also serves as the USA Men’s 10 km Championship and the 2009 Professional Road Running Organization’s (PRRO) Race of Champions.  The overall prize purse for the 2009 Peachtree totals $111,300, which includes $30,000 for the USA Men’s 10 km Championship.  In addition, two men and one woman competing in the 2009 Peachtree are eligible to receive a $35,000 PRRO bonus*.

“The addition of the USA Men’s 10 km Championship and the PRRO bonus have made the AJC Peachtree Road Race one of the most lucrative non-marathon road races of 2009,” stated Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club.  “With our strong elite field and the different races within the big event, the 40^th running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race is sure to be one of the most exciting yet.”      

The men’s field is one of the largest in the event’s history with close to 40 runners toeing the line.  Two runners to watch are Sammy Kitwara (KEN) and Ridouane Harroufi (MAR), both contenders for the $35,000 PRRO bonus.  Kitwara has won four consecutive road races including the World’s Best 10K (28:25), one of the PRRO qualifying circuit races, and his recent 10,000 m victory at the Kenyan Championships (27:44.46) was the fastest 10,000 m ever run on Kenyan soil.  Harroufi ran his 10 km personal best at the Azalea Trail Run 10 km (28:14) in March and successfully defended his title at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (45:45), another PRRO circuit event.

The men’s field also features newcomer Tadese Tola (ETH).  Tola has two 10 km runs in the top 100 fastest road performances this year, and he recently set a course record with his first place finish at the Healthy Kidney 10 km (27:48) on May 16. 

Top Americans competing for the title of USA Men’s 10 km Champion include Abdi Abdirahman, the reigning USA Men’s 10 km Champion and Anthony Famiglietti.  Abdirahman finished second in the 2007 AJC Peachtree Road Race (28:11) and Famiglietti ran a personal best at the Gate River Run 15 km (43:16) in March to become the reigning USA 15 km Champion.

On the women’s side, one runner to watch is Lineth Chepkurui (KEN).  Chepkurui’s 32:24 at the Crescent City Classic 10 km is the 22^nd fastest women’s performance this year.  She is also in contention for the $35,000 PRRO bonus after qualifying with wins at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile (53:32) and Lilac Bloomsday 12 km (38:37). 

The women’s field also features several top runners from last year returning to Peachtree including Amane Gobena (ETH), and Nadia Ejjafini (BRN).  Gobena came in fifth at last year’s event in 33:13, and her times at the 2009 Cooper River Bridge Run 10 km (32:25) and Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10 km (32:37) are among the 50 fastest women’s 10 km road performances this year.  Ejjafini, who placed 14^th in 2008 (34:30), has three 10 km finishes this year among the 70 fastest women’s times for 2009.  Also returning is Ogla Kimaiyo (KEN), last year’s sixth place finisher (33:30), as well as Neriah Asiba who came in seventh (33:31) in the 2008 Peachtree.

The masters men’s field looks strong with last year’s Peachtree Master’s Champion (31:24) and the current USA Masters 10 km Champion, Sean Wade (USA) returning for the 2009 event.  Also returning is Gideon Mutisya (KEN), the 2008 third place masters finisher (31:54).  Two notable contenders for the 2009 masters women’s field include Colleen De Reuck, US Masters Half Marathon Champion and second place masters finisher at the 2008 Peachtree (33:57), and Albina Gallyamova (RUS) who was the third place masters finisher (35:56) in the 2008 event.    

The 40^th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road race will take place on Saturday, July 4, 2009.  The race begins on Peachtree Road by Lenox Square and finishes on 10^th Street near Piedmont Park.

*If a PRRO eligible male and female runner both win the AJC Peachtree Road Race, the $35,000 will be divided in half between the two athletes.