5 Sub-2:06/10 Sub-2:07 Guys Will Compete At 2012 Bank of American Chicago Marathon
Women's Field Features 2 Sub-2:20 Performers and 8 Sub-2:25 Runners
*MBoard Discussion About The 2012 Chicago Marathon Field
Press Release courtesy of Chicago Marathon with additional info added by LetsRun.com
Septmber 12, 2012
CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced its full
elite athlete field for the event's 35th running on October 7.
Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede tops a stacked roster of athletes hungry for a
breakthrough performance on Chicago's international stage, while the
women's field welcomes, among others, Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia,
coming off a fourth-place finish in the 10,000-meter race at the London
Olympics. These athletes join previously announced 2012 Boston Marathon
champion and Chicago runner-up Wesley Korir of Kenya, three-time U.S.
Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, and three-time defending champion Liliya
Shobukhova of Russia.
"The men's field is the deepest we've ever had in Chicago, and I think
it will take a career performance to win on October 7," said Carey
Pinkowski, executive race director of the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon. "In the women's field, with the addition of Werknesh Kidane,
you are looking at some of the most talented athletes on the planet,
each of whom will be trying to figure out a way to beat Liliya
Shobukhova on what has become her home course. These are going to be
magnificent races to help celebrate the Chicago Marathon's 35th
anniversary."
Kebede returns to Chicago after a memorable duel against the late Sammy
Wanjiru at the 2010 race. During the Olympic champion's brief but
spectacular period of dominance in the sport, Kebede, the 2008 Olympic
bronze medalist, was Wanjiru's most famous opponent, with the 2010
Chicago Marathon being the pinnacle of their rivalry. He'll be joined by
countrymen Feyisa Lilesa, the 2011 World Championship bronze medalist;
2:05 performers Dadi Yami and Shami Dawit; 2012 Paris Marathon runner-up
Raji Assefa; and Tilahun Regassa in his highly anticipated debut.
Kenya's Levy Matebo is the fastest entrant in the field, with a 2:05:16
performance at the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon. He'll challenge fellow
Kenyan Wesley Korir, who came from behind to steal victory away from him
at the 2012 Boston Marathon. The Kenyan contingent also includes 2012
Tokyo Marathon champion Michael Kipyego, 2011 Chicago Marathon runner-up
Bernard Kipyego, 2011 Amsterdam Marathon runner-up Laban Korir, 2012
Lake Biwa Marathon champion Samuel Ndungu, and Sammy Kitwara, the
fifth-fastest half marathon performer of all time.
A strong group of Japanese men is led by Takashi Horiguchi, who cracked
the top 10 in Chicago last fall and ran a personal best of 2:09:16 at
the Lake Biwa Marathon in February.
Kidane owns history's eighth-fastest 10,000-meter performance, and, like
former track stars Shobukhova and Ejegayehu Dibaba, she'll look to
Chicago's flat and fast course to capitalize on her superior track
speed. She's joined by fellow Ethiopians Atsede Baysa, the 2010 Chicago
Marathon runner-up and two-time Paris Marathon champion, and Belainesh
Gebre, the fourth-place Chicago finisher last year.
In addition to 2:19 performer Lucy Kabuu, the Kenyan women will be
represented by former Boston Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo and Caroline
Rotich.
Shobukhova will be joined by Russian teammate Maria Konovalova, the third-place finisher from the 2010 Chicago Marathon.
Smyth, Grabow and Metivier Baille highlight U.S. contingent
Along with Ritzenhein, the top U.S. entrants include Notre Dame
University All-American and 2010 U.S. Half Marathon runner-up Patrick
Smyth; California's Jimmy Grabow, who ran 2:12:35 in his debut at the
U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January; 2:13 athletes Jeffrey Eggleston
of Arizona and Patrick Rizzo, a Chicago native; and Oregon's Craig
Leon.
Recent U.S. 20K champion and 11-time NCAA All-American Renee Metivier
Baille of Oregon headlines the U.S. women in her marathon debut. She's
joined by fellow debutant Stephanie Pezzullo, and U.S. Olympic Trials
Marathon qualifiers Deanna Ardrey and Addie Bracy.
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2012 Bank of American Elite Chicago Field |
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About the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Celebrating its 35th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the
Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants,
including a world-class elite runner and wheelchair field, and an
estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and
international draw, each year, the iconic race assists in raising
millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating
$219 million in economic impact to its host city in 2011 according to a
report by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Regional
Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2012 Bank of America
Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago's Grant Park beginning
at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 7. In advance of the race, a two-day
Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention
Center on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6.
For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom.
*MBoard Discussion About The 2012 Chicago Marathon Field
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