World-Class Athletes Gather In San Francisco for 99th Annual ING Bay to Breakers

Most Unique Footrace in the World Attracts World-Class Runners

Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO (May 12, 2010) –ING Bay to Breakers today announced 41 elite runners for its annual San Francisco footrace, including winner of last year’s ING Battle to the Breakers bonus Kenyan Sammy Kitwara who broke course and world-records by finishing in 33:31. He made race history in 2009 amid more than 62,000 participants, world-class athletes, weekend runners and enthusiasts of all ages.

“We are thrilled by the level of talent ING Bay to Breakers continues to attract each year and this year we have a group of elite athletes which are among the best in the world,” said Angela Fang, manager of the race. “The elite field in 2010 is as deep and as talented as any in the 99 year history of the event.  We anticipate a great race and a fantastic finish on the Great Highway.”

Elite Runner Highlights

• Sammy Kitwara from Kenya, defending ING Battle to the Breakers Champion from 2009, is 23 and has strung together two of the most dominant road racing seasons in recent memory. After a stellar 2009, Kitwara was 2nd in the 2010 Zayed Half-Marathon, 2nd 2010 World’s Best 10k, and 2nd 2010 Lisbon Half-Marathon.
• Coming in 2nd in last year’s ING Bay to Breakers 12K, Tilahun Regassa from Ethiopia won the 2010 Zayed Half-Marathon over Kitwara as well as a first place finish at the Crescent City Classic 10K.
• At 22, Lineth Chepkurui from Kenya has been dominant in 2010. She finished first at the 2010 Bloomsday and set a pending  world record for 12K in 38:10.
• Emily Chebet of Kenya is the newly crowned World Cross Country Champion – a race which is regularly referred to as the toughest on the planet.
• Scotty Bauhs, who grew up in Danville, CA, is the youngest American ever to run sub 4 mile and sub 28 10,000m. In 2010, the Chico State legend Bauhs finished 3rd in US XC Nationals and 7th in Mt. SCA Relays 5,000m and made yet another World Cross Country team for the United States.
• From Oakland, CA, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet became the fourth fastest American woman of all time in the marathon, finishing 2nd in the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon.  Magda is also a 2008 Olympian for the US in the marathon.

ING Bay to Breakers is a USA Track and Field certified 12K (7.46 miles). Starting at the base of the San Francisco Bay, the course rises steeply along the City’s famous Hayes Street Hill. Around the 2.5-mile mark runners climb an 11.15 percent grade between Fillmore and Steiner streets, bringing them to the highest point in the race, approximately 215 feet above sea level. The remainder of the course gradually flows alongside the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park and ends at the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

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