Deriba Merga to lead strong Ethiopian team for Chicago Marathon
Deriba Merga and Tsegaye Kebede will lead a strong Ethiopian team for the 33rd edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which will be held here on October 16, 2010.
Sammy Wanjiru KEN 2:05:10
Vincent Kipruto KEN 2:05:13
Tsegaye Kebede ETH 2:05:18
Feyisa Lilesa ETH 2:05:23
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot KEN 2:05:52
Deriba Merga ETH 2:06:38
Negari Terfa ETH 2:07:41
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I hope Deriba is there on the 10th, because the race will be long over on the 16th.
Who knows what to expect from Merga. He had the string of bad races and DNF's until he finally smashes Tadese and sets a CR at a half marathon. I bet they are all going to be running WR pace for over halfway of the race.
Do you guys see this race finishing like Boston this past year (complete ownage), London (close race slowly trickling down to one person w/ lots of people dropping out), or Berlin (close sprint to the finish)?
I'd love to know if these two guys were planning on doing Chicago all along or are they replacements for Hall.
It would seemingly be impossible for an American to just be training and then hop in a major a few weeks later but Merg and Lelisa are superstars.
2:05:23 as a 20-year old for Lelisa. That's sick.
I think it is safe to say Kebede is leading the strong Ethiopian team, not Merga.
2:05 is great at any age, but come on, what are the chances he's actually 20?
The bigger question is whether Merga wanted to do a fall marathon all along but couldn't get the appearance fee he thought he deserved. With Hall gone, maybe they had enough money to meet his demands.
Michael Scott wrote:
The bigger question is whether Merga wanted to do a fall marathon all along but couldn't get the appearance fee he thought he deserved. With Hall gone, maybe they had enough money to meet his demands.
Wow! Thanks for figuring that out for us! You"re smart!
If i was Kabede,Wanjiru and co. i would be very afraid of Merga.When the guy is in top form he is a beast.I suspect he has been preparing for a fall marathon for a long time and will be hot in chicago.
Merga is a funny dude. hope he does well
This race is going to be INSANE!!!!!
awesome
hall, please run
To be honest, I'd rather see Merga than Hall. Merga brings it, even if it means blowing up. That's a pretty sick field that Chicago has put up. Those PRs aren't times from long ago either.
Deriba n Wanjiru can make a very exciting race,sweet to watch. Them they run from the gun,thats what makes it exciting.
That field is awesome,with these young guys
@ Isack Macharia which fall marathon are you running? By the way i hope you training mate Sammy Wanjiru is ready for chicago.
Chicago weather might be as high as 70 degrees. Don't bet on a 2:04.
psshhhh 70s is nothing for Wanjiru and Co!
I just hope his injury is gone so he can race like a mad man, as he usually does
Probably here to take revenge on Kebede for stealing his bronze medal.