| Running USA wire 31, April 26, 2006 |
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Contact: Susan Reid (858) 450-6510 or Kim Dettwiller (615) 330-5656 2003 Champion - Jomo Kororia - Returns to Country Music Marathon™ NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (April 25, 2006) - The Country Music Marathon welcomes a familiar face this year as 2003 champion Jomo Kororia of Kenya returns for another attempt at the title on race day, Saturday, April 29. The seventh annual race features elite men's and women's fields vying for a prize purse that awards $17,500 or a 2006 Nissan automobile to the champion. Kororia's competition includes runners familiar to the musical marathon series. Entering with the fastest time in the field is countryman Philip Tarus, course record holder and champion of the 1998-99 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, Calif. Tarus, 31, posted a 2:08:33 in his repeat victory at the second musical marathon in '99. Right behind him is another Kenyan, David Kirui, 34, who won the 2004 Los Angeles Marathon and enters with a time of 2:08:53. A strong contingent of South Americans, who are known for their stamina on the hills, will challenge as will an up-and-coming trio of men from Ethiopia. Twenty-six-year-old Feyisa Tusse (Ethiopia) has a personal best of 2:14:12 and countryman Asnake Fekadu enters with a PR of 2:20:27. The elite women's field features veteran runners who have performed well at past Country Music Marathons. Russia's Tatiana Mironova, 36, finished third last year and enters the '06 race with a best of 2:32:28. Countrywoman Elena Orlova had a strong season in '05, finishing fifth here and winning the California International Marathon. She has a PR of 2:34:16. There are rising stars on the women's side as well, led by a pair of Ethiopians. Dire Tune, 21, is coming off a fourth place finish at the 2005 Los Angeles Marathon and teammate Dirbe Hunde, 22, won the '05 Dubai Marathon. Tune enters with a best of 2:30:48. Kenyan Anne Jelegat owns the fastest time in the women's field at 2:29:23. Country Music Marathon course records are 2:12:55 by Kenyan Luke Kibet in the first year of the men's race and 2:28:06 by Kyrgyzstan's Irina Bogacheva in the 2003 women's event. Race organizers are also offering a $10,000 bonus to the first male finishing under 2:11:00 and an additional $10,000 for breaking 2:10:00. The same applies to the first female finishing under 2:29:00 with the additional bonus awarded if 2:28:00 is broken. Following the elites will be nearly 24,000 participants running and walking along the scenic marathon and half-marathon courses lined with more than 50 live bands, 25 spirited high school cheerleading squads, thousands of volunteers and thousands of encouraging spectators. The courses start in Centennial Park on West End Avenue, runs thru Music Row, Belmont University and Bicentennial mall. Participants will pass the State Capitol Building and Shelby Park before finishing outside the Tennessee Titan's home, The Coliseum. For more information on the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, the country's third largest marathon and half-marathon combo event, visit CMMarathon.com or call Elite Racing at (800) 311-1255. Country Music Marathon Professional Athletes MEN WOMEN Return to top / Return to main page DevineSports.com Website: Inspiration, Motivation and Instruction DevineSports.com is now up and running. The comprehensive, multi-media website has information on training, nutrition, injuries, shoes and more. Columnists include: Devine ambassadors such as Olympians and marathon champions Alberto Salazar, Rob de Castella, Lorraine Moller, Ed Eyestone and Bill Rodgers will also be contributing articles and pearls of wisdom. 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Rod Dixon has a "Train for Success Series" article currently posted. Check it all out at: DevineSports.com Devine, a brand name synonymous with excellence in endurance sports, education and training, owns and operates The Los Angeles Marathon®, The New Las Vegas Marathon®, The Salt Lake City Marathon®, The Chicago Half Marathon® and other related properties. Contact: Bob Wischnia, Web Editor, Devine: The Endurance Sports Company, (512) 394-9492 or BWischnia@devinesports.com Return to top / Return to main page Big Sur International Marathon Elite Field Set for April 30 Race CARMEL, Calif. - (April 25, 2006) - It seems incredible that the fastest Big Sur International Marathon performance was run nineteen years ago. As race officials prepare for the Twenty-First Presentation, Brad Hawthorne's record time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 39 seconds set in 1987, is beginning to seem unbreakable. Year after year a top field takes aim at this milestone, but it has only been seriously challenged once in the 18 editions since it was established. A very talented elite field is set to confront the Big Sur International Marathon course on Sunday, April 30. Included in this group is a three-time Big Sur champion, a one-time champion and a capable group of first time Big Sur participants. Heading the list is 2005 winner and three-time BSIM champion Jonathon Ndambuki, who has run the second and fourth fastest Big Sur Marathons in its history. The Kenyan is joined by 2005 runner-up Ibrahim Limo, the only runner to win the event other than Ndambuki since 2002. A talented group of newcomers to the event have designs on dethroning Ndambuki. After the 2002 race, Ndambuki, whose marathon PR is 2:10, commented that the course record is unattainable running alone and without competition. Hopefully the 2006 field will push each other enough to challenge the course record. In addition to Ndambuki and Limo, others joining the field include: Conor Holt, originally from Ireland, and currently a track coach at Oregon State University, is a three-time Oklahoma Distance Runner of the Year and competed in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials; Charles Nyakundi, originally from Kenya, who has run 2:17 and was second in last year's Mexico City Marathon and Efrem Haiile and John Weru, also from Kenya, are also set to challenge the Big Sur course this year. The women's field is headed by two first timers at the event. Rosalva Bonilla, from Big Bear, Calif., is an Olympic Trials participant with a marathon PR of 2:40:09. Tammy Slusser of Pennsylvania has won several marathons in the Northeast. Although she has never won the Big Sur Marathon, Christine Kennedy posted the fourth fastest course time with her 2:46:30 set in 1993 and won last year's Masters title. Finally, Mary Coordt, who finished second in 2005, will return with the hope of improving her finish by one spot. If the weather cooperates, this fast group of women could challenge Svetlana Vasilyeva's course record of 2:41:34 set in 1996. The most beautiful marathon course in the world is also one of the most challenging and should provide a real test for this superb group of elite athletes. The champions will have survived a world-class course and a top field while pursuing the elusive course record. More information on this Sunday's Big Sur International Marathon can be found at: BSIM.org Contact: Franca Gargiulo, Director Media Relations, (415) 564-2600; franca.gargiulo@att.net Return to top / Return to main page World Marathon Majors Update LONDON, England - (April 23, 2006) - The second event in the inaugural World Marathon Majors (WMM) series took place in the English capital on Sunday with the running of the 26th Flora London Marathon and Felix Limo of Kenya and Deena Kastor of the United States earned the laurel wreaths, $105,000 and 25 WMM first place points. Kastor proved dominant in the cool, drizzly conditions and enjoyed a run to the finish in splendid isolation. The 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist powered away from Susan Chepkemei soon after the 25K mark and, thereafter, was never threatened en route to her 2:19:36 victory and U.S. record. Limo was not assured of the victory until a scant 20 meters from the finish line adjacent to Buckingham Palace. At 38K, Martin Lel, the defending champion, hit the front with a move that reduced the lead pack from seven to two: Lel and Limo. Over the final four kilometers, the pair engaged in a shoulder-to-shoulder battle that was not resolved until the latter's kick decided it with the finish line in sight. Limo's winning time was 2:06:39, two seconds up on Lel, and represented his third win in one of the "big five" marathons (also Berlin and Chicago). With two events in the World Marathon Majors Series completed, the overall grand prix standings are as follows: MEN WOMEN Announced in January 2006 and kicked-off by the 110th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17, the World Marathon Majors is a unique alliance between the world's five leading marathons - Boston, Flora London, real,-Berlin, LaSalle Bank Chicago and ING New York City - with a $1,000,000 prize split between the overall male and female grand prix winners. Competitors in the World Marathon Majors series accumulate
points in each of the five marathons in which they participate over
a two year period. They may contest as many races as they wish, but
only their four best count towards the standings. Although the series
functions on a two year rotation, the cycles overlap. Hence, the World
Marathon Majors cycles proceed as With two races now completed, the next WMM stop is real,-Berlin on Sunday, September 24. Significantly, Berlin will be the first race in the World Marathon Majors series providing runners from Boston and London the opportunity to accumulate further points. It was in Berlin in 2003 that Paul Tergat set the current world record of 2:04:55. Following real,-Berlin, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 22. The ING New York City Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, November 5, closes out the WWM year. Standings, breaking news and further information about the World Marathon Majors can be found at: WorldMarathonMajors.com Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Megan Ryan, Marketing & PR Manager, (763) 287-3888 x13 Registration Opens for Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon with Kick-Off Party MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - (April 26, 2006) - Registration opened for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon with a Kick-Off Party and one mile race in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday evening, April 25. "We are excited about our 25th Anniversary year and look forward to the next twenty-five years with the same passion for running," said Virginia Brophy Achman, Executive Director. "We have a great new partnership with Medtronic and are busy making plans to further "wow" our participants with extra perks. This year our participants will enjoy runner tracking, a jumbotron at the finish with live web streaming, enhanced course entertainment and a Brooks technical finisher shirt," continued Brophy Achman. Now in its eighth year, the Kick-Off has become as much a tradition as the marathon itself. For those who didn't make it or are from out of town, online registration begins at 12:01am, Wednesday, April 26 at MTCMarathon.org. "Last year, eighty-two percent our marathon
registration was completed online and the trend appears to be growing.
We offer the Kick-Off Party as a way to draw people out and mingle with
fellow runners," said Brophy Achman. The race usually fills in
a matter of weeks and the silver edition field of 10,500 is expected
to fill faster than ever. About the Medtronic Twin Cities
Marathon Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232 |