Record Field to Run B.A.A. Half Marathon Sunday

Top athletes to compete for $30,000 prize purse

BOSTON, MA -- This Sunday at 8:00 a.m., the B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, will once again take place on the streets of Boston's Fenway. The 13.1-mile course starts and finishes at Roberto Clemente Field along Park Drive, and includes an out-and-back route to Boston's Franklin Park Zoo.

The sixth annual event boasts a record field of 4,617 entrants. Of those entrants, 151 of them have completed all five B.A.A. Half Marathons to date.

The top 10 overall male and female finishers will be awarded prize money from a $30,000 purse, with $5,000 going to both the men's and women's winners. Among the favorites to contend for the top prize are defending men's champion Celedonio Rodriguez (Alamosa, CO) and women's course-record holder Marie Davenport (IRL / Guilford, CT). A deep elite field looks to challenge them, however, including Samuel Ndereba (KEN), Richard Kiplagat (KEN), and Peter Gilmore (San Mateo, CA) in the men's race and Josephine Deemay (TAN) in the women's race.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund are the presenting sponsors of the B.A.A. Half Marathon for the fourth consecutive year. Several hundred Dana-Farber Runners will be fundraising for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, and a limited number of entries still remain for those interested in joining the race against cancer.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.