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CHICAGO – (September 12, 2012) – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has announced its full professional athlete field for the event’s 35th running on Sunday, 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 10,000m 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.
Along with Ritzenhein,
the top U.S. entrants include Notre Dame University All-American and
2010 USA Half Marathon runner-up Patrick Smyth; California’s Jimmy Grabow, who ran 2:12:35 in his debut at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in January; 2:13 athletes Jeffrey Eggleston of Arizona and Patrick Rizzo, a Chicago native, and Oregon’s Craig Leon.
Recent USA 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 Marathon Trials qualifiers Deanna Ardrey and Addie Bracy.
To view the complete 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon pro athlete roster, go to: www.chicagomarathon.com/2012eliteathletes
About the 2012 Bank of America Chica
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