Athletics: Elite Field Announced for Country Music Marathon

Columbian and Venezuelan Competitors in Olympic Qualifying Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (April 13, 2004) - An elite field of men from Columbia and Venezuela will be on the start line at the 2004 Country Music Marathon on Saturday, April 24, with the race designated as the Olympic Games qualifier for those two countries. In all, men and women from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Romania, Russia and Belarus will make up an impressive international field for the fifth anniversary of the event that runs through the streets of Nashville.

With an Olympic berth on the line for 11 runners, the return of 2003 champion Jomo Kororia of Kenya, and an exciting addition to the prize purse, the table is set for a fast race as the Country Music Marathon debuts its new flatter, faster course. The Columbian and Venezuelan men must meet either the Olympic "A" standard of 2:15 or the "B" standard of 2:18 to earn an opportunity to run the marathon at the Olympic Games on August 29, 2004 in Athens, Greece. On the new marathon route, three of the most strenuous sections of the course have been eliminated, knocking out five miles of hills.

For the first time, the entire field will be vying for the opportunity to drive away in a brand new 2004 Nissan Xterra. Both the men's and women's marathon champions will be presented with an Xterra, valued at $22,000 and offered by the Tennessee-based car manufacturer.

Kororia, 23, who won his debut marathon in 2:12:56 last year, will be challenged by countryman Luke Kibet, who makes his fourth appearance at the Country Music Marathon. Kibet, 29, was the inaugural Country Music Marathon champion in 2000, finished second in 2001 and third in 2003. He enters the 2004 race with a personal best 2:10:18. Also in the mix is Haron Toroitich, another Kenyan, who won the inaugural P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon last January. He owns a marathon best of 2:08:34.

In addition, Toroitich has the opportunity to earn an additional $25,000 bonus should he capture the Country Music Marathon title. The bonus is on the line for the men's and women's winners of the P.F. Chang's race, in the event they win another Elite Racing musical event in the 2004 calendar year (Country Music Marathon 04/24/04, Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 06/06/04 or Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 09/05/04).

Age and experience should be on the side of Carlos Grisales, 37, of Columbia and Ruben Maza, 36, of Venezuela as they lead the group of men seeking to meet the Olympic time standards. Grisales enters with a best of 2:11:17 while Maza has a 2:12:02. They are followed by Columbia's Alirio Carrasco (2:12:09), Juan Cardona (2:14:30) and Hugo Jimenez (2:15:24). Cardona and Jimenez are returning competitors, finishing fourth and ninth respectively, at the Country Music Marathon last year.

Headlining the women's elite field is Anuta Catuna of Romania. The runner-up at the 2004 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' roll Arizona Marathon, Catuna ran a 2:32:55 in that race. A seasoned veteran, she also lists a silver medal performance in the marathon at the 1995 World Championships, a victory at the '96 New York City Marathon and a bronze medal finish at the '98 Boston Marathon. Challenging her will be recent addition Elena Makalova of Belarus, who finished second in the 2002 Country Music Marathon.

The Country Music Marathon will be televised to a national audience Sat., May 1 at 12 noon CST on Fox Sports Net. A local broadcast will also be televised on Comcast Sports Southeast, on Sat., May 8th at 3 p.m. CST and again on Tues., May 11th at 7 p.m. CST.

Major sponsors of the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon include Reebok and Foot Locker.

Country Music Marathon Elite Field as of 04/08/04:

MEN
Name/Age/CTZ/PR/Quick Fact
Jomo Kororia, 23, KEN, 2:11:07, 1st '03 CMM, defending champion
Luke Kibet, 29, KEN, 2:10:18, 1st '00 CMM, 2nd '01 CMM, 3rd '03 CMM
Haron Toroitich, 26, KEN, 2:08:34, 1st '04 P.F. Chang's RNRAZ Marathon
Jae-Young Hyung, KOR, 2:10:37, 1st 1999 Dong-A Marathon
Peter Githuka, 35, KEN, 2:08:02, 15th '03 Chicago Marathon
Nephat Kinyanjui, 26, KEN, Debut, 10-mile PR 48:01, 1st 03 Subaru Buffalo 4M
Eric Quiros, 29, CRC, Debut, Half PR 1:04:02, San Jose Int'l Half Champion
Hugo Jiminez, 28, COL, 2:15:24, 9th '03 CMM'03 Miami Tropical Marathon
Abraham Assefa, 32, ETH, 2:13:16, 3rd '02 Hartford Marathon
Octavio Dos Santos, 30, BRA, 2:12:24, 2nd '03 Miami Tropical Marathon
William Gomes de Amorim, 28, BRA, 2:14:42, 1st '04 Miami Tropical Marathon
Alex Januario de Medonca, 29, BRA, 2:14:46, 3rd '04 Miami Tropical Marathon
Carlos Grisales, 37, COL, 2:11:17, 9th '01 Medellin Half-Marathon
Alirio Carrasco, 28, COL, 2:12:09, 11th '03 Chicago Marathon
Juan Cardona, 29, COL, 2:14:30, 4th '03 CMM
Hugo Jimenez, 29, COL, 2:15:24, 9th '03 CMM
Diego Colorado, 30, COL, 2:16:45, 3rd '03 Pan Am Games Marathon
Julian Berrio, 28, COL, 2:19:05(alt), 2nd '04 Columbian XC Trials
Juan Jaramillo, 32, COL, 2:22:23(alt), 4th '04 Cafi-Cafi 12K
Ruben Maza, 36, VEN, 2:12:02, 1st Margarita Half-Marathon (63:00 PR)
Alejandro Semprun, 31, VEN, 2:12:56, 2nd '02 Venezuelan Nat'l Champs 10,000
Pedro Mora, 26, VEN, Debut/63:37, 1st '04 Gatorade 10K
Constantino Leon, 30, VEN, Debut/64:18, 3rd '03 Carrera de San Pablo
David Mutua, 26, KEN, 2:12:11, 6th '03 Suzuki RNRM
Nicolus Muindi, 21, KEN, 2:15:59, 5th '03 Dubai Marathon

WOMEN
Anuta Catuna, 35, ROM, 2:27:34, 2nd 04 P.F. Chang's RNRAZ Marathon
Gladys Asiba, 26, KEN, 2:37:47
Iglandini Gonzalez, 38, COL, 2:35:19, 4th 03 Pan Am Games Marathon
Irina Permitina, 36, RUS, 2:33:19, 5th 03 Grandma's Marathon
Elena Makalova, 35, BLR, 2:29:12, 1st 02 Bermuda Marathon (CR), 2nd 02 CMM