Posted: July 25, 2005

Athletics: Past Champions Korir, Ndereba Headline Quad-City Times Bix 7 Field

Korir Goes for a "Bix-Six"

DAVENPORT, Iowa - (July 22, 2005) - Officials from the Quad-City Times Bix 7 have announced the race's list of elite athlete commitments. That group is headlined by Catherine Ndereba and John Korir who will lead a deep and talented field of athletes from around the world in the race for Open titles and shiny, new automobiles. The 31st Quad-City Times Bix 7 is set for Saturday, July 30 beginning at 8:00am.

Catherine Ndereba (durr-AY-bah), who this past April became the first four-time women's champion in the history of the BAA Boston Marathon, will return looking for her fourth Bix women's title. For the first time in a major North American road race, she will be joined by sister Anastasia (third Bix start) and brother Samuel (second Bix start) in the same field.

In 2001, Ndereba was the last Boston champion to also win Bix in the same year. Only four others have climbed Brady Street after taming "Heartbreak Hill" in the same year: Kim Merritt (1976), Bill Rodgers (1980), Joan Benoit Samuelson (1983) and Olga Markova (1992).

On the men's side, defending champion Korir (core-EAR) will look to extend his dominance in the men's field with an unprecedented sixth Open Bix title. He has the most Open titles, male or female, in the history of the event. Next in his sights is Samuelson who with her master's title last year won her ninth overall Bix crown (four Open and five masters). Korir will likely be challenged by countryman Gilbert Okari who recently won the Peachtree 10K and Utica Boilermaker 15K.

The race will again have the same prize structure for the top 10 men's and women's finishers. Each winner will receive a 2005 automobile from Lujack's Northpark Auto Plaza of Davenport, the nation's largest independently owned auto mall featuring vehicles from 16 different manufacturers.

The prize structure for 2nd place through 10th is as follows: 2nd - $4000; 3rd - $2500; 4th - $1500; 5th - $1000; 6th - $900; 7th - $800; 8th - $700; 9th - $600; 10th - $500.

Race applications are available at various Quad City Area locations. Register online at the race's official website: Bix7.com.

Quad-City Times Bix 7 Elite Athletes as of July 21, 2005

WOMEN
Gladys Asiba - Kenya (Fifth Bix Start; runs a 32-minute 10K)
Sally Barsosio - Kenya (Second Bix; has five top 10 finishes this year)
Edna Kiplagat - Kenya (Second Bix, had a top 10 finish at recent Utica Boilermaker 15K)
Victoria Klimina - Russia (First Bix, won Crazy 8's 8K July 16 in Kingsport, TN)
Lyubov Kremleva - Russia (First Bix)
Asmae Leghzaoui - Morocco (First Bix; five road victories in 2005; sub-31-minute 10K PR)
Anastasia Ndereba - Kenya (Third Bix)
Catherine Ndereba - Kenya (Sixth Bix; won silver medal in marathon at 2004 Athens Olympics)
Nuta Olaru - Romania (First Bix; won Cherry Blossom 10 Mile earlier this year in Washington, DC)
Zinaida Semenova - Russia (First Bix)
Luminita Talpos - Romania (Third Bix; top 10 in previous visits including second in 2003)
Teresa Wanjiku - Kenya (Third Bix; has a sub-32-minute PR at 10K)

MEN
Kyle Baker - USA/MI (Second Bix; former Michigan State star)
Reuben Cheruiyot - Kenya (Third Bix; five top 10s so far this year)
Henry Kipchirchir - Kenya (First Bix; is 22 and stands an imposing 6'6")
David Kirui - Kenya (Second Bix; finished seventh in 2003)
Joseph Koech - Kenya (First Bix; has a sub 28-minute PR at 10K)
John Korir - Kenya (Seventh Bix; won Cherry Blossom 10 Mile this year)
Jason Lehmkuhle - USA/MN (First Bix; past All-American at Drake; on World Championship Marathon Team)
Andrew Letherby - Australia (Second Bix; has three top 10s this year)
Chris Lundstrom - USA/CA (First Bix; ran 20th at Boston this year)
Linus Maiyo - Kenya (Third Bix; finished second last two years; seven top 10s this year)
Ernest Meli Kemeli - Kenya (First Bix; at 19 is youngest elite in field; four top 10s this year)
Samuel Ndereba - Kenya (Second Bix; four top 10s this year)
Gilbert Okari - Kenya (Second Bix; won Peachtree 10K and Utica Boilermaker 15K this year)
Ryan Shay - USA/MI (Second Bix; current USA 15K Champion)
Jason Woolhouse - New Zealand (First Bix; former star at Oklahoma State)
Tibebu Yenew - Ethiopia (First Bix; won Crazy 8's 8K July 16 in Kingsport, TN)

Boston to Bix
The ten BAA Boston Marathon Champions who have run at Bix include:
MEN - Bill Rodgers*, Alberto Salazar, Greg Meyer, Geoff Smith and Rob de Castella
WOMEN - Kim Merritt*, Joan Benoit Samuelson*, Olga Markova*, Uta Pippig and Catherine Ndereba*
*Won both Boston and Bix same year.