Posted: September 12, 2005

Athletics: Olympic Medalist Deena Kastor Eyeing U.S. Half-Marathon Record at Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run

PHILADELPHIA - (Sept. 10, 2005) - After winning the bronze medal at the Athens Olympic Marathon, only the second U.S. women's medal in Olympic Marathon history, Deena Kastor, 32, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. has her sights set on the 21-year-old U.S. half-marathon record (1:08:34) at the 28th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run on Sunday, Sept. 18. Joan Benoit, the 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist, set the national record at the '84 Philadelphia Distance Run.

Kastor's potentially record-setting tour will be spurred by a strong women's field featuring 26-year-old Margaret Atodonyang of Kenya, who holds the fastest half-marathon time (69:12) in this year's women's field.

Japan's Rie Ueno, 29, the back-to-back champion at the 2004-05 Kyoto City Half Marathon, should prove a threat in the women's field if her plan to set a personal best time in the low 68-minute range is realized.

Russian newcomer to the half-marathon Tatyana Chulakh, 24, has had success this summer winning her debut at America's Finest City Half Marathon. She then ran to victory at the Parkersburg Half Marathon.

American Laura O'Neill, 25, will make her half-marathon debut as she steps up in distance after a strong showing at the USA 10,000m Championships.

With the fastest half-marathon time in the men's field, Christopher Cheboiboch (60:33) would like to record one last victory before he returns to his home near the Rift Valley in Kenya to train for the ING New York City Marathon in November. In June, Cheboiboch overcame flu like symptoms to win the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon (2:09:17).

Fellow Kenyan John Korir arrives at the start line having already earned two victories in 2005 at the Lilac Bloomsday 12K and World's Best 10K.

Both the third and fourth place finishers from the 2005 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, Ethiopians Tekeste Kebede and Gudisa Shentema, join the men's field. Shentema, who won Bolder Boulder this past May, will make his half- marathon debut in Philadelphia.

This year, athletes from eight countries will compete for the largest prize purse offered in the event's 28-year history. At more than $62,000, the prize purse awards the top 10 elite men and women and includes course record bonuses, masters and first male and female Philadelphia resident prize money.

This year the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run welcomes more than 9,000 runners and walkers on Sept. 18. To learn more about the half-marathon and the prize purse, visit RunPhilly.com or call (800) 311-1255.

28th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run Elite Athlete Roster - As of Sept. 9, 2005

MEN
NAME / AGE / COUNTRY / BEST / FACT-COMMENT
Christopher Cheboiboch, 27, KEN, 60:33 1st 2005 Coca-Cola Zero RnR Marathon
Mohammed Amyn, 29, MAR, 62:30 5th 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Araya Haregot, 24, ETH, 63:02 1st 2005 Salt Lake City Marathon
Tekeste Kebede, 26, ETH, 62:59 3rd 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 
Gudisa Shentema, 25, ETH, Debut 4th 2005 P.F. Chang's RnR AZ Mara; 
1st Bolder Boulder 10K
Giday Amaha, 27, ETH, N/A 3rd 2005 Standard Charter Dubai Marathon
Luke Metto, 29, KEN, 61:18 4th 2004 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run; 
1st 2004 BAA Half Marathon
Michael Aish, 29, NZL, 63:59 9th 2005 Cardinal Invitational 10,000m
Abdelrahime Bouramdane, 27, MAR, 63:56 1st 2005 Marrakesh Marathon
Likhaya Dayile, 32, RSA, 64:13 N/A
Ernest Kimeli, 19, KEN, 64:20 4th 2005 Lilac Bloomsday 12K
Abdelhadi Habassa, 29, KEN, 61:20 1st 2002 Casablanca Marathon
Abderrahim Haji, 27, MAR, 61:28 1st 2004 Baltimore Half Marathon
John Itati, 31, KEN, 62:04 1st 2005 Broad Street 10 Mile Run
John Korir, 29, KEN, 61:00 1st 2005 World's Best 10K and Lilac Bloomsday 12K
Linus Maiyo, 22, KEN, Debut 1st 2005 Rift Valley Cross Country Championships
Samuel Ndereba, 28, KEN, 62:48 1st 2005 21K de Montreal; 7th 2005 Bix 7 Mile
Francis Bowen, 31, KEN, 31:11 1st 2005 Parkersburg Half Marathon
Reuben Chebii, 33, KEN, 60:59 2nd 2005 Park Forest 10 Mile

WOMEN
Deena Kastor, 32, USA/CA, 70:08 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist - 2:27:20; 
U.S. Marathon Record Holder - 2:21:16 
Rie Ueno, 29, JPN, 69:57 1st 2004-05 Kyoto City Half Marathon
Ichiyo Naganuma, 33, JPN, 72:57 1st 2003 Long Beach Half Marathon
Laura O'Neill, 25, USA/CT, Debut 6th 2005 USA National Championship 10,000m; 
5th 2004 SBLI Falmouth Road Race
Molly Austin, 25, USA/CO, 75:20 Two-time USA World Cross Country Team member 
Kathy Butler, 31, GBR, 71:24 12th 2004 Olympic 10,000m
Samia Akbar, N/A N/A, Debut N/A
Margaret Atodonyang, 26, KEN, 69:12 2nd 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Mara; 
2nd 2003 Rock 'n' Roll Half Mara 
Shitaye Gemechu, 24, ETH 70:46 1st 2004-05 P.F. Chang's RnR Arizona Mara
Tatyana Chulakh, 24, RUS 73:35 1st 2005 America's Finest City Half Mara and Parkersburg Half
Teresa Wanjiku, 31, KEN, 71:42 4th 2005 Indianapolis 500 Festival Half
Leah Malot, 33, KEN, 69:35 2nd 2004 & 1st 2003 JH Philadelphia Distance Run

Source: Susan Reid / Ian Monahan, Elite Racing, Inc.