Posted: October 3, 2006

Athletics: Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose Elite Athletes Announced

SAN JOSE, Calif., (Oct. 3, 2006) - Following the announcement last week that 2004 American Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi, 31, will compete at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, Calif. on Sun., Oct. 8, 2006, Elite Racing, Inc. released the men's and women's elite athlete fields today. On the men's side, challenges to the top American, Keflezighi, will come from a strong Kenyan representation lead by Reuben Chebii, 24, who holds the fastest half marathon time in the men's field (60:59). Fellow Kenyans Charles Kiama, 20, Luke Kipkosgei, 30 and William Chebon, 23, join Chebii. Kiama recently finished fourth at San Jose's sister race, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. Jen Rhines, 32, who was third at the 2004 U.S. Olympic marathon trials, leads U.S. chances for victory in the women's field. Rhines will face Edna Kiplagat, 26, from Kenya, who recently won the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach (71:08), and finished second at the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run (70:12). From Europe, Russian Silvia Skvortsova, 31, and Romanian Nuta Olaru, 36, both hold impressive half marathon times of 69:37 and 69:00 respectively. In April, Skvortsova finished second at the 2006 Nagano Marathon in a time of 2:29:28. Olaru is no stranger to the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. She has competed four times in Virginia Beach since 2002 and was victorious in 2004 (70:50). Oakland, Calif. resident Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, 32, joins the women's elite field. Lewy-Bouley was fifth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials where she set a personal best time in the marathon of 2:30:50. For more information about the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose go to www.RnRsj.co or call 800.311.1255. 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Elite List Follows 2006 Men's Elite Open Field NAME, AGE, COUNTRY, BEST, FACT/COMMENT Meb Keflezighi, 31, USA - CA, 61:28, 2nd 2006 New York City Half Marathon, 2004 Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist Charles Kiama, 20, KEN, 61:34, 4th 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach, 3rd 2006 Bolder Boulder Luke Kipkosgei, 30, KEN, 62:01, 7th 2006 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run William Chebon, 23, KEN, 61:51, 4th 2006 World's Best 10K, 4th 2006 Falmouth Road Race Davis Kabiru, 23, KEN, Debut, N/A Tobias Hiskia, 29, NAM, Debut, 10th 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Miguel Nuci, 26, USA - CA, 66:57, 3rd 2005 California International Marathon Kipkoech Ruto, 27, KEN, 64:59, 17th 2006 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run Joseph Chirlee, 25, KEN, 62:18 9th 2006 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run Mamo Eshetu Gezhagne, 24, ETH, Debut, 4th Jan Meda Ethiopian Cross Country Trials Carlos Carballo, 24, USA - CA, 66:42, 1st American 2006 Los Angeles Marathon Peter Julian, 35, USA - CO, Debut, 5th 2006 USA 10-Mile National Championship Reuben Chebii, 24, KEN, 60:59, 6th 2006 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, 3rd 2006 Cherry Blossom 10K Josh Glaab, 23, USA - CO, 67:11, N/A Wilson Chebet, 21, KEN, 62:19, 1st America's Finest City Half Marathon, 5th 2006 RnR Half Marathon Virginia Beach Jaques Sallberg, 32, USA - CA, Debut, 3rd 2006 Mt. SAC 3,000m 2006 Women's Elite Open Field NAME, AGE, COUNTRY, BEST, FACT/COMMENT Edna Kiplagat, 26, KEN, 70:12, 1st 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, 2nd 2005 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run Jen Rhines, 32, USA/PA, 71:45, 3rd 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, 32, USA/CA, 73:11, 5th 2004 US Olympic Marathon Trials Takami Ominami, 30, JPN, 70:21, 1st 2002 Rotterdam, 1st 2003 Nagoya Ladies Marathon Kayoko Obata, 34, JPN, 71:05, 2nd 2006 Osaka Marathon Nuta Olaru, 36, ROM, 69:00, 4th 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach Silvia Skvortsova, 31, RUS, 69:37, 2nd 2006 Nagano Marathon, 1st 2005 Rome Marathon Yimenashu Taye, 27, ETH, Debut, 3rd 2005 Ethiopian National Championships 1500 Anne Jelegat, 37, KEN, 68:58, 2nd 2006 Country Music Marathon, 3rd 2005 Dublin Marathon Magdalene Makunzi, 23, KEN, 71:30, 1st 2006 Monterray (Mexico) Half Marathon Mercy Cheburet, 21, KEN, 73:06, N/A

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