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Twelve Previous Marathon Champions Highlight Elite Athlete Field
San Diego, CA (May 26, 2008) – An international field of elite athletes will take to San Diego’s streets for the 11th Annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday, June 1, 2008. The men’s elite division will be lead by the reigning 2007 Chicago Marathon champion Patrick Ivuti of Kenya. Ivuti joins an exciting men's field that includes defending San Diego champion Daniel Yego of Kenya and Olympian Michael Aish of New Zealand.
“We’re delighted to have an athlete of Patrick’s caliber come to San Diego,” said Matt Turnbull, Athlete Coordinator for Elite Racing. “Obviously we were sympathetic that he wasn’t able to compete in Boston, but he was in fantastic shape leading up to that race and we know that he will create an exciting competition on June 1st.”
Romanian Nuta Olaru, coming off a top ten finish at the Boston Marathon, leads the women's field, which is looking to crown a new San Diego champion. The runners will compete for a total prize purse of over $170,000 with the winner in each division taking home $35,000.
“I am delighted to come back to San Diego to defend my Rock 'n Roll marathon title,” said defending men's champion Daniel Yego. “I ran 2:09.04 last year and hope to go much faster this year. As the organizers have put together a very strong line-up, my training has gone well and I think the course record will be in danger.”
Ivuti, 29, is considered one of top marathoners in the world. He would have been a contender for the Kenyan Olympic team had it not been for the bout with Malaria. Ivuti has a marathon best of 2:07:46 which he attained at the Rome Marathon in 2005. Ivuti’s main rivals will be fellow Kenyans. Among them is Yego, who has the advantage of knowing the course.
“I was in good shape and prepared for the Boston Marathon very well,” said Ivuti. “Unfortunately, few days before my flight I started to feel sick, and after a check up I found out I had malaria. I was very surprised at how fast I recovered and after a positive test at the Berlin 25K I have been cleared to run another marathon. I’m thankful for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon to have given me this opportunity and I’ll do my best not disappoint the race fans in San Diego.”
With ten men's runners entered who have run 2:12 or better, the 2008 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon should be competitive and compelling. The complete list of male and female athletes set to compete as of today is as follows:
Men’s Division
ATHLETE / CTZ / PR / COMMENT
Joshua Chelang (Ken) 2:07:03, Won Two Marathons in 2007 Seoul and Rotterdam
Patrick Ivuti (Ken), 2.07.46, Winner of the 2007 Chicago Marathon
Daniel Yego (Ken), 2:08:16, Defending Champion Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego
Ben Kimondiu (Ken), 2:08:52, 2001 Chicago Marathon Champion
Elias Kemboi (Ken), 2:09:36, 2007 Rome Marathon Champion
Lawrence Saina, (Ken) 2:09:52, 2006 Oporto Marathon Champion
Leonard Maina (Ken), 2:10:30, 2007 and 2008 Tiberias Marathon Champion
Simon Wangai (Ken), 2:10:35, 2007 Country Music Marathon Champion
Hilary Kimaiyo (Ken), 2:11:14, 2007 Mexico City Marathon Champion
Joseph Chirlee (Ken), 2:12:00, Fell at the 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon finish line costing him 3rd place
Michael Aish (NZ), 2:13:21, 2008 PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Champion
John Gathoga (Ken), 2:14:57, 2007 California International Marathon Runner Up
Mark Batres (USA, CA), 2:19:07, Five-time Collegiate All-American
Luis Collazo (Puerto Rico), Debut, Trying to qualify for the Olympic Games
Edgar Chancusig (Ecuador), Debut, Trying to achieve Olympic standard
Pedro Mora (Venezula), Debut, Hoping to achieve Olympic qualifier
Vladimir Guerra (Ecuador), Debut, Hoping to run the Olympic qualifying standard
Women’s Division
ATHLETE / CTZ / PR / COMMENT
Nuta Olaru (Romania), 2:24:33, 2004 Chicago Marathon Runner Up
Gishu Mindaye (Eth), 2.28.30, 2006 Rotterdam Marathon Champion
Liliya Yadzhak (Rus), 2.29.22, 2005 Sevilla Marathon and 2004 Omsk Siberian Marathon Champion
Margaret Atodonyang (Ken), 2.29.31, Set PR in 2003 when finishing third at the Rotterdam Marathon
Jemima Sumgong (Ken), 2.29.41, Has garnered multiple distance running accolades
Yulia Gromova (Rus), 2.34.12, 2008 LA Marathon Runner Up
Rosemary Ryan (Ireland), 2.39.31, Has represented Ireland at Olympic Games & World Championships
Michele Suszek (USA), 2.45.16, Qualified to run in the trails at Boston 2008 finishing top 60
Salome Simotwo (Ken), Debut, Two-time Half marathon Champion
Oksana Meltsayeva (Ukraine), Debut, 10km and half marathon athlete, competes mostly in Europe
Breeda Dennehy Willis, (Ireland), Debut, Has garnered multiple distance running accolades
The final elite fields will be announced on Friday, May 30, 2008. For more information on the 2008 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, please visit www.rnrmarathon.com.
About Elite Racing Inc.
Based in San Diego, Calif., Elite Racing, Inc. is a division of Competitor Group, Inc., which includes the Muddy Buddy Series and endurance sports publishing leaders Competitor Magazine, Triathlete Magazine, VeloNews and Inside Triathlon. Elite Racing produces world-class road racing events for runners and walkers throughout the United States. Its signature Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series began in 1998 with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. Over the past 10 years, the sports marketing and management company has grown to manage a total of seven marathons and half marathons including the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, the Country Music Marathon and ˝ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ˝ Marathon in San Antonio, Tex., the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathons in Virginia Beach, Va. and San Jose, Calif., and the ING Philadelphia Distance Run. Events feature live bands on entertainment stages and cheerleaders at every mile along the course and attract between 13,000 and 37,000 registered participants.
In addition, Elite Racing also produces the Carlsbad 5000. Known as the “world’s fastest 5K,” the Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world best times at the 3.1-mile distance and welcomes over 10,000 runners and walkers to the streets of Carlsbad, Calif. annually. For more information about Elite Racing’s events visit www.eliteracing.com.
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