Inaugural running draws top field and 4,000 runners for Sunday, September 19 event
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - (September 13, 2010) - Catherine Ndereba, considered the greatest women's marathoner of all-time, will headline the field of 4,000 runners on Sunday, September 19 at the inaugural Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon presented by Burke & Herbert Bank.
The USATF-sanctioned race on a 13.1-mile USATF-certified point-to-point course begins at the famous Mount Vernon Estate in Alexandria, Va., and travels over the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge into the resort of National Harbor in Maryland to end at the notable Awakening statue.
Ndereba, 38, earned marathon silver medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics. The graceful Kenyan affectionately known as "Catherine the Great" has won the Boston Marathon four times and broke the women's marathon world record in 2001, running 2:18:47 at the Chicago Marathon. In addition, Ndereba has also mined marathon gold at the 2003 and 2007 World Championships and a silver in 2005.
In 2008, Ndereba was described by veteran Chicago Tribune sportswriter Philip Hersh as the greatest women's marathoner of all-time.
Last year, when Ndereba placed seventh at the London Marathon, she equaled Katrin Dorre's record of 21 sub-2:30 marathons. Since her marathon debut in 1998 - finishing sixth at Boston in 2:28:27 - she has run three sub-2:20 marathons; only world record holder Paula Radcliffe has more (4).
She also has won the Philadelphia Distance Run half-marathon seven times, most recently in 2009.
She will sport bib #1 and will be on hand at the packet pickup at Pacers Running Store in Alexandria on Friday afternoon and at the Westin National Harbor on Saturday to sign autographs and discuss her storied running career.
"To have the best of the best of all-time coming to our race is simply unbelievable," said Steve Nearman, founder and event director of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. "It is truly an honor to have Catherine wear #1 at our race."
Ndereba trains in the Philadelphia suburb of Royersford but resides in Nairobi, Kenya, with her husband Anthony Maina and daughter Jane. Her brother Samuel Ndereba and sister Anastasia Ndereba also are accomplished marathon runners.
Other top runners expected at the inaugural running include:
MEN
* Fikadu Lemma Weyessa (ETH), half-marathon PR 1:02:00 in Paris 2009
* Tesfaye Sendeku Alemayhu (ETH), 1:02:50 PR in France 2008
* Yonus Negatu Woldsellassie (ETH), 1:03:10 PR in Ethiopia
* Isaac Birir (KEN), 1:03:19 PR in Paris 2009
* Bado Worku Merdessa (ETH), 1:03:45 PR, 2010 NYC Half
* Nicholas Kiprop Kurgat (KEN), 1:03:45 PR, 2009 Naples Half winner
* Michael Wardian (USA / VA), two-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier
WOMEN
* Aliyu Aziza (ETH), 1:11:07 PR, third at 2008 Philadelphia Distance Run
* Alemtsehay Misganaw (ETH), 1:12:48 PR, 2008 Philadelphia Distance Run
* Laura (Turner) O'Hara (USA / VA), 1:17:13 PR, 2007 Shamrock Virginia Beach
* Serkalem Abrha (ETH), 1:18:04, runner-up 2009 Pittsburgh Half Marathon
* Alisa Harvey (USA / VA), top Master (40+)
The prize purse totals more than $8000, and in support of U.S. distance running, nearly half the purse is U.S.-only money, starting with $800 for first American. The overall male and female winners will be awarded $1000.
For more information, visit WilsonBridgeHalf.com or call Steve Nearman at (703) 587-4321.
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