FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reigning World Marathon Majors Champion Irina Mikitenko Joins
2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Field
Addition of Several World Class Athletes Completes
Elite Field for Oct. 11 Race
CHICAGO, IL (September 15, 2009) -- The Bank of America Chicago Marathon
today announced its final roster of elite athletes headlined by reigning
World Marathon Majors women's champion Irina Mikitenko (GER). The female
competition also welcomes Japan's Mizuho Nasukawa, Russia's Liliya
Shobukhova and Romania's Adriana Pirtea. The men's field deepened with the
additions of Morocco's Abderrahim Goumri and Kenya's Vincent Kipruto.
Mikitenko arrives to Chicago having won the last three races in which she
has competed - all World Marathon Majors (London 2008, 2009 and Berlin
2008). Her dominance at the finish line earned her the 2007-08 World
Marathon Majors championship and has her poised atop the current
leaderboard. Her 2:19:19 personal best, set in Berlin last fall, is the
fastest time among any of the females competing in Chicago this fall.
Mikitenko's top competition is likely to come from 2004 Olympic bronze
medalist Deena Kastor (USA), who joined the field in June with her sights
on lowering the American record she set in 2006 (2:19:36).
"I am greatly looking forward to racing in the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon as it is one of the world's fastest courses, but my decision to
run there is also part of a larger professional goal,"said Mikitenko from
Germany. "My hope is to win each of the five World Marathon Majors and a
victory in Chicago would be the next big step toward that achievement."
"Irina has been the most consistent marathon champion over the last
two-and-a-half years with back-to-back victories in London and a 2008
Berlin win," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "It has been
amazing to watch her grow in athleticism, strength and tactical approach to
become the leading female in marathoning today. The combination of women
we've brought together will make for an exciting race."
The women's field is not a two-woman race, however. Shobukhova is a rising
star in the sport having posted a 2:24:24 in her debut performance, one
that earned her third place among a strong 2009 London Marathon field.
Pirtea is a contender as well with a solid Chicago history to her credit.
Returning for her third consecutive year in Chicago, Pirtea is hungry to
capture the victory that narrowly eluded her in 2007 when she took second
behind two-time champion Berhane Adere (ETH). Not to be forgotten,
returning champion Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) committed earlier this summer to
make an attempt at retaining her 2008 crown and at becoming only the eighth
woman in Chicago Marathon history to win the race more than once.
Kipruto, a 21-year-old from Kenya adds intrigue to the men's field having
captured the world's attention with a new course record (2:05:47) in his
2009 Paris Marathon victory, only his second marathon appearance. Goumri
will look to continue the Moroccan tradition in Chicago, mirroring the
talents and top finishes of Abdelkader el Mouaziz, Khalid Khannouchi and
Jaouad Gharib. As one of three men in the field with a sub-2:06 personal
record (2:05:30), Goumri will challenge Kipruto and 2008 Olympic gold
medalist Sammy Wanjiru, 22, who announced his intentions this summer to
post a new personal record improving on the 2:05:10 he set in London this
year.
Former Chicago champion Patrick Ivuti (2007) recently withdrew from
competition due to minor injury.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a history of producing some of the
world's fastest times including four previous world records and more than
15 national records. With its flat, sleek course design, exceptional
operational scheme and tradition of enthusiastic sports fans, the race is a
lightning rod for the world's greatest athletes. With the addition of
today's athletes the current field boasts two Olympic Marathon medals,
three Chicago Marathon championships, 10 World Marathon Major race
victories and one World Marathon Majors championship.
A complete roster of elite athletes for the October 11 Bank of America
Chicago Marathon follows:
WOMEN
Name Country Personal Best
Teyba Erkesso Ethiopia 2:24:18
Lidiya Grigoryeva Russia 2:25:10
Carol Jefferson United States Debut
Deena Kastor United States 2:19:36
Irina Mikitenko Germany 2:19:19
Tera Moody United States 2:33:54
Mizuho Nasukawa Japan 2:25:38
Adriana Pirtea Romania 2:28:52
Liliya Shobukhova Russia 2:24:24
Melissa White United States 2:37:53
MEN
Name Country Personal Best
Boaz Cheboiywo Kenya 2:21:40
Evans Cheruiyot Kenya 2:06:25
Abderrahim Goumri Morocco 2:05:30
Procopio Franco Hernandez Mexico 2:11:42
Vincent Kipruto Kenya 2:05:47
Wesley Korir Kenya 2:08:24
Benjamin Maiyo Kenya 2:07:09
Charles Munyeki Kenya Debut
Seth Pilkington United States Debut
Patrick Rizzo United States 2:17:05
Bret Schoolmeester United States Debut
Tadese Tola Ethiopia Debut
Sammy Wanjiru Kenya 2:05:10
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 32nd year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of
America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 runners including a world
class elite field and 1.5 million spectators. As a result of its national
and international draw, the iconic race assists in raising $10 million for
a variety of charitable causes while generating an estimated $143 million
economic impact to its host city. To extend that impact, the 2009 race has
invited all participants and fans to get involved through a first-ever
online fundraising campaign going on now through Oct. 9. By customizing a
shoeprint at www.chicagomarathon.com/footprint, visitors select one of 22
charities to receive a dollar donation from Bank of America. The charity
with the most submissions will also be granted an additional $10,000
donation in an announcement at the 27th Mile Post-Race Party on race day.
The 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in
Chicago's Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11. In advance
of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick
Place on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10. More information on
the race and how to get involved is available at the event Web site,
chicagomarathon.com.
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