FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wesley Korir Targets His Fifth Consecutive
Bank of America Chicago Marathon After Stunning Victory in Boston
CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced that Wesley
Korir, the newly crowned Boston Marathon champion, will return to run
Chicago's fall classic for the fifth consecutive year. Korir is the first
elite athlete announced for the 35th running of the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon on Sunday, October 7.
Korir, a native of Kenya who attended the University of Louisville in
Kentucky and still lives and trains there, was runner-up at the 2011 Bank
of America Chicago Marathon in a personal best 2:06:15. Even with his
world-class performance in Chicago, Korir was a relative underdog this
spring when he executed a perfect race plan in challenging conditions at
the Boston Marathon, rallying from nearly a minute behind the race leader
with five miles to go to win his first Major marathon in stunning fashion.
With two L.A. Marathon victories to his credit, Korir has a storied history
at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. After paying his own way into the
open field at the 2008 event, he started the race five minutes behind the
elite athletes, yet still managed to record the fourth-fastest time of the
day, catching and passing all but a few members of the elite field before
posting a finish time of 2:13:53. The following year, Korir was invited
back to Chicago as an official member of the elite field and placed sixth
overall in 2:10:38. In 2010, he improved once again to fourth place overall
in 2:08:44 before his break-through performance in 2011 that served as the
springboard to his defining win in Boston. After the biggest victory of his
career, Korir enters the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with his eye
on the top level of the podium.
"We're thrilled to welcome Wesley back to the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon for the fifth year in a row, no doubt with a little more fanfare
this year after his well-earned victory at the Boston Marathon," said
Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Wesley has proven that he's one
of the best marathon runners in the world, but I am far more impressed by
his humble nature and perseverance. He literally started his marathon
career with the masses and now he's at the pinnacle of the sport. He's a
true success story."
"The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is where I started my professional
career and I am honored to return to this year's race, especially after
winning the Boston Marathon," said Korir. "I love the city of Chicago. It's
close to Louisville and I always have a large group of friends who drive up
to cheer for me, which makes me feel at home along with the support from
the local fans and volunteers. I come to the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon this year full of confidence that no matter who is in the field,
they will have to beat me to win it."
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 35th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of
America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants, including a
world-class elite runner and wheelchair field, and an estimated 1.7 million
spectators. As a result of its national and international draw, each year,
the iconic race assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of
charitable causes while generating $170 million in economic impact to its
host city according to a report by the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign's Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.).
The 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in
Chicago's Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 7. In
advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at
McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 5, and Saturday,
October 6.
www.chicagomarathon.com
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