FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kebede's Course Record and Thrilling Women's Finish Highlight
35th Running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Ethiopians Dominate the Podium with Sweep of Men's Race and Women's Victory
CHICAGO --Today's 35th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
witnessed historic performances by men's champion Tsegaye Kebede and
women's champion Atsede Baysa, both of Ethiopia, as an event record 37,455
participants crossed the finish line under cool conditions in Grant Park.
Kebede's time of 2:04:38 broke the previous course record by nearly a
minute, while Baysa's one-second margin of victory over Rita Jeptoo of
Kenya in the closest women's finish in race history.
"I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon's 35th year than by rewriting the record books," said Executive
Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Tsegaye took advantage of great racing
conditions and stiff competition to smash the course record, and Atsede and
Rita treated us to a spirited battle all the way to the finish tape. Their
performances set the pace for a wonderful day of marathon running in
Chicago, and it's my pleasure to congratulate all race finishers, and to
thank our volunteers, city partners, and sponsors who help make this event
possible."
With a start time temperature of 42 degrees and light winds, the lead men's
pack of 12 runners reached the halfway point in 1:02:54. At 25K, Kebede
forged to the lead and the race was on. Along with fellow Ethiopians
Tilahun Regassa and Feyisa Lilesa, they attacked the second half, putting
the course record in jeopardy. But Kebede was a man on a mission, and the
2010 Chicago runner-up advanced to the top of the podium in style, blazing
the last 13.1 miles in 1:01:44 en route to victory. Not only was Kebede's
win the first by an Ethiopian male in Chicago, but he was followed across
the line by Lilesa (2:04:38) and Regassa (2:05:27) for an Ethiopian sweep,
all three bettering the previous record of 2:05:37 set by Kenya's Moses
Mosop in 2011. Michigan native Dathan Ritzenhein was the top U.S. finisher
in ninth, establishing a more than two-minute personal best of 2:07:47 and
becoming the third fastest American of all time.
In the women's race, three-time defending champion Liliya Shobukhova's
reign came to an end as she was fourth in a race where the top four
finished under 2:23. Shobukhova ran in a pack of nine that covered the
first half in 1:11:15, before she fell five seconds behind the leaders at
30K. Also trailing was Ethiopia's Atsede Baysa, who then surged to catch
the pack by 35K. Over the final miles, it was a three-woman race between
Baysa and Kenyans Rita Jeptoo and Lucy Kabuu. Baysa and Jeptoo battled all
the way to the tape in the closest women's finish in race history. In the
end, only one second separated the two with Baysa edging Jeptoo, 2:22:03 to
2:22:04, both personal bests. Kabuu was third in 2:22:41. Oregon's Renee
Metivier Baillie, running her debut marathon, was the top American in
eighth with a 2:27:17.
In the wheelchair race, defending women's champion Tatyana McFadden of
Champaign, Ill., returned to the winner's circle with a powerful
performance, winning by more than six minutes in 1:49:52. In the men's
race, last year's fourth-place finisher, Canada's Josh Cassidy, moved up to
the top spot on the podium, besting Adam Bleakney of Champaign, Ill.,
1:32:58 to 1:34:23.
The fourth annual Nike Northside/Southside Challenge featured the area's
top high school cross country athletes competing in a unique race that
covers the final 2.62 miles of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon course.
In the boys' race, Pat McMahon of Carl Sandburg High School finished first
in 13:07. In the girls' race, Carly Krull, also of Carl Sandburg High
School, won in 15:18. In the team challenge, the Northside squad captured
the title over the Southside team.
About the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Celebrating 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 $219 million in economic
impact to its host city in 2011 according to a report by the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Regional Economics Applications Laboratory
(R.E.A.L.).
www.chicagomarathon.com
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