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Chicago Marathon 2012 - Men's Field Bios
By Sharon Ekstrom
Jump to:
Wesley Korir |
Levi Matebo |
Tsegaye Kebede |
Feyisa Lilesa |
Dadi Yami
Shami Dawit/Abdullah Dawit Shami |
Bernard Kipyego |
Dathan Ritzenhein |
Sammy Kitwara
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Wesley Korir (Kenya)
PB: 2:06:15, 2011 Chicago Marathon
2012 Boston Marathon champion and two-time champion of the Los Angeles Marathon in 2009 and 2010, Wesley Korir of Kenya, will be returning to Chicago for the fifth time. Korir who has shown gradual improvements over the years, unlike his fellow countrymen explode into the marathon distance with incredibly fast times in their early 20s. Korir will be running his ninth career marathon. Once a 3000m and 5000m specialist, he debuted in the marathon at the 2008 Chicago Marathon where he finished 4th (2:13:53) and four years later will be seeking a victory at the 2012 Chicago Marathon.
Korir's early marathon career had a number of finishes in the 2:08-2:13 range that put him on elite rosters, but were not fast enough to make him an immediate standout. But his two victories of the Los Angeles Marathons (2009-2:08:24 and 2010-2:09:19) led to a personal best time of 2:06:15 and runner-up finish at the 2011 Chicago Marathon. Korir was on a roll when he started the 2012 season with a win of the 2012 Boston Marathon (2:12:40) in extremely warm temperatures.
Why? While Wesley Korir's name does not make the top 20 fastest Kenyan marathon finishes of all time, Korir is a skilled strategist who is capable of winning major marathons and possibly this Chicago race where he remains a veteran of the course.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Levi Matebo (Kenya)
PB: 2:05:16, 2011 Frankfurt Marathon
While Levi Matebo may not be a household name yet, this 22 year old Kenyan who began to compete in the marathon distance in 2010 is the fastest marathoner on the 2012 Chicago Marathon elite roster. While many other athletes have lengthy careers on the track, in cross country, or in shorter distances on the roads - Matebo enters the race relatively unknown. With only a handful of uninspiring 5000m track times prior to moving to the roads, he quickly transitioned to the marathon distance like many of the new generation of athletes focusing on 26.2 mile early in their careers.
Matebo won the 2010 Brussels Marathon (2:13:30) and returned to racing a month later with a 6th place at the 2010 LaRochelle Marathon (2:12:06). Matebo's training proved successful when he returned to the marathon distance in 2011 winning the Barcelona Marathon with a near five-minute PR in 2:07:31. Later that fall, he ran the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon - a race known for break-through performances from unknown African athletes. At Frankfurt, Matebo lopped another two minutes off his personal best and finished second in 2:05:16 - behind Wilson Kipsang's world record attempt. Matebo entered the 2012 Boston Marathon with high hopes to win his first major marathon. And despite the extremely warm temperatures on race day, he seemed to be on target after mile 22 of the race when he pulled away from fellow Kenyans; but he was unable to outkick Wesley Korir (who will be in the 2012 Chicago field) and ended up taking second in 2:13:06.
Why? Matebo remains a wild card. With so many young athletes hungry to make it big in the marathon and push for fast finishes, anything can happen, especially on a fast course like Chicago which has been known in the past for some extremely fast times.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Tsegaye Kebede (Kenya)
2:05:18, 2009 Fukuoka Marathon
Tsegaye Kebede may no longer be the fastest Ethiopian marathoner, he is the fastest from his nation in the field. This veteran of the distance with twelve career marathons to his name by the age of 25 will be returning to the Chicago Marathon for the first time since 2010 when his rivalry against the late Sammy Wanjiru was played out for the last time and Kebede took runner-up.
Kebede is still one to be reckoned with three 2:05 finishes and finishing in the top three in every marathon except one. While Kebede may still be best known for his 2008 Ethiopian Olympic Marathon performance - winning bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (2:10:00) while passing fellow countryman Deriba Merga on the track in the last hundred meters of the race. He failed to make the 2012 Ethiopian Olympic Men's Marathon Team. His accolades also include a bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2009 World Championships and victories of the 2008 & 2009 Fukuoka Marathons, 2008 Paris Marathon and 2010 London Marathon.
For 2010, Kebede returned to the London Marathon ready to battle a field of three of the fastest Kenyans at that time (Kibet, Kirui and Wanjiru). In top form, he dropped most of the field at mile 17, including Wanjiru, and ended the Kenyan streak becoming the second Ethiopian to win the esteemed event in a 2:05:19, one second off his personal best and nine seconds off the course record. At the 2010 Chicago Marathon, Kebede took on Wanjiru once again and in a nail-biting sprint to the finish Kebede could not break the defending champion and took second in 2:06:43.
Nonetheless, Kebede returned to the 2011 London Marathon and after putting in most of the initial surges; he was broken by three Kenyans - Emmanuel Mutai, Martin Lel and Patrick Makau. Kebede finished fifth (2:07:48). He later entered the 2011 New York City Marathon field which showcased three sub 2:05 marathoners and Kebede was not one of them. Kebede finished third.
Why? Kebede has consistently been a top performer in the past. While he did not make the team for the 2012 London Olympics, this runner has the mental wherewithal to beat the fastest men out there. Coupled with his aggressive race tactics, he will be a top contender in the 2012 field.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Feyisa Lilesa (Ethiopia)
PB: 2:05:23, 2011 Rotterdam Marathon
We promised at the Chicago Marathon in 2010 that Feyisa Lelisa would be one to watch. While he did not have the experience to take on such a deep field of marathoners at that time, Lelisa had built up his marathon resume with victories at worldwide and the 2009 Dublin Marathon (2:09:12) and the 2010 Xiamen Marathon (2:08:47) and a bronze from the 2011 World Championships in Daegu - 2:10:32.
This 22 year old Ethiopian saw his personal best at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon where he finished 2:05:23 (3rd place) which jettisoned him into the the 13th fastest marathoner of all-time at that time. Rotterdam was shortly after his 20th birthday, making Lelisa the youngest to have run sub-2:06. But times they are a changing...A little more than two years later, this personal best drops him to 39th on the all-time fastest marathoner list.
Lelisa returns to Chicago for the first time since 2010 when he took on the late Sammy Wanjiru and Tsegaye Kebede in his first World Marathon Majors race; but he couldn't hold the pace at the 24 mile mark and finished 3rd. Still not a bad effort going head-to-head against the two most aggressive marathoners in competition at that time.
In 2011 Lelisa was an unremarkable 7th at the 2011 Rotterdam Marathon (2:11:42), yet earned a bronze at the 2011 World Championships in the humid conditions of Daegu, S Korea (2:10:32). In 2012 following a win at the 2012 Houston Half Marathon, he was up against one of the deepest Kenyan fields as they were vying for Olympic berth at the 2012 London Marathon. Lilesa was unable to prove himself and finished in 10th place (2:08:20). While Lilesa has the talent to continue to develop in the distance, he still need a break through race or a major victory to keep him in the standings.
Why? Lilesa has been working hard to keep up with the top runners in the distance. Where the marathon world record holders have been strong half marathoners, Lilesa kicked off 2012 with three fast half marathons - winning the Houston Half Marathon in a course record and personal best of 59:22, finishing 5th at the highly competitive Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon (61:52) and taking 3rd at the New York City Half Marathon (60:45). When MarathonGuide.con caught up with Lilesa before the New York City Half, he was already looking forward to setting a personal best at his goal race - the 2012 London Marathon...perhaps he will have his day in Chicago.
Dadi Yami (Ethiopia)
PB: 2:05:41, 2012 Dubai Marathon
Little is known about Dadi Yami of Ethiopia. Which make him a wild card in the field along with compatriot and race rival Shami Dawit. What is known about Yami is his debut in the marathon at the 2011 Eindhoven Marathon where he finished 9th in 2:11:04. He saw quick improvements in the new year with a 6th place at the 2012 Dubai Marathon in 2:05:41 and runner-up at the 2012 Hamburg Marathon in 2:07:01.
Why? With faster marathon finishes in the world, we are seeing 2:05 as the elite roster headliners. And while there seem to be many one-hit-wonders in the distance, there will always be a few that will show consistency over the years.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Shami Dawit/Abdullah Dawit Shami (Ethiopia)
PB: 2:05:42, 2012 Dubai Marathon
Abdullah Dawitt Shami will be part of the Ethiopian contingent at the 2012 Chicago Marathon. While he is not the fastest in the field, his 2:05:41 from the 2012 Dubai Marathon (6th place finish) and his 2:05:58 victory of the 2012 Hamburg Marathon three months later show consistency. He will be meeting Dadi Yami in the field who beat him in Dubai and finished behind him in Frankfurt. This marathon specialist has had a stellar year as he went from being a 2:09 marathoner to a 2:05 finisher.
Why? With faster marathon finishes in the world, we are seeing 2:05 as the elite roster headliners. And while there seem to be many one-hit-wonders in the distance, there will always be a few that will show consistency over the years. Shami may prove to be that.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Bernard Kipyego (Kenya)
PB: 2:06:29, 2011 Chicago Marathon
There is no doubt that Bernard Kipyego of Kenya is one to watch in the 2012 Chicago Marathon field. While Kipyego's resume lacks a marathon victory and his personal best is far from the 2:05 standard that seems to highlight most elite fields today; he has been decorated with a bronze medal at the 2007 Cross Country 12.0km World Championships and a silver medal at the 2009 Half Marathon World Championships.
What makes Kipyego a exceptional standout is that he has run five sub-60 minute half marathons since 2009. And most recently finished 2nd at the 2011 Ras al Khaimah half-marathon behind Deriba Merga, another top half marathon specialist. The significance of this being that the last three marathon world record holders have all been masters at 13.1 - Paul Tergat, Haile Gebrselassie, Patrick Makau.
Kipyego with five marathons under his belt - 2010 Rotterdam (5th place), 2010 Berlin (6th place), 2011 Paris (2nd place), 2011 Chicago (3rd place), 2012 Boston Marathon (3rd place) - has room to make improvements to break out of the 2:07-2:08 realm. And at 26, his potential may just be realized at the 2012 Chicago Marathon.
Why? While Kipyego has not produced top half marathon performances in 2012 with two 61 minute half marathons, his 3rd place finishes at the 2011 Chicago race and the 2012 Boston Marathon (2:13:13) indicate that Kipyego remains competitive in top marathon fields. We may just see a breakout performance in Chicago.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
PB: 2:09:55, 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Trials
It has not been an easy journey for three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein who faced years of setbacks in the sport due to injury nearly eclipsing what was a career that once held promise of his being the next best American distance runner. This cross-country star got an early start into professional distance running when Ryan Hall was still trying to make a name for himself and Meb Keflezighi was a rising star. Ritzenhein was a 2004 Athens Olympian in the 10,000m; but a stress fracture to the third metatarsal in his left foot forced him to drop out during the event. The constant recurrence of the injury hampered his training over the years and compensation for the injury has further impeded his abilities; but Ritzenhein remained determined to compete.
In 2006, at his half-marathon debut at the Great North Run, Ritzenhein placed third in 61:25 beating out veteran runners, two-time World Champion Jauoad Gharib, 2004 Olympic marathon gold medalist Stefano Baldini and top Kenyan Rodgers Rop. In his marathon debut at the 2006 New York City Marathon, he finished eleventh in a 2:14:01; not bad, considering he lost to the likes of then world record holder Paul Tergat, Rodgers Rop, Stefano Baldini, and Hendrick Ramaala. His second career marathon was the 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic Trials in New York City where he ran a 2:11:07 on a tough criterium course earning him second place and a spot on the 2008 U.S. Beijing Olympic Marathon team. His third career marathon was the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he placed ninth overall and top American ahead of teammate Ryan Hall, who was incidentally the favored American in the field.
In 2009 Ritzenhein finished 2nd behind Meb Keflezighi at the US Half Marathon Championships (61:35) then headed to the London Marathon where he ran a personal best time of 2:10:00 (11th place). Ritzenhein changed gears and coaches and began training under running legend Alberto Salazar. He refocused his training, opted out of a fall marathon and returned to the track competing in the 5,000m and 10,000m distance worldwide. Ritzenhein next set an American record (12:56.27) in the 5,000m at the Weltklasse Golden League meet in Zurich before rounding out the year with a third place finish at the Great Birmingham Half Marathon in 60:00. He was ready to take his distance running to a new level.
At the start of 2010 Ritzenhein won the USA Men's Cross Country National Championships 12K. But soon he found himself sidelined with a stress fracture to the third toe of his right foot (the healthy foot that had been injury free through the years). Ritzenhein did not let up on training or the uncertainty if he was exacerbating the injury by continuing to train. Yet, as race day approached, Ritzenhein withdrew from a number of key races in the season citing a flareup in his foot. His high hopes of a sub 2:10 finish were dashed at the 2010 New York City Marathon finishing 12th in 2:12:33.
Ritzenhein's tough road to healthy running continued. And despite two surgeries, complications from an adverse reaction to the stitches and returning too early to training, Ritzenhein has still struggled. In what seemed promising to be a career saver…the 2012 Olympics approached and he worked to get back to his former shape to make the US team. Ritzenhein finished 4th after a noble effort and an incredible comeback, but could not catch Abdi Abdirahman to make the team. He finished in 2:09:55, eight seconds too late.
Why? It takes mental toughness to win marathons and overcoming these hard knocks in training have made Ritzenhein into a stronger runner. If he is able to race at 100%, his dreams in the distance are still possible. There are many veterans of the distance that back his abilities and there are stats to prove it. All Ritz needs is a good day out there and maybe he will finally have it at the 2012 Chicago Marathon where he will be the fastest American in the field.
photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run
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Sammy Kitwara (Kenya)
PB: 58:48, 2011 Philadelphia Half Marathon
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