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Men's Race Writeup | Women's Race Writeup | Complete Results
On this page:
- Preview/Writeup
- Starter List
- Previous Runner Matchups
2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon - Men's Preview
by Sharon Ekstrom
Photo Credit: Victah Sailer/PhotoRun
Can Wesley Korir Continue His Strong 2012?
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The 2012 Chicago Marathon promises top notch performances in the men's elite field. The flat course boasts a history of two world records and some of the fastest finishes ever run on American soil. The men's field for 2012 will feature the return of top finishers from the 2010 and 2011 Chicago Marathons battling it out for the win; inclluding five men capable of finishes in the 2:05 range: Levy Matebo, Tsegaye Kebede, Feyisa Lilesa, Dadi Yami and Shami Dawit. With this field and good weather on race day, it's even possible that the course record of 2:05:37 set in 2011 by Moses Mosop (who will not be defending his title in 2012) could be broken.
Back in the Windy City -
Kebede, Lilesa, Kipyego, W. Korir
Returning to the Chicago Marathon field are top performers from 2010 and 2011, minus the defending champions - Moses Mosop (2011) who is running the 2012 New York City Marathon and the late Sammy Wanjiru (2010). These standouts with experience on the course include Tsegaye Kebede, Feyisa Lilesa, Wesley Korir and Bernard Kipyego.
The 2010 race was aruguably the most memorable ever as the late Sammy Wanjiru and Tsegaye Kebede ran step for step - competing for the win and an additional $500,000 World Marathon Majors bonus. in that that last few hundred meters of that race, Wanjiru surged ahead, then Kebede pulled ahead and the game continued as the victory came down to the man who had the strongest sprint finish. The winner was Wanjiru, which sadly was his last race before his tragic death in May 2011. Kebede was runner-up followed by Lilesa and Korir in third and fourth places respectively. Kebede, runner-up in 2010, is returning to Chicago after running two 2:07 finishes at the 2011 London and 2011 New York City Marathons. With twelve marathons under his belt and nearly all of them top three finishes, Kebede is one of the most experienced in the field, but he will need to be in 2:05 shape in order to remain competitive against 2011 World Championship Bronze medalist Lilesa (3rd in 2010), W. Korir (2nd in 2011), B. Kipyego (3rd in 2011) and some other fast upstarts in the field.
Wesley Korir, in his fifth appearance at the Chicago Marathon, deserves special notice. This two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion is a Kenyan who attended the University of Louisville (Kentucky) and still trains there. Korir made his marathon debut at the 2008 Chicago Marathon...as an unheralded entrant in the open field! He began the race five minutes after the elites set out, yet managed to pick up some elites and finished fourth overall in 2:13:53.
Korir has improved every year in Chicago dropping two minutes off each finish - 2:10:38 in 2009, 2:08:44 in 2010 and a personal best of 2:06:15 in 2011. Korir may not be the fastest in the field, but he is not afraid to fight for a win. In the first half of the 2011 race after some uneven pacing, he egged the pacers on which seemed a strange action for the man who was 9th fastest in the field. While the strategy seemed to work through the 25K mark and he successfully broke up the pack, Korir was overtaken by Moses Mosop soon after, but nevertheless he clocked an incredible personal best. Korir followed up his Chicago Marathon runner-up race by winning the 2012 Boston Marathon - proving he can always run tough. That the defending champion, Mosop, will not be returning may be good news for Korir, if his recent performances are indicative of his fitness levels, this 29 year old will be competitive once again.
Beating the Odds - Taking Chicago and Clocking Faster Times
In 1999 veteran marathoner Khalid Khannouchi set a world record at the Chicago Marathon with a 2:05:42 (his third time racing the Chicago Marathon). One decade later (2009) in his first run in Chicago, Sammy Wanjiru broke Khannouchi's course record with a 2:05:41. In 2011 Moses Mosop beat Wanjiru's record with a 2:05:37, also in his first run on the Chicago course.
So, what does this mean for fastest men in the field who are new to the Chicago course? Possibly good things given the success of newcomers to Chicago. In the field will be Levy Matebo (2:05:16 - runner-up behind a near world record by Wilson Kipsang at the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon); as well as 2012 Dubai Marathon rivals Dadi Yami (2:05:41) and Shami Dawit (2:05:42) who will be proving themselves in their first road race in the US. These newcomers will be ones to give Kebede, Lilesa, B. Kipyego and W.Korir arun for their money.
Others will also bulk out the field: 2:06 men who will be looking to better their times to gain entry into the top elite marathon fields: Laban Korir, Raji Assefa and Michael Kipyego? And half marathoners debuting in the full marathon - Tilahun Regassa (59:19) and Sammy Kitwara (58:48 - 5th fastest half marathoner of all time)? They will keep the race honest and with the pacesetters promise a fast and highly competitive race. Kitwara's debut is of special note since former half marathon world record holder Sammy Wanjiru, former marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie, current marathon world record holder Patrick Makau and second fastest marathoner Wilson Kipsang are the fastest top 10 half marathon finishers of all time.
Three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein who missed qualifying for the 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Team in Houston after an incredible comeback to the sport due to injury is returning to the marathon. Having made the 2012 USA 10000m Olympic team, Ritzenhein may well deliver the best performance of his career having just come off a fast summer on the track and a 60:56 (3rd place) at the 2012 Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon in September. Ritzenhein will be joined by fellow Americans Jeffrey Eggleston, Patrick Rizzo and Patrick Smyth to name a few.
While many international elites who competed in the 2012 London Olympics in August have opted out of fall marathons, there remain a great number of fast talent to be seen. These men have risen up the ranks clocking 2:05 finishes in 2011-2012 - times that used to be world record caliber in 2000. Now, the 2:05/2:06 times seem to be the standard for elite big city marathon fields. Yet, anything can happen in a marathon. With a field of veterans against a field of variable talents - one hit wonders and upstarts and what you will - Chicago will undoubtably be spectacular.
Elite Men's Lineup: back to top
| Male Elite Athletes |
| Athlete | Country | Personal Best | Chicago |
| Levy Matebo (22) | KEN | 2:05:16, Frankfurt 2011 | History |
| Tsegaye Kebede (25) | ETH | 2:05:18, Fukuoka, 2009 | History |
| Feyisa Lilesa (22) | ETH | 2:05:23, Rotterdam 2010 | History |
| Dadi Yami (30) | ETH | 2:05:41, Dubai, 2012 | History |
| Shami Dawit (28) | ETH | 2:05:42, Dubai, 2012 | History |
| Laban Korir (26) | KEN | 2:06:05, Amsterdam, 2011 | History |
| Wesley Korir (29) | KEN | 2:06:15, Chicago, 2011 | History |
| Raji Assefa (26) | ETH | 2:06:24, Paris, 2012 | History |
| Bernard Kipyego (26) | KEN | 2:06:29, Chicago, 2011 | History |
| Michael Kipyego (29) | KEN | 2:06:48, Eindhoven, 2011 | History |
| Samuel Ndungu (24) | KEN | 2:07:04, Otsu, 2012 | History |
| Takeshi Horiguchi (33) | JPN | 2:09:16, Otsu, 2012 | History |
| Dathan Ritzenhein (29) | USA | 2:09:55, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Takeshi Kumamoto (28) | JPN | 2:10:13, Tokyo, 2012 | History |
| Yuki Moriwaki (28) | JPN | 2:11:51, Oita, 2012 | History |
| Hiroki Kadota (27) | JPN | 2:12:25, Oita, 2012 | History |
| Jimmy Grabow (28) | USA | 2:12:29, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Naoki Okamoto (28) | JPN | 2:12:31, Otsu, 2012 | History |
| Koji Kobayashi (23) | JPN | 2:12:52, Nobeoka, 2012 | History |
| Jeffrey Eggleston (28) | USA | 2:13:12, Duluth, 2011 | History |
| Jason Gutierrez (28) | COL | 2:13:24, Los Angeles, 2011 | History |
| Patrick Rizzo (29) | USA | 2:13:42, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Drew Polley (26) | USA | 2:14:58, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Patrick Smyth (26) | USA | 2:15:00, Houston, 2012 | History |
| William Naranjo (34) | COL | 2:15:39, Nashville, 2010 | History |
| Craig Leon (27) | USA | 2:15:42, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Diego Colorado (39) | COL | 2:16:48, Nashville, 2000 | History |
| Malcolm Richards (29) | USA | 2:17:29, Sacramento, 2011 | History |
| Tim Tollefson (27) | USA | 2:18:26, Sacramento, 2011 | History |
| Stephen Muturi (37) | KEN | 2:18:51, St. Paul, 2009 | History |
| Thomas Frazer (31) | IRL | 2:19:42, Chicago, 2011 | History |
| Michael Eaton (25) | USA | 2:20:52, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Carlos Trujillo (27) | USA | 2:20:56, Houston, 2012 | History |
| Sammy Kitwara (25) | KEN | Debut | History |
| Tilahun Regassa (22) | ETH | Debut | History |
| Stephen Pifer (27) | USA | Debut | History |
Past Head-To-Head Men's Athlete Meetings back to top
| Amsterdam - Oct 17, 2021 |
|
9
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:06:32
|
|
17
|
Laban Korir (KEN)
|
2:07:56
|
| 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon - Feb 29, 2020 |
|
36
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Malcolm Richards (USA )
|
2:17:12
|
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41
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:17:53
|
| Sacramento - Dec 8, 2019 |
|
3
|
Patrick Smyth (USA)
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2:13:48
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|
19
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Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:17:53
|
| Sacramento - Dec 3, 2017 |
|
6
|
Malcolm Richards (USA)
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2:13:28
|
|
7
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Craig Leon (USA)
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2:13:41
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|
21
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:17:27
|
| Chicago - Oct 8, 2017 |
|
3
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
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2:10:23
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|
14
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Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
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2:14:49
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| London - Apr 23, 2017 |
|
12
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Feyisa LILESA (ETH)
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2:14:12
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|
30
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Tilahun REGASSA (ETH)
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2:18:53
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| Tokyo - Feb 26, 2017 |
|
6
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
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2:08:10
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|
9
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Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
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2:08:45
|
| New York City - Nov 6, 2016 |
|
10
|
PATRICK SMYTH (USA)
|
2:16:34
|
|
11
|
CRAIG LEON (USA)
|
2:17:14
|
| Amsterdam - Oct 16, 2016 |
|
4
|
Laban Korir (KEN)
|
2:05:54
|
|
8
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:06:45
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| London - Apr 24, 2016 |
|
6
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Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
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2:09:47
|
|
24
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Thomas Frazer (IRL )
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2:19:17
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| Boston - Apr 18, 2016 |
|
4
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
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2:14:05
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|
20
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Michael Kipyego (Kenya)
|
2:27:02
|
| Tokyo - Feb 28, 2016 |
|
1
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
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2:06:56
|
|
2
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:07:33
|
| Los Angeles Trials - Feb 13, 2016 |
|
8
|
Patrick Smyth (USA)
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2:15:26
|
|
13
|
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
|
2:17:19
|
|
18
|
Malcolm Richards (USA)
|
2:18:40
|
|
29
|
Craig Leon (USA )
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2:22:47
|
| Toronto Waterfront - Oct 18, 2015 |
|
3
|
Laban Korir (KEN)
|
2:09:20
|
|
12
|
Michael Kipyego (Kenya)
|
2:16:54
|
|
15
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:21:36
|
| Chicago - Oct 11, 2015 |
|
3
|
Samuel Ndungu (KEN)
|
2:10:06
|
|
6
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:10:39
|
|
12
|
Malcolm Richards (USA)
|
2:16:41
|
| Boston - Apr 20, 2015 |
|
4
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:10:47
|
|
5
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:10:49
|
|
7
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:11:20
|
|
12
|
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
|
2:14:17
|
| Chicago - Oct 12, 2014 |
|
8
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:11:09
|
|
10
|
Koji Kobayashi (JPN)
|
2:11:43
|
|
16
|
Naoki Okamoto (JPN)
|
2:15:19
|
|
19
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:16:00
|
|
20
|
Carlos Trujillo (USA )
|
2:16:49
|
|
25
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:18:04
|
|
30
|
Thomas Frazer (IRL )
|
2:19:53
|
| Berlin - Sep 28, 2014 |
|
7
|
Levy Matebo (KEN)
|
2:08:33
|
|
9
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:10:27
|
| Boston - Apr 21, 2014 |
|
8
|
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
|
2:11:57
|
|
12
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:14:28
|
| London - Apr 13, 2014 |
|
3
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:06:30
|
|
9
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:08:26
|
| Tokyo - Feb 23, 2014 |
|
4
|
Michael Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:06:58
|
|
9
|
Koji Kobayashi (JPN)
|
2:08:51
|
| New York City - Nov 3, 2013 |
|
2
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:09:16
|
|
9
|
WESLEY KORIR (KEN)
|
2:11:34
|
|
14
|
JEFFREY EGGLESTON (USA)
|
2:16:35
|
| Chicago - Oct 13, 2013 |
|
5
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:09:45
|
|
14
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:13:52
|
|
47
|
Stephen Muturi (USA)
|
2:26:02
|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul - Oct 6, 2013 |
|
9
|
MALCOLM RICHARDS (USA )
|
2:15:48
|
|
17
|
PATRICK RIZZO (USA)
|
2:20:08
|
| Moscow World Championships - Aug 17, 2013 |
|
4
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:10:47
|
|
12
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:14:01
|
|
13
|
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
|
2:14:23
|
|
25
|
Michael Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:17:47
|
|
37
|
Carlos Trujillo (USA )
|
2:23:13
|
| London - Apr 21, 2013 |
|
1
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:06:04
|
|
4
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:07:46
|
|
12
|
Patrick RIZZO (USA)
|
2:16:05
|
| Boston - Apr 15, 2013 |
|
5
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:12:30
|
|
10
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:14:38
|
|
12
|
Levy Matebo (KEN)
|
2:15:42
|
|
19
|
Carlos Trujillo (USA )
|
2:19:24
|
| Tokyo - Feb 24, 2013 |
|
2
|
Michael Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:06:58
|
|
3
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:07:53
|
| Chicago - Oct 7, 2012 |
|
1
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:04:38
|
|
2
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:04:52
|
|
3
|
Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
|
2:05:27
|
|
5
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:06:13
|
|
6
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:06:40
|
|
7
|
Samuel Ndungu (KEN)
|
2:07:26
|
|
8
|
Dadi Yami (ETH)
|
2:07:43
|
|
9
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:07:47
|
|
11
|
Laban Korir (KEN)
|
2:09:52
|
|
12
|
Levy Matebo (KEN)
|
2:10:02
|
|
13
|
Michael Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:10:02
|
|
14
|
Koji Kobayashi (JPN )
|
2:10:40
|
|
15
|
Takeshi Kumamoto (JPN )
|
2:11:47
|
|
16
|
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
|
2:12:03
|
|
17
|
Hiroki Kadota (JPN )
|
2:13:39
|
|
18
|
Carlos Trujillo (USA )
|
2:14:21
|
|
20
|
Craig Leon (USA )
|
2:15:38
|
|
21
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:15:44
|
|
22
|
Malcolm Richards (USA )
|
2:17:00
|
|
23
|
Stephen Pifer (USA)
|
2:18:19
|
|
24
|
Thomas Frazer (IRL )
|
2:18:37
|
|
26
|
Jimmy Grabow (USA )
|
2:19:03
|
|
28
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:19:37
|
|
30
|
Takashi Horiguchi (JPN )
|
2:20:32
|
|
33
|
Patrick Smyth (USA)
|
2:21:34
|
|
34
|
Tim Tollefson (USA )
|
2:21:44
|
| London - Apr 22, 2012 |
|
3
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:06:52
|
|
10
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:08:20
|
| Boston - Apr 16, 2012 |
|
1
|
Wesley Korir (KEN )
|
2:12:40
|
|
2
|
Levy Matebo (KEN )
|
2:13:06
|
|
3
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:13:13
|
|
6
|
Laban Korir (KEN )
|
2:15:29
|
| Otsu - Mar 4, 2012 |
|
1
|
Samuel Ndungu (KEN)
|
2:07:04
|
|
6
|
Takashi Horiguchi (JPN)
|
2:09:16
|
|
14
|
Naoki Okamoto (JPN)
|
2:12:31
|
| Tokyo - Feb 26, 2012 |
|
1
|
Michael Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:07:37
|
|
9
|
Takeshi Kumamoto (JPN)
|
2:10:13
|
| Houston Trials - Jan 14, 2012 |
|
10
|
Jimmy Grabow (USA )
|
2:12:29
|
|
13
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:13:42
|
|
22
|
Patrick Smyth (USA)
|
2:15:00
|
|
26
|
Craig Leon (USA )
|
2:15:42
|
|
51
|
Malcolm Richards (USA )
|
2:20:15
|
|
57
|
Michael Eaton (USA )
|
2:20:52
|
|
79
|
Tim Tollefson (USA )
|
2:27:00
|
| Sacramento - Dec 4, 2011 |
|
8
|
Malcolm Richards (USA )
|
2:17:28
|
|
9
|
Tim Tollefson (USA )
|
2:18:27
|
| Chicago - Oct 9, 2011 |
|
2
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:06:15
|
|
3
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:06:29
|
|
9
|
Takashi Horiguchi (JPN)
|
2:14:48
|
|
18
|
Thomas Frazer (IRL )
|
2:19:42
|
|
25
|
Tim Tollefson (USA )
|
2:21:59
|
|
45
|
Yuuki Moriwaki (JPN)
|
2:27:33
|
| Duluth - Jun 18, 2011 |
|
5
|
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
|
2:13:12
|
|
19
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:20:01
|
| Los Angeles - Mar 20, 2011 |
|
4
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:13:23
|
|
5
|
JASON GUTIERREZ (COL)
|
2:13:24
|
| Chicago - Oct 10, 2010 |
|
2
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:06:43
|
|
3
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:08:10
|
|
4
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:08:44
|
|
13
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:16:12
|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul - Oct 3, 2010 |
|
2
|
JEFFREY EGGLESTON (USA)
|
2:14:09
|
|
10
|
CRAIG LEON (USA )
|
2:18:29
|
| Rotterdam - Apr 11, 2010 |
|
4
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:05:23
|
|
5
|
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego (KEN)
|
2:07:01
|
| Xiamen - Jan 2, 2010 |
|
1
|
Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)
|
2:08:47
|
| Chicago - Oct 11, 2009 |
|
6
|
Wesley Korir (KEN )
|
2:10:38
|
|
10
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:15:48
|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul - Oct 4, 2009 |
|
11
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:18:51
|
|
14
|
Malcolm Richards (USA )
|
2:20:37
|
| Los Angeles - May 25, 2009 |
|
1
|
Wesley Korir (KEN)
|
2:08:24
|
|
10
|
Diego Colorado (COL)
|
2:20:38
|
| London - Apr 26, 2009 |
|
2
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:05:20
|
|
11
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:10:00
|
| Beijing Olympics - Aug 24, 2008 |
|
3
|
Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
|
2:10:00
|
|
9
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:11:59
|
| New York City Trials - Nov 3, 2007 |
|
2
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:11:07
|
|
26
|
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
|
2:18:30
|
|
|
|
