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Press Release - Chicago Marathon - 8/8/17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Past Champions and World Record-Holders Return to Chicago as Race 
            Ambassadors to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the 
                      Bank of America Chicago Marathon

CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced today that running 
legends and past champions Steve Jones (1984, 1985), Khalid Khannouchi 
(1997, 1999, 2000, 2002), Catherine Ndereba (2000, 2001), Paula Radcliffe 
(2002) and Deena Kastor (2005) will return as race ambassadors to celebrate 
the 40th anniversary of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8. 

Jones, Khannouchi, Ndereba and Radcliffe all set world records on the 
iconic Chicago Marathon course. Kastor, a multi-time American record-holder 
and an Olympic bronze medalist, is the last American woman to have captured 
the Chicago crown. All five champions will be available to meet with 
runners and the community at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo, the Advocate 
Health Care International Chicago 5K, and at various points throughout race 
week.

"To have Steve, Khalid, Catherine, Paula and Deena returning to Chicago 
adds an extra layer of excitement and historic significance to race week as 
we look forward to celebrating 40 years of one of the greatest marathons in 
the world," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "All of their 
victories shine in our record books, and on top of being great champions, 
they have been dedicated ambassadors to the running community. We are 
honored to welcome them back to Chicago."

Jones put the Chicago Marathon on the map in 1984, delivering its first 
world record (2:08:05) in spite of cold temperatures, a steady downpour and 
a world-class elite field. Many credit Jones' fearless running style with 
elevating marathon racing to the next level. Khannouchi made his marathon 
debut in Chicago in 1997, winning in 2:07:10 to set course, debut and North 
American records, while running the fourth-fastest time ever. He returned 
in 1999 to close out the century by clawing back from a 33-second deficit 
to set a new world record (2:05:42) and to become the first man to break 
2:06. He seized two more Chicago Marathon victories in 2000 and 2002.

Ndereba - often called "Catherine the Great" - competed in her first 
Chicago Marathon in 2000, becoming the first athlete in 15 years to 
threaten Joan Benoit Samuelson's course record (2:21:21). Ndereba broke the 
tape in 2:21:33, and then returned in 2001 to make history. After a slow 
start and an early challenge from the field, Ndereba gifted Chicago with 
its third world record by becoming the first woman to break 2:19, 
officially running 2:18:47. Radcliffe added an exclamation point to the 
25th anniversary of the Chicago Marathon in 2002 when she arrived to go 
head-to-head with Ndereba. She took command of the race at the halfway mark 
and put on a show for nearly 1 million spectators, breaking Ndereba's world 
record by 89 seconds (running 2:17:18) and becoming the first woman to run 
under 2:18   setting a new precedent for what was possible in women's 
running.

Kastor came to Chicago one year after a courageous Olympic run in the 
marathon that saw her patiently pick off her competitors to ultimately 
stand on the podium with a bronze medal. She moved to the lead in 2005 
shortly after 5K and sustained a sub-2:20 pace for the final 23 miles. She 
narrowly won by five seconds, taking home her first Abbott World Marathon 
Major victory and turning in the third-fastest time ever by an American. 

Runners interested in celebrating the 40th running of the Chicago Marathon 
still have the opportunity to join the anniversary field by signing up to 
run and fundraise on behalf of a charity. Race organizers have seen great 
interest and enthusiasm from runners hoping to be a part of this milestone 
and are expecting one of the largest finisher fields in event history. 
Learn more about race weekend events and activities at chicagomarathon.com.

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 

In its 40th year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands 
of runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a 
world-class elite field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, 
debut marathoners and charity runners. The race's iconic course takes 
runners through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural 
tour of Chicago. Annually, an estimated 1.7 million spectators line the 
streets cheering on more than 40,000 runners from the start line to the 
final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race's national and 
international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of 
dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating $277 million in 
annual economic impact to its host city. The 2017 Bank of America Chicago 
Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and 
finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 8. In 
advance of the race, a two-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at 
McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, 
October 7. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go 
to chicagomarathon.com.

Visit the Bank of America newsroom for more Bank of America news. 

                                     ###

 

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