Press Release - Dallas Marathon - 12/8/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Sam Chelanga to Run in Dallas Marathon Duo to Rio Relay sponsored by AT&T

           Chelanga replaces Dathan Ritzenhein in field including
                     10 top American distance runners

Ten top Team USA hopefuls for the 2016 Summer Olympics will participate 
head-to-head in the Duo to Rio Relay sponsored by AT&T on Dallas Marathon 
race day this December 13. Dathan Ritzenhein - previously announced as a 
Duo to Rio Relay competitor - will not be running in Dallas, as he recovers 
from a nagging hip injury. American runner Sam Chelanga will fill the spot 
vacated by Ritzenhein in the male elite field in the Dallas Marathon’s Duo 
to Rio Relay, race officials announced today. 
For more information, visit dallasmarathon.com.

About Sam Chelanga
Chelanga, 30, is the 2015 USATF 10-Mile champion and a two-time defending 
champion in the US National 12K road race, which he won in a time 34:34.53 
in November. Originally from Kenya, Chelanga became a naturalized USA 
citizen in August 2015 and will compete at the Olympic Trials in February 
for Team USA spots in the marathon or 10,000m. Chelanga was a four-time 
NCAA champion and collegiate record holder in the 10,000m. He lives and 
trains in Tuscon, Arizona. 

Age: 30 
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Personal Best: 1:01:04 – Half Marathon (Boston 2013)

About the Dallas Marathon Duo to Rio Relay sponsored by AT&T
Ten Team USA Olympic hopefuls will be paired in male-female teams, running 
to determine which pair can complete the 26.2-mile Dallas Marathon course 
the fastest. The male elites will run the first 13.1 miles of the marathon 
course and handoff to the female competitors who will compete the second 
half marathon leg of the course. The 45th running of the Dallas Marathon 
will start and finish in downtown Dallas, with a course highlighting the 
most entertaining neighborhoods and iconic landmarks in the city of Dallas. 
Participating American athletes include Abdi Abdirahman, Annie Bersagel, 
Sam Chelanga, Molly Huddle, Desi Linden, Luke Puskedra, Dallas-local Becky 
Wade, Jared Ward and previously announced Dallas Marathon elite ambassadors 
Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor. 


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