FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Reid / Ian Monahan
Elite Racing, Inc.
(800) 311-1255
Kenyan takes second step towards prize bonus at
29th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (September 13, 2006) – Fresh off her victory at the Rock
'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. just 11 days ago, 26-year-old
Edna Kiplagat from Kenya now has extra incentive to win the 29th Jefferson
Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006. She is
seeking the $25,000 "Triple Crown" bonus offered to any athlete who wins
all three fall half marathons produced by Elite Racing, Inc. (Rock 'n' Roll
Half Marathon, Virginia Beach, Sept. 3 – Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia
Distance Run, Sept. 17 – Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose, Calif. Oct.
8).
Approaching the end of a conservative race in her half marathon debut in
Virginia Beach, Kiplagat knew she had secured victory in the final two
miles of the race along the oceanfront boardwalk, finishing in 71:08. If
she is able repeat in Philadelphia, Kiplagat will have the opportunity to
take home at least $53,000 if she can complete the hat trick in San Jose on
Oct. 8.
Kiplagat admitted the field in Virginia Beach contained some dangerous
competition and Philadelphia is no different. The toughest challenge to
Kiplagat could come from Japanese athletes Naoko Takahashi, 34, and Yurika
Nakamura, 20.
Takahashi, Japan's running super-star, returns to Philadelphia for the
second year in a row. Last year, she finished fourth here (71:28) in
preparation for what would be a victorious run at the prestigious Tokyo
International Women's Marathon on Nov. 20, 2005 in a time of 2:24:39.
Nakamura is coming off a second place finish at the 2006 Japan Corporate
Half Marathon Championships in a time of 70:03, more than a minute faster
than Kiplagat's half marathon time.
The elder ladies in the field, Anne Jelegat, 37, of Kenya (68:58), and
American Colleen De Reuck, 42, (68:38) hold the fastest times of the group.
De Reuck is well known for winning the United States Olympic Marathon
Trials in 2004 and the USA Cross Country 8k Championships in 2005.
On the men's side, Wilson Kiprotich of Kenya leads the field with the
fastest half marathon time. Kiprotich is an experienced distance athlete at
the young age of 26 and already has a string of victories at some of the
world's toughest distance competitions.
The running world will be watching Sammy Kipketer's half marathon debut as
he moves up in distance. The 25-year-old Kenyan was the first and only
athlete to run 13 minutes flat on the roads when he set the world best in
2000 at the Carlsbad 5000 in Carlsbad, Calif. In 2001, Kipketer came back
to Carlsbad and produced a carbon copy of his record setting performance
from the previous year.
Abdi Abdirahman, 29, from Tucson, Ariz. leads a strong group of Americans
entered in the field. He finished third at the inaugural New York City Half
Marathon and has the speed that could pose a threat to competitors around
him near the finish. Other top American athletes joining Abdirahman are
Jason Hartman, 25, from Boulder, Colo. and Brandon Leslie, 30, from
Albuquerque, N.M. Hartman finished third at the U.S. Half Marathon
Championships this year and Leslie was fourth at the 2006 Houston Half
Marathon.
This year, athletes from nine countries, masters runners and top
Philadelphia area runners will compete for a prize purse set at more than
$70,000. Prizes are awarded to the top 10 elite men and women. Course
record bonuses, masters and first male and female Philadelphia resident
prizes are included.
The 29th annual Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run welcomes its
largest field in race history with 13,000 runners and walkers on Sun.,
Sept. 17. On race day, approximately 20 bands will play on 11 stages at
points along the course and including the finish line festival at Eakins
Oval. Bands playing jazz, reggae, alternative rock, classic rock, and
country will create a block party atmosphere for runners and walkers, as
well as cheering fans.
To learn more about the half marathon and the prize purse, visit
www.runphilly.com or call 800/311-1255.
Elite Athlete Field (as of Sept. 12, 2006 – Subject to Change)
MEN
NAME AGE COUNTRY BEST FACT/COMMENT
Wilson Kiprotich 26 KEN
59:25 1st 2006 World's Best 10k, 1st 2005 Stamilano Half Marathon
Sammy Kipketer 25 KEN
Debut Three-time Carlsbad 5000 winner (2000, 2001, 2002)
C. Cheboiboch 28 KEN
60:33 1st '05 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 4th '05 Philadelphia Distance Run
Abdi Abdirahman 29 USA, AZ
61:34 3rd NYC Half Marathon, 2X USA Nationals 10,000m Champion
John Henwood 34 NZL 65:00 N/A
Celedonio Rodriguez 25 USA, CO
64:08 1st 2005 Boston Athletic Association Half Marathon
Matt Levassiur 25 USA, CO 64:45 7th 2006 Papa John's 10 Mile
Brandon Leslie 30 USA, NM
63:10 5th 2006 Houston Half, 7th 2006 U.S. Cross Country Trials
David Kemboi 23 KEN 63:09 2nd 2006 Prague Marathon, 2nd 2005 San Silvertre
Nathan Wadsworth 24 USA, KS
67:30 2nd 2005 Mountain Valley Conference Indoor 5,000m
Mario Macias 25 MEX
66:38 Adams State College, 8th 2006 Peachtree Road Race
Jason Hartman 25 USA, OR 63:07 3rd 2006 U.S. Half Marathon Championships
Ridouane Harroufi 25 MAR
61:01 2nd 2006 Marrakech Half Marathon, 6th 2006 Bolder Boulder
Julius Kibet 24 KEN
61:18 1st 2004 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run
Chris Seaton 27 USA, NC
66:32 7th 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Matthew McInnes 31 CAN
64:54 12th 2004 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run
Samuel Ndereba 28 KEN 62:48 1st 2005 21k de Montreal, 7th 2005 Bix 7 mile
Antonio Arce 29 USA, CA 67:42 N/A
Luke Kipkosgei 30 KEN Debut 3rd 2003 Indoor World Championships
John Supsic 26 USA, CO 63:30 N/A
Reuben Chebii 24 KEN
60:59 3rd 2006 Parkersburg Half, 3rd 2006 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile
Fikadu Degefu 30 ETH
62:22 3rd 2005 Reims Marathon, 3rd 2006 Country Music Marathon
Berhanu Adane 27 ETH 62:17 1st Bolder Boulder
Dan Kahn 27 USA, NC 66:57 Duke University
Matt Barresi 23 USA, MD Debut N/A
Demesse Tefera 23 ETH 63:17 5th 2006 New York City Half Marathon
Worku Beyi 19 ETH 63:41 6th 2006 New York City Half Marathon
Mohamed Amyn 30 MAR 62:11 4th 2006 New York City Half Marathon
Edwardo Torres 26 USA, CO Debut 10th 2006 Falmouth Road Race
WOMEN
NAME AGE COUNTRY BEST FACT/COMMENT
Naoko Takahashi 34 JPN
68:55 1st 2005 Tokyo International Women's Marathon, 4th 2005
Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run
Edna Kiplagat 26 KEN
71:08 1st '06 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, 4th '06 Crescent City Classic
Kiyoko Shimahara 29 JPN
70:51 3rd 2006 Osaka Marathon, 5th 2006 Boston Marathon
D. Marie Rodriguez 34 MEX 70:30 1st 2006 Cardinal Invitational 10,000m
Kathy Butler 32 GBR 71:24 1st 2006 Bellin Run, 4th 2006 Lilac Bloomsday
Dana Coons 27 USA, MN 75:00 2nd 2005 Houston Half Marathon
Samia Akbar 23 USA, VA Debut 10th 2005 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile
Yurika Nakamura 20 JPN
70:03 2nd 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon Championships
Ana Gjesdal 24 USA, MI 73:42 N/A
Claudia Colita 27 ROM
Debut 2nd Romanian National Championships Steeplechase
Malika Mejdoub 26 MAR 71:10 1st 2006 Seafair 8k
Lineth Chepkurui 18 KEN 73:33 1st Nairobi Standard Chartered Half Marathon
Magdalene Makunzi 23 KEN 71:30 1st 2006 Monterrey Half Marathon
Anne Jelegat 37 KEN
68:58 2nd 2006 Country Music Marathon, 3rd 2005 Dublin Marathon
Teraza Yohannes 24 ETH
72:48 1st 2006 East African 8K Cross Country Championships
Kate Smyth 28 AUS 73:02 1st 2006 Christchurch New Zealand Half Marathon
Colleen De Reuck 42 USA, CO
68:38 2004 US Olympic Trials Marathon Champion, 2005 USA XC 8K Champ
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