FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
QC Marathon Men's Field Announced:
Former Champs, Basweti And Tufa, Joined By Field Full Of Challengers
MOLINE, IL – A field full of challengers will toe the line at THE Quad
Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank. The race is scheduled
for Sept. 26 with a start/finish at John Deere Commons in downtown
Moline. Twenty five men have joined the field including two former
champions: Jynocel Basweti (Kenya) and Genna Tufa (Ethiopia). Ten have
seed times under 2:20.
Basweti holds the course record at the QCM when he ran 2:16:36 in a 2006
victory. He also won in 2008 (2:18:04), placed second in 2009
(2:19:40), and was third in 2007 (2:21:54) at the QCM. He has run well
this year by winning four marathons (Rock and Roll Seattle, 2:18:20;
Mississippi Blues, 2:19:15; Georgia, 2:20:49; Snickers Energy Bar,
2:20:55) and placing fifth in another (Donna, 2:19:16). He owns 12 wins
since 2006, including his personal best of 2:14:02 from a win in 2007 at
Austin. Tufa won the QCM in 2007 (2:18:28). In 2010 Tufa has placed
fourth at the Country Music Marathon and seventh in Montreal.
The top three seed times (run since 2008) have been turned in by Ketema
Nigusse (Ethiopia), Andrey Bryzgalov (Russia), and Edward Kiptum
(Kenya). Nigusse ran 2:14:26 to place fourth at last year's PF Chang
Rock/Roll Arizona Marathon, Bryzgalov ran 2:15:44 to win this year's
Donna Marathon, and Kiptum clocked 2:15:52 to place 10th at the 2008
Ottawa Marathon. Nigusse has a 2:16:15 effort from the 2008 Country
Music Marathon (fourth), Bryzgalov also owns a 2:21:47 finish from this
year's Snickers Energy Bar Marathon (second), while Kiptum won this
year's Deseret Morning News Marathon in 2:20:47.
Others expected to challenge for a win include five runners that have
posted seed times under 2:20. That group includes Gurmessa Megerssa
(Ethiopia), Demesse Tefera (Ethiopia), Mark Chepses (Kenya), James Boitt
(Kenya), and Hillary Cheriyot (Kenya). Megerssa ran 2:17:21 at the 2007
Hartford Marathon (second), Tefera ran 2:18:29 at the 2008 Miami
Marathon (third), Chepses ran 2:18:51 at this year's Rock/Roll Seattle
Marathon (second), Boitt ran 2:19:01 at last year's Snickers Energy Bar
Marathon (first), and Cheriyot ran 2:19:26 at last year's Royal Victoria
Marathon (first). A 2007 seed time has been used for Megerssa since he
does not have a marathon record since that year. Tefera returns to the
QCM. He placed fourth last year in 2:23:05.
Also in the field are seven other top runners: Jonathan Ndambuki
(Kenya), Geoffrey Birgen (Kenya), Kassahun Kabiso (Ethiopia), Isaiah
Sanga (Kenya), Richard Kandie (Kenya), Habtamu Bekele (Ethiopia), and
Marube Moninda (Kenya). Ndambuki ran 2:20:33 at the 2008 Deseret Morning
News Marathon (fourth) and was fourth at the 2008 QCM. Birgen was third
at last year's QCM in 2:20:48. Kabiso ran 2:21:59 at the 2008 Georgia
Marathon (third). Sanga posted a 2:22:21 at last year's Little Rock
Marathon (fourth). Kandie won the 2008 Indianapolis Marathon in 2:22:27.
Bekele won the 2008 Buffalo Marathon in 2:26:05, but owns a solid
personal best of 2:10:42 from the 2003 Rome Marathon (fifth). Moninda
won this year's Illinois Marathon (2:30:20).
Five elite runners do not have a marathon seed time, but have been
impressive at shorter distances. Worku Beyi (Ethiopia) was fourth in a
talented 2009 3M Half Marathon field in 1:01:57. Mark Stallings (Exton,
PA) has a 15k PR of 45:42 and a 10k PR of 29:13. Thomas Kamau (Kenya)
ran a 1:04:01 half marathon. Joseph Mbinda Mutisya (Kenya) and Dwait
Adeta (Ethiopia) are also in the open division field.
Ten different runners in this year's elite field have won at least one
overall title over the marathon distance.
Henry Kipsang (Kenya) won last year's overall title at the QCM in
2:19:15, but will not return to defend his title.
Three runners are entered in the master's division field. Erik Bush
(Peoria, IL) has the top master's seed time of 2:33:21 from a master's
win at the 2008 Chicago Marathon. John Piggott (Williamsburg, VA)
clocked a 2:45:32 from a master's win at the 2010 Buffalo Marathon. Paul
Illich (Waco, TX) ran 2:46:43 to place eighth at the master's race in
the 2010 Houston Marathon.
Name, From, Seed Time/Best marathon time since 2008
Ketema Nigusse, ETH, 2:14:26
Andrey Bryzgalov, RUS, 2:15:44
Edward Kiptum, KEN, 2:15:52
Jynocel Basweti, KEN, 2:16:18
Gurmessa Megerssa, ETH, 2:17:21 (2007 time used)
Genna Tufa, ETH, 2:17:58
Demesse Tefera, ETH, 2:18:29
Mark Chepses, KEN, 2:18:51
James Boitt, KEN, 2:19:01
Hillary Cheriyot, KEN, 2:19:26
Jonathan Ndambuki, KEN, 2:20:33
Geoffrey Birgen, KEN, 2:20:48
Kassahun Kabiso, ETH, 2:21:59
Isaiah Sanga, KEN, 2:22:21
Richard Kandie, KEN, 2:22:27
Habtamu Bekele, ETH, 2:26:05
Marube Moninda, KEN, 2:30:20
Erik Bush, USA, 2:33:21 (Masters)
John Piggott, USA, 2:45:32 (Masters)
Paul Illich, USA, 2:46:43 (Masters)
Worku Beyi, ETH
Joseph Mbinda Mutisya, KEN
Thomas Kamau, KEN
Dawit Adeta, ETH
Mark Stallings, USA
QC MARATHON - MEN'S OPEN, PAST WINNERS
2009, Henry Kipsang, Kenya, 2:19:15
2008, Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:18:04
2007, Genna Tufa, Ethiopia, 2:18:28
2006, Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:16:36 (Course Record)
2005, Paul Rugut, Kenya, 2:20:27
2004, Andrew Musuva, Kenya, 2:20:44
2003, Sergey Nochevny, Russia, 2:18:42
2002, Andrew Musuva, Kenya, 2:21:15
2001, Dan Mayer, Naperville, IL, 2:26:19
2000, Craig Lawson, Sandy, UT, 2:24:22
1999, Bob Simmons, Iowa City, IA, 2:26:43
1998, David Heppner, Davenport, IA, 2:34:50
QC MARATHON - MEN'S MASTERS, PAST WINNERS
2009, Greg Skopec, Coralville, IA, 2:58:06
2008, Alexey Korobov, Russia, 2:30:52 (Course Record)
2007, Russell Boore, Hampton, IL, 2:44:30
2006, Jerry Lack, East Moline, IL, 2:39:39
2005, Russell Boore, Hampton, IL, 2:38:47
2004, Phil Kauder, Cascade, IA, 2:36:15
2003, Rick Stefanovic, Milwaukee, WI, 2:38:53
2002, Rick Stefanovic, Milwaukee, WI, 2:38:18
2001, Steve Wilson, Lafeyette, IN, 2:31:13
2000, Joseph Haynes, Ames, IA, 2:46:30
1999, Steve Wilson, Lafeyette, IN, 2:39:37
1998, Terry Erickson, East Moline, IL, 2:53:33
TOP TEN MARATHON TIMES - RACE HISTORY, MEN
1. Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:16:36 (2006)
2. Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:18:04 (2008)
3. Geoffrey Kiprotich, Kenya, 2:18:27 (2008)
4. Genna Tufa, Ethiopia, 2:18:28 (2007)
5. Sergey Nochevny, Russia, 2:18:42 (2003)
6. Paul Rugut, Kenya, 2:19:07 (2007)
7. Henry Kipsang, Kenya, 2:19:13 (2009)
8. Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:19:40 (2009)
9. Genna Tufa, Ethiopia, 2:20:05 (2008)
10. Paul Rugut, Kenya, 2:20:27 (2005)
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