FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's Field Takes Shape;
Orlova to Defend Title, Americans Look to Challenge
September 6, 2011
MOLINE, IL - The Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank, has
an elite women's field that could be the deepest in race history. Four
countries will be represented in the elite women's race that is set for a
7:30-am start, Sept. 25, at John Deere Commons. The field remains open and
is subject to change.
Elena Orlova (Russia) will return to defend her title from a year ago.
Orlova posted a 2:42:31 to capture the overall and masters crowns at the
2010 QCM. She posted nearly a three-minute margin of victory and set the
QCM masters record during her tour of the Quad Cities. Orlova also won the
overall title at the 2010 Bermuda Marathon (2:47:26). Her personal best is
a 2:40:01 from a second-place finish at the 2009 California International
Marathon. Ludmila Stepanova (Russia) also looks to contend for the 2011
title. She ran 2:43:14 to win this year's Snickers Energy Bar Marathon and
ran a personal best of 2:42:33 to win last year's Akron Marathon.
Caroline LeFrak (New York, NY) leads a strong contingent of Americans in
this year's field. LeFrak was sixth at the 2010 Donna/Jacksonville Marathon
in 2:44:33 to qualify for the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials. She has run
well lately, winning last month's NYRR Team 5-Mile Championships in 27:00.
LeFrak had a solid collegiate career at Columbia University. LeFrak was a
five-time NCAA D-I All-American and three-time NCAA runner-up (5k indoor,
10k outdoor, and cross country).
Rael Murey (Kenya) returns the QCM in 2011. Murey placed third at the 2010
QCM (2:56:54) and was sixth in 2008 (3:01:36). Murey lowered her marathon
best to 2:46:05 this year when she placed second at the Shamrock Sportsfest
Marathon. Emily Belli (San Diego, CA) is another top American in the field.
She placed second at this year's Carlsbad Marathon in 2:46:18. Belli also
won two marathons in 2010: Malibu (2:52:34) and Camarillo (2:53:03).
Kaci Lickteig (Omaha, NE) and Muliye Gurmu (Ethiopia) also have seed times
under 2:50. Lickteig, a former Creighton University standout, ran 2:49:20
to place 48th at the 2010 Chicago Marathon. Gurmu has a 2:49:24 personal
best from a third-place showing at the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon. Gurmu
ran 2:49:37 at last year's New York City Marathon (39th) and won the 2009
Marine Corps Marathon (2:49:48).
Heidy Lozano (Houston, TX) is a top masters runner in the field. Lozano
recent best is a 2:52:48 from her second-place masters finish at the 2010
California International Marathon. Kristina Pham (Phoenix, AZ) should also
be a factor; she placed eighth at last year's Eugene Marathon in 2:53:40.
Lisa Dyer (Morehead, MN) and Blossom Marimpietri (Downers Grove, IL) also
are slated for the elite field. Dyer, a former University of Minnesota NCAA
All-Region selection, has a marathon best of 2:56:30 from the 2010
California International Marathon (19th). Marimpietri, a former Santa Clara
University runner, will be making her marathon debut at the QCM.
Marimpietri ran a solid 1:25:32 at this year's Chicago Rock-n-Roll Half to
place 17th.
The field will look to challenge the 2004 course record of 2:36:26 set by
Halina Karnatsevich (Belarus). Americans will be looking to best the
2:46:00 US Olympic Marathon Trials standard. The trials are set for Jan.
14, 2012, in Houston, TX.
MALLON, PAUL, FEARING TO CHASE PRIZE MONEY IN HALF MARATHON EVENT
The 2011 QCM Half Marathon's elite field will be chasing prize money for
the first time in race history.
Julia Stamps Mallon (Santa Rosa, CA) is the top seed in the half field.
Mallon won last month's overall title at the Santa Rosa Marathon in
2:44:17, qualifying for her second US Olympic Marathon Trials (2012 and
2004). Mallon was a six-time NCAA D-I All-American at Stanford University,
which included a fourth-place NCAA cross country finish. She had a storied
junior career: winning a national high school cross country title, four
USATF Junior 3000-meter titles, and a Junior Pan Am Games title in the
3000-meter. Her half marathon PR sits at 1:19:20.
Local standout Jen Paul (LeClaire, IA) is a top elite in the field. Paul is
having a solid 2011 season, including a 14th-place finish at the QC Times
Bix 7 Mile (41:52). Holly Fearing (Maidson, WI) rounds out the top elites
in the half. Fearing placed seventh in the 2010 QCM (3:09:58) and holds a
half marathon best at 1:24:07.
The half marathon course record was set last year by Krista Vrombaut (Rock
Island, IL) in 1:23:31. Americans may also book a spot in the 2012 US
Olympic Marathpon Trials by running a half marathon in 1:15:00 or better.
Complete Elite Bios for Women's Marathon and Half Marathon Field: click here
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