FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guangul, Kimutai Headline Women's Field for 2015 Quad Cities Marathon
September 14th, 2015 - MOLINE, IL - Six elite runners have committed to the
2015 Quad Cities Marathon women's field, presented by Triumph Community
Bank. The field promises more depth over last year's field. Two-time winner
and course record holder Hirut Guangul (Ethiopia), along with defending
champ Ruth Kimutai (Kenya) highlight the field. The race is scheduled for
7:30-am, Sept. 27th, with a start/finish location at John Deere Commons.
Guangul won the 2013 and 2012 QCM titles. Guangul set the record during her
2012 win with a 2:35:07 effort. She won in 2013 with a 2:38:50, the fourth
best time in race history. This year, she has two wins and four other top-3
finishes. She won the Buffalo Marathon (2:39:01) and Pikes Peak Marathon
(4:29:06). Her 2:39:38 was second at the Donna Marathon, while she added a
second at Vancouver (2:41:25). Her third-place finishes came at Shamrock
Sportsfest and Cleveland.
Kimutai raced to a 2:42:27 at last year's QCM and recorded the largest
winning margin in race history, leading from wire-to-wire. Also last year,
she placed fourth at Richmond in 2:45:06.
Frehiwat Goshu (Ethiopia) is another contender. She is a former Ethiopian
national team member. Her marathon PR came with a 2:30:38 (seventh place)
back in 2012 at Paris. This year, she won the Woodlands Marathon in
2:43:52.
Tezata Dengersa (Ethiopia) had a busy 2014 season, recording two wins and
two runner-up finishes. She won the Akron and Kentucky Derby Marathons in
2:42:53 and 2:43:51, respectively. She was second at Atlantic City and
Manchester City. Her best time, last year, came in Pittsburgh at 2:42:02
(fourth place).
Muliye Gurmu (Ethiopia) placed third at Buffalo this year and second at
2014 Buffalo. Her recent best time was a 2:51:15 to win Buffalo in 2013.
She placed fourth at the 2013 QCM in 2:59:18.
Hannah Brooker (Albany, NY) is making her marathon debut. She ran 1:19:26
for her Half Marathon best at Dam-to-Dam.
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Five Elites Commit to Women's QCM Half Marathon
The QCM Women's Half Marathon, presented by Mel Foster Co., has five elite
runners committed to this year's field. The race will start at 7:30-am,
Sept. 27th, at John Deere Commons. Laura Batterink (Evanston, IL) cruised
to a course record 1:14:23 at last year's race. She will not return in
2015.
Pauline Mutwa Thitu (Kenya) returns to the Quad Cities. She owns a 1:10:40
half marathon best from 2009. This year, she ran a 10-miler in Flint in
57:50 and a Chicago 10K in 36:32. She added a 16:18 5K this year in
Cutlerville. She won the 2012 QCM half in 1:16:16.
Jane Chelagat (Kenya) is a top contender. She ran her marathon PR of
2:39:02 this year at Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her half marathon best, from 2013,
was a 1:13:02 in Cittadella, Italy.
Emmy Chepkirui (Kenya) has run three personal bests in 2015. She ran a
1:15:41 half mararthon (Indianapolis), a 33:44 10K (Louisville), and a
27:35 8K (New Orleans).
Jebichi Yator (Kenya) has a 1:13:41 half marathon PR (2012) in Remich,
Luxembourg. This year she ran a 56:40 10-miler in Flint and a 35:13 10K in
Ames.
Becca Sund (Davenport, IA), a former standout at Augustana College, rounds
out the elite field. She ran a 45:42 at this year's QC Times Bix 7 and owns
a 17:43 5K personal best. She is making her half marathon debut.
2015 QCM Women's Seed Times/Bib Numbers:
Full Marathon
5. Frehiwat Goshu, Ethiopia, 2:30:38, 2012
3. Hirut Guangul, Ethiopia, 2:35:07, 2012
7. Tezata Dengersa, Ethiopia, 2:42:02, 2014
1. Ruth Kimutai, Kenya, 2:42:27, 2014
9. Muliye Gurmu, Ethiopia, 2:51:15, 2013
11. Hannah Brooker, Albany, NY, marathon debut
Half Marathon
7001. Jane Chelagat, Kenya, 1:13:02, 2013
7003. Jebichi Yator, Kenya, 1:13:41, 2012
7005. Emmy Chepkirui, Kenya, 1:15:41, 2015
7007. Pauline Mutwa Thitu, Kenya, 1:16:16, 2012
7009. Becca Sund, Davenport, IA, half marathon debut
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