FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wide Open Men's Field Set for 2015 QC Marathon
September 16th, 2015
MOLINE, IL - The men's field for the 2015 Quad Cities Marathon, presented
by Triumph Community Bank, is wide open with 17 elite runners entered. The
race is scheduled for a 7:30-am start, Sept. 27th, at John Deere Commons.
Kiplangat Terer's 2:14:04 course record, from 2013, could be challenged by
the deep field. Three of the 2015 elites have run under that standard
within the past two years.
Top seed Noah Chepngabit (Kenya) posted a 2:12:48 at last year's Xichang,
China, Marathon. This year, he ran 2:15:27 to place seventh at Grandma's
and ran 2:16:04 at Hong Kong. Werkuneh Aboye (Ethiopia) has the second best
seed time from his 2:12:53 effort last year in Kunsan, Korea. This year,
Aboye owns a 2:13:46 from Dubai, UAE, and a 2:19:43 at Albany (second
place). He also ran a 1:07:01 half marathon this year in New York. Kennedy
Kemei (Kenya) has been a force in recent marathons on American soil. Last
year he won the Shamrock Sportsfest (2:18:24) and placed second at Columbus
(2:20:41). In 2013, he was eighth at Grandma's (2:13:19), first at Richmond
(2:16:17) and first at Columbus (2:18:45).
David Tuwei (Kenya) placed second at the 2015 Woodlands Marathon (2:19:28)
and won the Illinois Marathon (2:23:47). In 2014, he ran 2:16:22 at Houston
(7th). Tariku Bokan (Ethiopia) returns to the QCM, he placed third in 2013
(2:19:46). Also in 2013, he ran 2:17:43 at Pittsburgh (3rd) and 2:16:41 at
Grandma's (15th). Edward Tabut (Kenya) ran a solid 2:22:40 at the 2015
Grandma's and won the 2015 Lincoln Marathon in 2:27:38. In 2014, his best
effort was a 2:17:07 to win in Lincoln.
Abu Kedebe Diriba (Ethiopia) cruised to a 1:05:28 half marathon this year
in New York and placed second at Utah Valley (2:30:30). Richard Kandie
(Kenya) placed third at this year's Nebraska State Fair Marathon (2:32:35).
Hailemariyam Mola (Ethiopia) had solid efforts in 2013: Mississippi Blues
(2:19:29, 4th), Queretaro, Mexico (2:20) and Cancun, Mexico (2:20). Genna
Tufa (Albuquerque, NM), now an American and formerly of Ethiopia, won the
2007 QCM in 2:18:28 and has a 2015 best of 2:27:20 from Pittsburgh (8th).
Matt Brooker (Albany, NY) is making his marathon debut and owns a 1:07:21
from the Dam-to-Dam.
Solomon Kipkorir (Kenya) and Philip Mburu (Kenya) round out the open field.
Three top masters runners are entered in this year's elite field. Scott
Mangum (Barrington, IL) has a 2:40:00 seed time from 2014 in Chicago.
Francesco Arato (Bolingbrook, IL) is the defending QCM masters champ and
sports a 2:41:28 seed time from the 2014 Rockford Marathon. Keith Browning
(Lisle, IL) has a 2:42:39 seed time from this year's Fargo Marathon.
Defending open division champ, Sammy Malakwen (Kenya), once committed to
the field is now questionable due to travel difficulties. His status will
be updated during race week. Malakwen ran the second best time in race
history with his 2:15:41 in 2014.
Elite Depth Also Present in 2015 Men's Half Marathon Field
Twelve elite runners have committed to the 2015 QCM Half Marathon,
presented by Mel Foster Co. The runners will challenge the 2012 course
record of Robert Wambua (Kenya) when he ran 1:05:03.
Rachid Ezzouniou (Morocco) is a top contender after posting a 1:05:02 half
marathon this year in Dunkerque, France. Elly Sang (Kenya) has had success
in the QCM half, placing 3rd in 2013 (1:07:05). Sammy Rotich (Kenya) was
second at the 2011 QCM half (1:07:08). Bryan Glass (Springfield, IL) has
local ties to the QC and his last top finish at the QCM half was a 3rd in
2011 (1:09:15). Zackayo Biwott (Kenya) ran 1:12:21 to place 2nd at the 2014
QCM half.
John Heitzman (Madison, WI) is another top elite, having run a 1:08:09 half
marathon best. Two top finishers from the 2014 QCM are running the half
this year: Coree Woltering (Leadville, CO) was 6th in last year's QCM,
while Phil McNeal (Chicago, IL) was 8th. Brad Reach (Metamora, IL) ran a
1:15:27 half marathon this year.
Devin Allbaugh (Bettendorf, IA) will be making his half marathon debut,
following stellar careers at Pleasant Valley High School, Iowa State, and
Minnesota State. He owns a 14:45 5K best and was a Division II
All-American. This year, he was 2nd at the Point Bock 5-mile in 24:49.
Logan Beausoleil (Davenport, IA) rounds out the elite open field in the
half. He ran a 1:12:31 at the 2014 Kenosha Half and is a former Augustana
College runner. Pete Mathis (Orland Park, IL) is the lone masters elite
entered to date. He was the 2013 QCM Half masters champ.
The 2014 QCM Half champ was George Towett in 1:09:19. He is not scheduled
to defend his title.
2015 QCM Men's Seed Times/Bib Numbers:
Full Marathon
2. Noah Chepngabit, Kenya, 2:12:48
4. Werkuneh Aboye, Ethiopia, 2:12:53
6. Kennedy Kemei, Kenya, 2:13:19
8. Sammy Malakwen, Kenya, 2:14:57 (questionable)##
10. David Tuwei, Kenya, 2:16:22
12. Tariku Bokan, Ethiopia, 2:16:41
14. Edward Tabut, Kenya, 2:17:07
16. Hailemariyam Mola, Ethiopia, 2:19:29
18. Genna Tufa, Albuquerque, NM, 2:27:20#
20. Abu Kedebe Diriba, Ethiopia, 2:30:30
22. Richard Kandie, Kenya, 2:32:35
24. Matt Brooker, Albany, NY, marathon debut
26. Solomon Kipkorir, Kenya, no seed time
28. Philip Mburu, Kenya, no seed time
30. Scott Mangum, Barrington, IL, 2:40:00*
32. Francesco Arato, Bolingbrook, IL, 2:41:28**
34. Keith Browning, Lisle, IL, 2:42:39*
Half Marathon
7000. Rachid Ezzouniou, Morocco, 1:05:02
7002. Elly Sang, Kenya, 1:07:05
7004. Sammy Rotich, Kenya, 1:07:08
7006. John Heitzman, Madison, WI, 1:08:09
7008. Bryan Glass, Springfield, IL, 1:09:15
7010. Zackayo Biwott, Kenya, 1:12:21
7012. Coree Woltering, Leadville, CO, 6th 2014 QCM
7014. Phil McNeal, Chicago, IL, 8th 2014 QCM
7016. Logan Beausoleil, Davenport, IA, 1:12:31
7018. Brad Reach, Metamora, IL, 1:15:27
7020. Devin Allbaugh, Bettendorf, IA, half marathon debut
7022. Pete Mathis, Orland Park, IL,* 2013 QCM half masters winner
* Masters
** Defending Masters Champ
# Former Open Winner
## Defending Open Champ
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