FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEEP MEN’S FIELD SET FOR 2016 QC MARATHON
MOLINE, IL - The 2016 Quad Cities Marathon, presented by Triumph Community
Bank, features a deep field with plenty of contenders. The 26.2-mile race
is set for a 7:30-am start, Sept. 25th, at John Deere Commons.
Sammy Malakwen (Kenya) is the lone former champion in the men’s field. He
won the 2014 QCM in 2:15:42. He added a second-place finish at the QCM last
year in 2:21:06. Malakwen was a winner at this year’s Fargo Marathon
(2:26:06). His best recent performance was a 2:14:57 to place 4th at the
2015 Donna Marathon. He also placed second at the 2015 Milwaukee Marathon
(2:23:53).
Werkuneh Seyoum Aboye (Ethiopia) returns to the QCM following last year’s
2:24:54 QCM effort to place fourth. He ran a solid 2:17:07 to place fifth
at the 2016 Grandma’s Marathon. He was second at Albany last year in
2:19:43.
Hillary Too (Kenya) has run solid recently. He won the 2016 Woodlands
Marathon (2:18:47), won the 2015 Richmond Marathon (2:18:48), and was
second at the 2015 Columbus Marathon (2:19:03). Too recently ran his ½
Marathon best of 1:02:08 this year in Indinapolis.
Abu Kebede Diriba (Ethiopia) returns to the QCM following last year’s
third-place finish in 2:24:48. He was 19th at the 2015 New York City
Marathon (2:24:30). This year he placed sixth at Pittsburgh (2:22:04) and
third at Utah Valley (2:24:20).
Stanley Boen (Kenya) has won two marathons recently: 2016 Utah Valley
(2:23:41) and 2015 Wichita (2:20:47). He also was second at this year’s
Glass City Marathon (2:27:28).
Abraham Kiprop Rutto (Kenya) is a familiar face at the QCM. He was fourth
in 2012 (2:21:14) and was sixth in 2013 (2:28:18). He won this year’s Green
Bay Marathon (2:20:41). Rutto ran a solid 2:18:00 to place second at the
2015 Philadelphia Marathon.
Wilson Chepkwony (Kenya) was third twice this year: Buffalo Marathon
(2:27:15) and Pocono Mountain Marathon (2:24:46). He ran 2:17:50 at the
2014 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.
Robert Gititu (Kenya) clocked a 2:22:53 to place second at the 2016
Woodlands Marathon. He won the 2016 Glass City Marathon in 2:27:24. He ran
an impressive 2:14:37 at the 2015 Trieste (ITA) Marathon.
Edward Tabut (Kenya) was second at this year’s Lincoln Marathon (2:29:45).
He ran 2:22:40 at the 2015 Grandma’s Marathon. In 2014 he had four solid
outings: Lincoln (2:17:07/1st), Grandma’s (2:18:46/22nd), Indianapolis
(2:19:57/2nd), and Quad Cities (2:26:49/5th).
David Tuwei (Kenya) ran well in 2015. He won Milwauke e (2:22:51), placed
second at Woodlands (2:19:26), and sixth at Twin Cities (2:19:57). His best
recent time was a 2:16:22 at the 2014 Houston Marathon, good for 12th
place. He was second at the 2011 QCM in 2:19:23.
Tewodros Zewdu (Ethiopia) placed second at the 2014 Buffalo Marathon in
2:21:05. He ran a 1:04:24 ½-Marathon at the 2013 Albacete (ESP) event. His
marathon best came in 2011 at Langreo (ESP) in 2:15:34.
Peter Kariuki (Kenya) ran a quick 1:02:01 at the 2016 Westlands ½-Marathon.
He has a 2:11:17 marathon best from the 2012 Graz Marathon. His 10K best is
28:17.
Polycarp Nyansikera (Kenya) ran 2:21:17 to place 12th at the 2016 Grandma’s
Marathon. He ran 2:17:13 at the 2015 Xichang, China, Marathon.
Fikadu Teferi (Ethiopia) ran 2:09:34 at the 2014 Dusseldorf (GER) Marathon
and a 1:03:24 ½-Marathon in 2013 at Saint Denis (FRA).
Patrick Jenkins (LaCrosse, WI) is an up and coming top marathoner. He was
fifth at the 2016 Green Bay Marathon. Jenkins ran 24:31 to win the 2016
Crazylegs 8K. He was a nine-time NCAA Division III All-American at
UW-Stout. His other PR’s include: 10K (29:51), 8K (24:16), and 5K (14:21).
Two local runners are in the elite field. Luke Padesky (Moline, IL) just
completed a solid cross country and track career at NCAA Division I’s
SIU-Edwardsville. Padesky is making his marathon debut. Mitch Dietrich
(Bettendorf, IA) also is making his marathon debut.
Richard Kessio (Kenya) is a top contender in the Masters Division. Kessio
ran 2:19:56 at the 2015 Grandma’s to place second in the Masters Division.
He added a 2:21:42 at the 2015 Buffalo Marathon (1st/Masters). His recent
best time was a 2:18:09 effort at the 2014 Grandma’s race.
Erik Bush (Normal, IL) is another top runner in the Masters Division. Bush
ran 2:49:58 to win the overall title at the 2014 Springfield Marathon. He
ran 2:43:03 to win the 2013 St. Louis Masters Division. Bush won the 2010
QCM Masters title in 2:37:55.
Solid Elite Field Set for Mel Foster Co. Half
The 2016 QC Half Marathon, presented by Mel Foster Co., features a solid
elite field in the men’s division.
Benson Cheruiyot (Kenya) ran a 1:03:10 ½-Marathon this year in
Indianapolis. Evans Chelanga (Kenya) clocked a 1:05:37 at the 2016 Fargo
½-Marathon.
Brandon Mull (Chicago, IL) ran his ½-Marathon PR of 1:06:50 at Gary
Bjorklund. He has a 2:18:14 Marathon best when he placed eighth at the 2015
California International Marathon. He was 61st at the 2016 Olympic Marathon
Trials.
Johnny Rutford (Omaha, NE) placed third at the 2016 Lincoln ½-Marathon in
1:08:53 and ran 24:41 at the 2016 Shamrock Shuffle 8K.
Richard Kandie (Kenya) owns a 1:03:20 performance at the 2011 Dam-to-Dam
20K. Elly Sang (Kenya) was third in the 2013 QCM Half in 1:07:05. Phil
McNeal (Romeoville, IL) returns to the Quad Cities. He was seventh in the
2015 QCM Half and eighth in the 2014 QC Marathon. Jeff Paul (LeClaire, IA)
is in the half field. Paul owns a 1:13:09 ½-Marathon best and is an
accomplished Ironman Triathlete. Paul is a former winner of the
Beach-to-Battleship Ironman.
Bryan Glass (Springfield, IL) is a top master’s runner. He won the 2016 QC
Times Bix 7 Masters Division in 37:17. He ran a 1:12:02 ½-Marathon this
year in Galesburg. His top QCM Half finish was third overall in 2011
(1:09:15). Julius Rotich (Des Moines, IA) is in the master’s field. Rotich
had two top efforts in 2015: Park-to-Park ½-Marathon (1:14:35) and
Dam-to-Dam 20K (1:13:32).
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FULL MARATHON, MEN (with bib numbers)
10. Stanley Boen, Kenya
38. Erik Bush*, Normal, IL
14. Wilson Chepkwony, Kenya
34. Mitch Dietrich, Bettendorf, IA
16. Robert Gititu, Kenya
30. Patrick Jenkins, LaCrosse, WI
24. Peter Kariuki, Kenya
8. Abu Kebede Diriba, Ethiopia
36. Richard Kessio*, Kenya
2. Sammy Malakwen, Kenya
26. Polycarp Nyansikera, Kenya
32. Luke Padesky, Moline, IL
12. Abraham Kiprop Rutto, Kenya
4. Werkuneh Seyoum Aboye, Ethiopia
18. Edward Tabut, Kenya
28. Fikadu Teferi, Ethiopia
6. Hillary Too, Kenya
20. David Tuwei, Kenya
22. Tewodros Zewdu, Ethiopia
HALF MARATHON, MEN (with bib numbers)
7002. Evans Chelanga, Kenya
7000. Benson Cheruiyot, Kenya
7018. Bryan Glass*, Springfield, IL
7008. Richard Kandie, Kenya
7012. Phil McNeal, Romeoville, IL
7004. Brandon Mull, Chicago, IL
7016. Jeff Paul, LeClaire, IA
7020. Julius Rotich*, Des Moines, IA
7006. Johnny Rutford, Omaha, NE
7010. Elly Sang, Kenya
* Masters
(field subject to change)
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