FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Monti, Editor & Publisher
+19173852666 (New York)
Bob Ramsak, Assistant Editor
+38631490208 (Ljubljana)
Website: http://www.raceresultsweekly.com
Race Results Weekly Announces 2006 Marathoner Rankings
Deena Kastor and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Given #1 Rankings
NEW YORK (December 26) -- Race Results Weekly, the wire service of distance
running, announced today that American Deena Kastor and Kenyan Robert
Kipkoech Cheruiyot were the top-ranked marathon runners of 2006. RRW
produced for the second time an annual top-10 marathoner ranking based on
key victories, head-to-head competition, fast times, consistent
performances in multiple races and, in some cases, heroic efforts.
"Bob and I really struggled with these rankings because the top three women
and the top two men all had terrific years," said Editor & Publisher, David
Monti, referring to Assistant Editor Bob Ramsak. "Deena Kastor, Jelena
Prokopcuka and Berhane Adere had one big victory each, and both Robert
Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Haile Gebrselassie had two big wins. We had to make
some difficult choices."
Kastor, 33, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., defeated a top-class field at the
Flora London Marathon last April in 2:19:36, the eighth-fastest performance
of all-time, a North American record, and the 2006 world leader. Although
she finished sixth at the ING New York City Marathon some seven months
later --soundly defeated by Prokopcuka-- Kastor was given the #1 rank over
the Latvian star, who was ranked #2.
"Despite a bad day in New York, her world leader in London against the best
field of the year gives her the edge," explained Ramsak, who also publishes
the Track Profile News Service.
The Ethiopian Adere was given the #3 rank for winning the LaSalle Bank
Chicago Marathon and finishing fourth at London. Prokopcuka's second place
at April's BAA Boston Marathon gave her a slight edge over Adere in the
rankings.
Two Kenyans, Rita Jeptoo and Catherine Ndereba, were ranked fourth and
fifth, respectively. Jeptoo won at Boston and finished fourth at New York.
Ndereba won at Osaka and was third at New York.
CHERUIYOT BY A WHISKER OVER GEBRSELASSIE
Cheruiyot, 28, who won both the BAA Boston and LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathons, got the #1 ranking over Ethiopian legend Gebrselassie because
the fields he beat in Boston and Chicago were stronger and larger than
those which Gebrselassie defeated at the real,- Berlin and Fukuoka
Marathons.
Gebrselassie ran the world-leading time at Berlin (2:05:56), but finished
ninth at London. He and Cheruiyot did not face each other during the year.
"Cheruiyot was the first man ever to win Boston and Chicago in the same
year, a historic feat," said Monti. "He also ran the fastest time ever at
Boston: 2:07:14."
Felix Limo, also of Kenya, was given the #3 ranking based on his memorable
victory at the Flora London Marathon. ING New York City Marathon Champion,
Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, was the #4 ranker, while Kenyan Martin
Lel (second at London) was ranked #5. Limo, Gomes dos Santos and Lel only
ran one marathon each.
The complete rankings follow, including our exclusive Honorable Mention
section where we recognize additional athletes who had strong years at the
marathon distance. The rankings only consider performances by these
athletes at the marathon distance during 2006.
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ABOUT RACE RESULTS WEEKLY: Founded in 1994, Race Results Weekly is the
professional distance running results and news service relied upon by
running industry professionals. RRW covers over 2000 middle and long
distance races each year; no source is more comprehensive or respected.
Subscription information is available at http://www.raceresultsweekly.com.
2006 Race Results Weekly Marathoner Rankings - Women
1. Deena Kastor (USA):
(1) Flora London 2:19:36 AR/WL
(6) ING New York City 2:27:54
2. Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT):
(2) BAA Boston 2:23:48
(1) ING New York City 2:25:05
3. Berhane Adere (ETH):
(4) Flora London 2:21:52 NR*
(1) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:20:42 NR
4. Rita Jeptoo (KEN):
(1) BAA Boston 2:23:28 PB
(4) ING New York City 2:26:59
5. Catherine Ndereba (KEN):
(1) Osaka 2:25:05
(3) ING New York City 2:26:58
6. Zhou Chunxiu (CHN):
(1) Seoul 2:19:51 PB/CR
(DNF) Xiamen
(1) Asian Games 2:27:03
7. Galina Bogomolova (RUS):
(5) Flora London 2:21:58
(2) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:20:47 NR
8. Gete Wami (ETH):
(2) Los Angeles 2:25:26
(1) real,- Berlin 2:21:34 NR*
9. Tatiana Hladyr (UKR):
(1) Roma 2:25:44 NR/CR
(2) ING New York City 2:26:05
10. Ludmila Petrova (RUS):
(2) London 2:21:29 NR*
(8) Chicago 2:27:08
*Surpassed later in the year
Honorable Mention (alphabetical order):
Susan Chepkemei (KEN): (3) Flora London 2:21:46 PB; (10) ING New York City
2:32:45.
Rose Cheruiyot (KEN): (2) Conenergy Hamburg 2:27:09 PB; (1) ING Amsterdam
2:28:26.
Lyubov Denisova (RUS): (3) Los Angeles 2:26:18; (1) Honolulu 2:27:19 CR.
Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS): (1) Los Angeles 2:25:10 PB/CR; (5) ING New York
City 2:27:21.
Harumi Hiroyama (JPN): (1) Nagoya 2:23:26; (2) Shanghai 2:32:33.
Benita Johnson (AUS): (3) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:22:36 NR.
Salina Kosgei (KEN): (8) Flora London 2:28:40; (2) real,- Berlin 2:23:22
PB;
(1) Standard Chartered Singapore 2:31:55 CR.
Tomo Morimoto (JPN): (5) Osaka 2:27:46; (1) Vienna 2:24:33 PB.
Kayoko Obata (JPN): (2) Osaka 2:25:52; (3) Asian Games 2:30:38.
Madai Pérez (MEX): (4) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:22:59 NR.
Yoko Shibui (JPN): (2) Nagoya 2:23:58.
Kioko Shimahara (JPN): (3) Osaka 2:26:47; (5) Boston 2:26:52; (2) Asian
Games 2:30:34.
Robe Tola (ETH): (1) Conenergy Hamburg 2:24:35 PB; (7) Messe Frankfurt
2:39:18.
Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM): (7) Flora London 2:27:51; (5) LaSalle Bank
Chicago 2:24:25.
Reiko Tosa (JPN): (3) BAA Boston 2:24:11; (1) Tokyo 2:26:15.
Sun Weiwei (CHN): (1) Xiamen 2:26:32; (2) Ford Köln 2:29:45; (1) ANA
Beijing 2:34:41.
2006 Race Results Weekly Marathoner Rankings - Men
1. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN):
(1) BAA Boston 2:07:14 CR/PB
(1) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:07:35
2. Haile Gebrselassie (ETH):
(9) Flora London 2:09:05
(1) real,- Berlin 2:05:56 NR/WL
(1) Fukuoka 2:06:52
3. Felix Limo (KEN):
(1) Flora London 2:06:39
4. Marilson Gomes dos Santos (BRA):
(1) ING New York City 2:09:58
5. Martin Lel (KEN):
(2) Flora London 2:06:41 PB
6. Stefano Baldini (ITA):
(5) Flora London 2:07:22 NR
(1) Euro Champs 2:11:32
(6) ING New York City 2:11:33
7. Julio Rey (ESP):
(1) Conenergy Hamburg 2:06:52 CR/NR
(3) Euro Champs 2:12:37
8. Hendrick Ramaala (RSA):
(3) Flora London 2:06:55 PB
(9) ING New York City 2:13:04
9. Daniel Njenga (KEN):
(2) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:07:40
10. Sammy Korir (KEN):
(1) Fortis Rotterdam 2:06:38
(3) Tokyo 2:10:07
(DNF) real,- Berlin
Honorable Mention (alphabetical order):
Dmytro Baranovsky (UKR): (3) Vienna 2:10:56; (2) Fukuoka 2:07:15 NR.
Robert Cheboror (KEN): (2) Conenergy Hamburg 2:07:37; (5) LaSalle Bank
Chicago 2:09:25.
Benson Cherono (KEN): (1) Los Angeles 2:08:40; (1) Samsung Milano 2:07:58
PB/CR.
Jaouad Gharib (MAR): (8) Flora London 2:08:45; (3) Fukuoka 2:07:19.
Khalid Khannouchi (USA): (4) London 2:07:04.
Charles Kibiwott (KEN): (3) Fortis Rotterdam 2:06:52 PB; (13) LaSalle Bank
Chicago 2:15:00.
Stephen Kiogora (KEN): (3) Rock 'n' Roll San Diego 2:11:45; (2) ING New
York City 2:10:06.
Paul Kirui (KEN): (2) Fortis Rotterdam 2:06:44 PB; (2) Joon Ang Seoul
2:09:05.
Jason Mbote (KEN): (2) Seoul 2:11:40; (1) Joon Ang Seoul 2:08:13 PB/CR.
Jimmy Muindi (KEN): (5) Seoul 2:12:20; (3) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2:07:51;
(2) Honolulu 2:14:39.
Rodgers Rop (KEN): (6) Flora London 2:07:34 PB; (5) ING New York City
2:11:24.
Ambesse Tolossa (ETH): (1) Tokyo 2:08:58; (1) Rock 'n' Roll San Diego
2:10:08; (1) Honolulu 2:13:42.
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