FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Star-Studded Field Looking to Light Up Philadelphia
Boston Marathon Champion, New York Marathon Champion, Olympic 5,000m Gold
Medalist Among Favorites in Women's Race at
Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
·Prestigious road race to celebrate 35 years running in the City of
Brotherly Love
·Special I-95 one-day registration discount available on Sept. 5 at
RunRocknRoll.com
PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 4, 2012 – If the half-marathon was an Olympic
event, the top five entries in the women's race for the 2012 Rock 'n' Roll
Philadelphia Half Marathon would make it one of the Games' premier events.
That's how strong they are.
Lined up to compete in the race's 35th anniversary running are Ethiopia's
Meseret Defar, the Philadelphia winner in 2010, the London Olympics
5,000-meter gold medalist and multiple world record-holder; Ethiopia's
Firehiwot Dado, winner of the 2011 New York City Marathon; Kenya's Sharon
Cherop, winner of the 2012 Boston Marathon and a bronze medalist at the
2011 World Championships; Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba, the Ethiopian
record-holder for the half-marathon and a 2012 Olympian; and Ethiopia's
Buzunesh Deba, winner of the Los Angeles Marathon and Rock 'n' Roll San
Diego Marathon in 2011, and runner-up at the 2011 New York City Marathon.
Their presence puts in jeopardy the world record of 1:05:50, set by Kenya's
Mary Keitany on Feb. 18, 2011, and the race record - and U.S. all-comers'
mark - of 1:07:11 set by New Zealand's Kim Smith last year.
"The race could be the fastest in the U.S. this year," said Matt Turnbull,
manager of the professional athlete fields for Competitor Group, owner of
the Philadelphia race. "It's tough to pick a winner from that group. Of
course, Defar is coming off her Olympic success and she won this race two
years ago in her half-marathon debut. So she will be tough to beat. She has
the strong finishing kick of a 5,000-meter runner."
The scenic and historic Philadelphia course, which traverses Market Street,
the Schuylkill River, the Falls Bridge and ends at the front of the
Philadelphia Museum of Art, has produced five World Records, three U.S.
marks and numerous U.S. all-comers' records.
In her debut half-marathon two years ago, Defar set the all-comers' mark of
1:07:45 before Smith obliterated it at Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans on Feb.
13, 2011, running 1:07:36, before breaking it again at Philadelphia last
year. Defar's blistering finishing speed helped her also win the
5,000-meter Olympic gold medal in 2004, the 5,000-meter Olympic bronze
medal in 2008 and set the world 5,000 record twice. She also has won the
Carlsbad 5000 three times.
Dado is very upbeat about running in the Philadelphia Half-Marathon, which
Turnbull calls "one of the best races in the world."
"I'm very excited about returning to the U.S. to race in the Rock 'n' Roll
Philadelphia Half Marathon," Dado said. "I have heard many great things
about the event and have seen some great performances there over the years.
I will be returning to defend my New York Marathon title in November, so
this race fits perfectly into my schedule."
Cherop, who will be battling the four Ethiopians for superiority, is also
elated about competing in Philadelphia.
"I'm happy to be returning to Philadelphia," she said. "I ran there in 2007
and finished in fourth place. I'm looking forward to my first Rock 'n' Roll
experience. I've had a great couple of years, claiming bronze at the World
Championships and then winning in the heat at the Boston Marathon. I'm
excited to race again in America."
Dibaba's Ethiopian record for the half-marathon is 1:07:13, just two
seconds off Smith's Philadelphia course record. She also ran a 2:19:52
marathon in Dubai this year, before finishing a disappointing 23rd in the
marathon at the London Olympics.
Deba has recovered from a foot injury that forced her to withdraw from the
Boston Marathon in April and is anxious to get back into prime form like
last year, when she produced three of her finest races.
"I think we drew such an outstanding field because of Philadelphia's
reputation and because we have a world-class venue," Turnbull said. "It's a
wonderful field so I wanted the best athletes in the world. Whether it's a
fast or a tactical race, I won't mind because of the athletes we have. I'm
grateful they will all be joining us in Philadelphia."
About Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia
Proudly, and rightfully so, the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
has become one of the world's most prestigious road races. Known as the
Philadelphia Distance Run for 32 years, the historic event enters its third
year rebranded as part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series on Sunday,
September 16, 2012. The 2012 race will feature live bands and fanfare
entertaining participants along each mile of the route course, the home of
five World Records and three U.S. Marks and the current men's and women's
U.S. all-comers' records.
Event weekend kicks off Friday, September 14 with a free two-day Health &
Fitness Expo at Philadelphia Convention Center, which is open to the
public. The Expo, where all participants pick up their race number, will
feature over 100 exhibitors with free samples, the latest in running
apparel and a full schedule of interactive clinics. For more information,
visit Competitor.com or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter.
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