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Kibet Returns to Defend Country Music Marathon
Title
Russian and Kenyan Women to Face-Off
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator
USATF Road Running Information Center
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (April 26, 2001) - Nobody will have to tell Kenya's Luke
Kibet to bring a different pair of racing flats this year. Kibet stopped
three times during the 2000 Country Music Marathon, and it wasn't to visit
the establishments along Printer's Alley in downtown Nashville... it was to
take care of the most mundane of all runners' chores - tying shoelaces.
Despite the unscheduled pit stops last year, Kibet kept his cool, and
overtook countrymen Elias Chelanga and Sammy Maritim in the latter stages to
win the inaugural Country Music Marathon in 2:12:55. Kibet will be back in
Nashville this Saturday, April 28 to defend his title, but he'll find more
challenges this year than just floppy shoelaces. Maritim will also be back
along with an impressive pack of Kenyan marathoners, all intent on taking
home a piece of the $100,000 prize purse...$20,000 for the first to cross
the finish line. A $10,000 bonus will entice anyone who can break 2:11, and
another $10,000 for a sub 2:10.
Runners certainly cannot complain about the lack of scenery along the course
- starting in Centennial Park near Vanderbilt University, then meandering
around downtown Nashville, before finally finishing near Adelphia Coliseum,
home of the NFL Tennessee Titans.
Kibet's toughest competition will probably come either from Philip Chirchir
or Joseph Kahugu, each flashing sub 2:09 marathons on their resumes.
Christopher Cheboibich is a renowned hill runner, so he has to be taken
seriously on this bumpy course, as does Joel Sankale and Meshack Kosgei
Kirwa. Douglas Rono (brother to Paul Tergat) and Elias Chebet (brother to
Joseph Chebet) share the crown in the famous sibling category. Each
certainly have the genes to run something special in their debuts at the 42
kilometer
distance.
The women's race will be a battle of Russians vs. Kenyans. It will probably
take more time for Russians Zina Semenova and Ramilia Burangulova to spell
their names to local sports writers than it will to navigate the streets of
Nashville. Each will chase the $20,000 first place paycheck, and hope for a
$10,000 bonus for a sub-2:30 and another $10,000 for a sub 2:29. Both have
been in that territory before, with Burangulova under 2:28 and Semenova
under 2:29.
The Kenyans won't go quietly though. Milka Chepkieny, Nora Maraga and
Margaret Kagiri all have the talent to win a major marathon, and will arrive
in Nashville with that goal in mind.
The inaugural Country Music Marathon drew 7,509 entrants and 6,349
finishers, the 4th largest debut marathon ever. In addition, the race had one of
the
highest female percentages (45% of all finishers) for the distance. For more
race information, go to: http://www.CMMarathon.com
TOP MEN
Bib Name Country/State Marathon Best
1 Luke Kibet Kenya 2:11:16
3 Sammy Maritim Kenya 2:11:22
5 Christopher Cheboibich Kenya 2:10:50
7 Gemetchu Kebede Ethiopia 2:10:43
9 Joel Sankale Kenya 2:09:47
11 Philip Chirchir Kenya 2:08:56
15 Igor Osmak Ukraine 2:12:29
17 Sergey Fedotov Russia 2:11:16
19 Juan Martinez Figueroa Mexico 2:14:36
21 Douglas Rono Kenya Debut
23 Daniel Kirwa Too Kenya 2:11:10
25 Joseph Kahugu Kenya 2:07:59
27 Romulo Da Silva Brazil 2:12:48
29 Daniel Kihara Kenya 2:14:44
31 Meshack Kosgei Kirwa Kenya Debut
33 Gideon Mutisya Kenya 2:13:40
35 Elly Rono Kenya 2:12:51
37 Elias Chebet Kenya Debut
39 Barner Colmenarez Venezuela 2:14:17
41 Jacob Losian Kenya 2:13:38
43 Nelson Ndereva Kenya 2:11:34
TOP WOMEN
Bib Name Country/State Marathon Best
2 Olga Kovpotina Russia 2:32:32
4 Aurica Buia Romania 2:31:39
6 Alla Zadorozhnaya Belarus 2:33:33
8 Milka Chepkieny Kenya 2:31:18
10 Nora Maraga Kenya 2:36:20
12 Margaret Kagiri Kenya 2:34:56
14 Zina Semenova Russia 2:28:47
16 Firaya Sultanova Russia 2:30:45
18 Ramilia Burangulova Russia 2:27:58
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