Cherigat, Culpepper, Kipsang, Korir, Limo and Rutto Headline Men's Field at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Khalid Khannouchi withdraws from the race

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Posted Thursday, 22 September, 2005

For more information:
T. Hauser, (312) 904-4687; t.hauser@abnamro.com

CHICAGO - (September 20, 2005) - The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon men's elite field is set. On Sunday, October 9, defending champion Evans Rutto hopes to hold onto his title against Timothy Cherigat, Alan Culpepper, William Kipsang, Sammy Korir and Felix Limo.

"This year's men's field has athletes that have produced record performances in some of the greatest events in the world," commented Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "This group of talented athletes have collectively prepared and focused with the same dedication and goal in mind, to be the Champion of The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon."

Cheering these men on from the grandstands is four-time LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Champion and former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi. A Chicago favorite, Khannouchi has unfortunately had to withdraw from The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon due to a setback in training from a minor surgery in June.

Although not competing this year, Khannouchi will still take part in the Race Weekend activities and support what would have been his competition.

Even with Khannouchi's absence, the men's field remains strong and competitive, led by returning champion Evans Rutto.

Evans Rutto, 27, in 2003, ran his debut marathon performance at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Rutto overcame a strong elite field to win with a record setting fastest debut time of 2:05:50. This performance also earned him the spot for the sixth fastest time ever.

His success continued in 2004 when he won his second consecutive LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:06:16 and this year, he goes for a three-peat on the flat, fast course that defines Chicago.

Timothy Cherigat, 28, won the 2002 San Sebastian Marathon and set a new personal record of 2:09:34, also a course record and fastest time ever recorded in Spain. Two years later, he won the Boston Marathon in 2004 with a time of 2:10:37.

This will not be his first appearance in Chicago. In 2004, he was a pacer for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, leading the pack in 62:24 for the half-marathon.

Alan Culpepper, 33, ran his first marathon at The 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, placing sixth overall and second among American males. His time of 2:09:41 tied Alberto Salazar for the fastest American debut ever. In only his second marathon, Culpepper won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, Ala. with a time of 2:11:42. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, he competed against the world's best marathoners and finished 12th in hot, humid conditions.

This year at the Boston Marathon, Culpepper came in fourth with a time of 2:13:30, marking the best performance in Boston by an American male since 1987.

William Kipsang, 28, won the 2003 Amsterdam Marathon running a personal best of 2:06:39, which also broke the course record. More recently, on September 18, Kipsang won the Dam tot Dam 10 Mile in The Netherlands, clocking a 46:04.

In February of 2005, Kipsang won the Seoul International Marathon after outpacing defending champion Gert Thys of South Africa. Kipsang clocked 2:08:53 ahead of Thys, who was bidding for a three-peat in Seoul after back-to-back victories in 2003-04.

Sammy Korir, 33, is the second fastest marathon runner in history, 2:04:56, with a time one second off the world record. Korir will make his first appearance at The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Korir won five of his first six completed marathons and holds seven spots in the top 200 all-time marathon performances.

In 2004, Korir raced against The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon defending champion Evans Rutto at the Flora London Marathon. After a tough fall on the cobblestones by the Tower Hotel in London, Korir was still able to place second behind Rutto with a time of 2:06:48.

Felix Limo, 25, made his marathon debut at the 2003 Amsterdam Marathon where he raced to second place with a time of 2:06:42. He came in just three seconds behind Kipsang. Like Kipsang, Limo also competed in the 2005 Dam tot Dam 10 Mile, placing fifth with a time of 46:48.

His time at the 2004 Rotterdam Marathon of 2:06:14 is the ninth fastest marathon time ever, making Limo the sixth fastest marathon runner in history. Above him in rankings include Korir and Rutto.

As of September 2005, the Men's Elite Athlete Field includes:
* Dejene Berhanu, ETH
* Timothy Cherigat, KEN
* Alan Culpepper, USA (Boulder, Colo.)
* Josh Eberly, USA (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
* Luke Humphrey, USA (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
* Patrick Ivuti, KEN
* Laban Kipkemboi, KEN
* William Kipsang, KEN
* Craig Kirkwood, NZL
* Paul Koech, KEN
* Sammy Korir, KEN
* James Kwambai, KEN
* Matt Lane, USA (Eugene, Ore.)
* Felix Limo, KEN
* Ben Maiyo, KEN
* Daniel Njenga, KEN
* Thomas Nyariki, KEN
* Pablo Olmedo, MEX
* Evans Rutto, KEN (defending champion)
* Atsushi Sato , JPN
* Shinichi Watanabe, JPN

For more information on The LaSalle Chicago Marathon, visit ChicagoMarathon.com or call (312) 904-9800

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
415 E Figueroa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
RunningUSA.org

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