Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa Aiming for Record Ninth Boston Marathon Title in Push Rim Wheelchair Division
Wakako Tsuchida seeking fourth consecutive victory in women’s race.
Posted Monday, 5 April, 2010
Boston, MA – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today that eight-time Boston Marathon Champion Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa will return to the 114th Boston Marathon, seeking an unprecedented ninth title – the most in the history of the event in any division. Wakako Tsuchida of Japan, winner of three consecutive titles in the women’s wheelchair field, returns to compete for her fourth title.
Van Dyk has won in Boston in eight of the past nine years, including six consecutive victories from 2000-2006. His 2004 time of 1:18:27 remains the world record. In 2009, despite a strong headwind, he led from Hopkinton to Boston – setting the stage for his record breaking attempt in 2010. Challenging Van Dyk in the men’s field is 2007 Champion and last year’s runner-up Masazumi Soejima of Japan, as well as perennial contender Krige Schabort from the US (formerly from South Africa). The field of more than 20 competitors will vie for the Olive Wreath and a total prize purse of $30,000. In the women’s race, Tsuchida will be joined by four-time runner up Diane Roy of Canada, and last year’s third place finisher Shirley Reilly of Arizona.
Clarence H. DeMar’s seventh Boston Marathon title in 1930 stood until 2000 when Jean Driscoll won her eighth women’s push rim wheelchair division title. The B.A.A. record book could again be re-written in 2010. “Ernst Van Dyk has become synonymous with winning at Boston,” said Guy Morse, executive director of the B.A.A. “We welcome him back, and look forward to his attempt for an unprecedented ninth title against a deeply talented push rim men’s field.”
New for 2010, the Boston Athletic Association has reduced the controlled start for the wheelchair competitors from a half-mile to a quarter-mile. A prize purse of $60,000 will be distributed to the top finishers in the push rim wheelchair division, which debuted at the Boston Marathon in 1975. For more information on the 114th Boston Marathon, please visit www.baa.org.
