Final Two Elite Athletes Solidify LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Women's Field
Olympic Medalists Tulu, Chepchumba Bring Impressive Road Records for October 10 Race

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Posted Thursday, 7 October, 2004

CHICAGO - (October 5, 2004) - The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon women's elite field is complete with the final additions of Derartu Tulu and Joyce Chepchumba. Tulu, in her debut appearance in Chicago, and Chepchumba, two-time LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon winner, will certainly challenge the lead pack with their impressive road records in long distance running.

"I am very excited to have Joyce returning to our race and Derartu making her first appearance in Chicago. They are, without a doubt, two extraordinary additions to our elite women's field," stated Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "I had the chance to see Derartu while I was in Athens this summer and she looks to be in great shape. They both will solidify and add tremendous depth to our already competitive women's field."

Derartu Tulu, 32, a four-time Olympian for Ethiopia, became the first African woman gold medalist, winning the 10,000m at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, with a time of 32:08.74. At the 1996 Olympic Games, Tulu placed a disappointing fourth, falling just short of a medal in the 10,000m.

But in 2000 at the Sydney Olympic Games, Tulu bounced back. Taking the lead on the final lap of the 10,000m, she sprinted for a sound victory over teammate Gete Wami. With that victory, Tulu became the first woman ever to win two gold medals in distance racing. Since 2001, Tulu remained successful placing in several races. Most recently, while participating in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, she won the 10,000 meter bronze medal. Tulu hasn't run in the U.S. since her debut in the 1997 Boston Marathon, where she placed fifth.

"As a full-fledged marathoner, it will give me a thrill to run another marathon in the U.S." commented Derartu Tulu, "I consider Chicago one of the greatest and fastest marathons in the world, and look forward to Race Day and believe I will give my best."

Joyce Chepchumba, 34, the 1998-99 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Champion, remains one of the most successful women's runners in the Marathon's history. Also an Olympic medalist, Chepchumba won bronze in the marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

This year, she set a personal best winning the Lisbon Half-Marathon in a time of 1:08:11. Only a week later, the Kenyan went on to win the Berlin Half-Marathon with a time of 1:09:49. Also this year, Chepchumba, a mark of consistency, continued her seven year streak at the London Marathon, running 2:28:01 or quicker in each marathon she has participated in since 1997.

Other confirmed elite athletes with bib# at Chicago include:

MEN
11 Trent Briney (USA/MI)
2 Khalid Khannouchi (USA/NY), four-time race champion
16 Stephen Kiogora (KEN)
3 Paul Koech (KEN), 2nd last year
6 James Koskei (KEN)
4 Daniel Njenga (KEN), 3rd last year
1 Evans Rutto (KEN), defending champion
12 Brian Sell (USA/MI)
5 Toshinari Takaoka (JPN)
13 Clint Verran (USA/MI)

WOMEN
104 Yasuko Hashimoto (JPN)
103 Albina Ivanova (RUS)
110 Olga Romanova (RUS)
106 Marla Runyan (USA/OR)
107 Blake Russell (USA/CA)
108 Jenny Spangler (USA/IL)
102 Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM), 2nd last year
101 Svetlana Zakharova (RUS), defending champion

The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 10 starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The race will be broadcast live on CBS 2 CHICAGO and ESPN 1000 beginning at 8am. Elite athletes will compete for a portion of the $650,000 prize purse, the highest in the sport. Registration for this year's race is closed as the cap of 40,000 was reached. Visit chicagomarathon.com for race information including athlete bios and more.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org

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