Kenyans Munji, Okayo Headline International Field at Inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon
Race offers over $300,000 in prize money, $50,000 "Challenge" bonus and up to $2.5 million for world records

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Posted Thursday, 17 November, 2005

LAS VEGAS - (November 15, 2005) - With an elite field of over 30 athletes assembled from all over the world competing for a portion of the $302,000 prize purse, there will be a number of accomplished racers at the inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday, December 4.

The men's field will be led by Kenyan Titus Munji, who placed third in the 2003 real,-Berlin Marathon in a personal best time of 2:06:15. Munji is the seventh fastest marathoner in the world and his 2003 Berlin Marathon performance is the 10th fastest marathon finish of all-time. Top competitors in the men's field also include fellow countrymen Stephen Kiogora (second in 2005 Coca Cola Zero Rock n' Roll Marathon) and Haron Toroitich (winner of the 2004 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon). Also joining the field is Girma Tola, who comes from an Ethiopian track background. Although somewhat new to marathon running, Tola won the 2004 Enschede Marathon in 2:10:33. Gilbert Koech, winner of the former Las Vegas Marathon in January of 2005, returns to Las Vegas with hopes to dominate the field again.

Perhaps Munji's greatest competition will come from the stellar group of women athletes led by Kenyan Margaret Okayo, the 8th fastest female mar athoner all-time, who will compete against each other to win "The Challenge." The New Las Vegas Marathon will offer a $50,000 bonus to the winner of "The Challenge," an innovation created by the Los Angeles Marathon, which allows the Elite Women to start the race ahead of the Elite Men in a unique time handicap format. "The Challenge" rewards the first person, man or woman, to cross the finish line and promises to deliver an exciting race as the athletes compete for the $50,000 bonus and $50,000 first place finish.

"The Challenge has revitalized the sport of marathon running and adds excitement to the race for spectators and television viewers," said Race President Dr. William A. Burke.

Okayo won the 2002 BAA Boston Marathon, the 2001 and 2003 ING New York City Marathons and the 2004 Flora London Marathon. She is the course record holder at the New York City and Boston Marathons, and her 2002 finish at the Boston Marathon in 2:20:43 is the 13th fastest marathon finish of all-time.

Two of Okayo's biggest competitors in the women's field are Mexico's marathon record holder Adriana Fernandez, winner of the 1999 New York City Marathon, and Romanian Nuta Olaru, runner-up at the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2:24:33. Also joining the deep field of women's talent is 2005 Nagano Marathon champion Albina Ivanova from Russia, who ran in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2003-05, placing 4th and setting her PR of 2:25:35 in the 2003 race.

Although making her marathon debut, Galina Bogomolova is the second fastest Russian 10,000 meter track runner and could definitely stir things up. Also making her debut on the women's side will be Ethiopian Merima Hashim, who placed 2nd at the 2005 Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10K in 33:17.

The women's elite field represents 9 different countries - Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Tanzania and the United States.

This year the New Las Vegas Marathon will feature seven leading Ethiopian marathoners. Joining Girma Tola and making his debut on the men's side will be 5000 and 10,000 meter track runner Berhanu Adane, along with Araya Haregot (2005 Salt Lake City Champion, 2:15:02), Tekeste Kebede (3rd - 2005 Coca Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 2:11:48) and Assefa Mezgebu (Bronze medalist at 10,000 meters in the Sydney 2000 Olympics).

In total, the New Las Vegas Marathon will be offering $302,000 in prize money, including a $50,000 first place prize for men and women. Race organizers will also offer a $1.25 million bonus to the first man or woman to break the world record. In addition to the $50,000 bonus for "The Challenge," the race will be offering $226,000 in prize money for places 1 thru 10 for men and women along with $10,000 each for the fastest man and woman from Clark County, Nevada.

About the New Las Vegas Marathon
The New Las Vegas Marathon, a Devine Racing event, will debut on Sunday, December 4, 2005 as the first marathon in history to run the world famous Las Vegas Strip. The race will begin at 6:00am in front of Race Headquarters Mandalay Bay with a spectacular display of fireworks and Elvis singing "Viva Las Vegas." The race will take place on a fast, flat course with an average temperature of 50 degrees at the start. The race will be broadcast live on CBS affiliate KLAS - First in Las Vegas. Visit the race website at: LVMarathon.com

About Devine Racing
Committed to the celebration of individual accomplishment, Devine Racing was created to bring a new level of quality and professionalism to amateur road racing events - delivering the highest level of professional service in the industry for participants, sponsors and the communities where races are held. In the process of building its national footprint, Devine Racing currently owns the City of Los Angeles Marathon, the New Las Vegas Marathon, the Salt Lake City Marathon, the Chicago Half Marathon and the Chicago BIG 10K.

MEDIA CONTACT: Laurence Cohen, TLC Mediaworks, (310) 474-5116; go2l@pipeline.com

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