Past champions eye course records at P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Women's three-time champion undefeated entering 2007 race

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Posted Tuesday, 9 January, 2007

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 9, 2007) - At last year's P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Shimelis Mola of Ethiopia used a furious sprint down the final homestretch in his victory (2:13:08) over countryman and 2005 winner, Terefae Yae. This Sun., Jan 14, Mola, 24, and Yae, 25, return to the Valley of the Sun, both looking for a second victory and seeking to take down the current course record of 2:10:33 set by Kenyan Haron Toroitich in 2004.

After witnessing last year how quickly Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie cruised to a half marathon world record (58:55) over the last half of the marathon course, Mola and Yae both believe they have a strong chance to lower the 26.2-mile course mark.

However, there is a new face and emerging talent who is reported to keep pace with Gebreslassie during his grueling training runs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and who should prove to be a powerful contender in his marathon debut according to Mike Long, elite athlete coordinator for Elite Racing, Inc.

Tariku Aboset, 24, from Ethiopia is the newcomer and though his marathon prowess is yet to be proven on a certified race course, his counterparts will be well-aware of his presence on race day.

"We are hearing lots of talk from all the 'veterans' about this new young guy," Long said. "He knows about the fast Arizona course from his training partners, and obviously from Haile. Tariku is excited to make his debut here and we are excited to see what he can do."

In the 2006 women's race, the diminutive Ethiopian, Shitaye Gemechu, captured her third straight title at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, winning in 2:31:44. Like the men's race, Gemechu edged out countrywoman Askale Tafa (2:31:46) to remain the only female champion in P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon history.

The 26-year-old Gemechu competed in four marathons, including her Arizona appearance, in 2006. She finished second at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, fifth at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego and was seventh at the Real Berlin Marathon.

"She is either in great shape or very tired," Long said jokingly, knowing that Gemechu, despite her small size of five feet, 96 pounds, is a giant among marathoner runners.

Gemechu will, most likely, be challenged by Adenech Zekiros, 24, from Ethiopia and Romanian Luminita Talpos, 34. Both are new to the Arizona course, but have been training well and feel strong entering Sunday's race.

For more information on the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & Marathon, visit www.rnraz.com.

- Elite Roster - P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, Sunday, Jan. 14,

Men's Elite Open Field as of January 9, 2007

Name, Age, Country, Best, Fact/Comment

1. Shimelis Mola, 24, ETH, 2:10:11, 1st 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll AZ, 6th 2005 Real Berlin Marathon

2. Terefae Yae, 25, ETH, 2:11:45, 1st 2005 & 2nd '06 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll AZ, 4th 2006 Real Berlin Marathon

3. David Kirui, 35, KEN, 2:08:53, 2nd 2006 Country Music Marathon, 8th 2006 Turin Marathon

4. Assefa Mezgebu, 28, ETH, 2:25:24, 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist 10,000m, 10th 2005 Las Vegas Marathon

5. Khalid El Boumlili, 28, MAR, 2:10:49, 1st 2006 Casablanca Marathon, 6th 2004 Amsterdam Marathon

6. Tariku Aboset, 24, ETH, Debut, N/A

7. Habte Jifar, 32, ETH, 2:12:39, 5th 2006 Los Angeles Marathon

8. Yuriy Hychun, 29, UKR, 2:14:23, 5th 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 3rd 2005 Country Music Marathon

9. Andrei Gordeev, 31, BEL, 2:11:44, 6th 2005 Country Music Marathon

10. Benson Matheka, 34, KEN, 2:17:14, N/A

11. Fikadu Degefu, 34, ETH, 2:15:26, 3rd 2005 Country Music Marathon

12. Tobias Hiskia, 29, NAM, 2:13:16, N/A

13. Girma Tola, 30, ETH, 2:10:38, 1st 2004 Enschede Marathon

2007 Women's Elite Open Field as of January 9, 2007

Name, Age, Country, Best, Fact/Comment

1. Shitaye Gemechu, 26, ETH, 2:26:15, 1st 2004, '05 and '06 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon

2. Adenech Zekiros, 24, ETH, 2:27:38, 3rd 2006 Rome Marathon

3. Luminita Talpos, 34, ROM, 2:27:32, 3rd 2006 Bay to Breakers, 6th 2003 Osaka Ladies Marathon (PR)

4. Salomie Getnet, 20, ETH, 2:36:55, 4th 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll AZ, 4th 2006 Athens Classic Marathon

5. Mulu Seboka, 22, ETH, 2:30:41, 9th 2006 Nagoya Marathon

6. Danuta Marczyk-Teschner, 33, POL, 2:41:14, 16th 2000 Boston Marathon

7. Maria Portilla, 33, PER, 2:35:24, 3rd 2006 Grandma's Marathon

8. Susan Loken, 42, USA, AZ, 2:41:31, 7th 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll AZ, 3rd 2005 Twin Cities Marathon

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