Record Field to Run B.A.A. Half Marathon Sunday
Top athletes to compete for $30,000 prize purse
Posted Tuesday, 3 October, 2006
BOSTON, MA -- This Sunday at 8:00 a.m., the B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, will once again take place on the streets of Boston’s Fenway. The 13.1-mile course starts and finishes at Roberto Clemente Field along Park Drive, and includes an out-and-back route to Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo.
The sixth annual event boasts a record field of 4,617 entrants. Of those entrants, 151 of them have completed all five B.A.A. Half Marathons to date.
The top 10 overall male and female finishers will be awarded prize money from a $30,000 purse, with $5,000 going to both the men’s and women’s winners. Among the favorites to contend for the top prize are defending men’s champion Celedonio Rodriguez (Alamosa, CO) and women’s course-record holder Marie Davenport (IRL / Guilford, CT). A deep elite field looks to challenge them, however, including Samuel Ndereba (KEN), Richard Kiplagat (KEN), and Peter Gilmore (San Mateo, CA) in the men’s race and Josephine Deemay (TAN) in the women’s race.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund are the presenting sponsors of the B.A.A. Half Marathon for the fourth consecutive year. Several hundred Dana-Farber Runners will be fundraising for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, and a limited number of entries still remain for those interested in joining the race against cancer.
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.
2006 B.A.A. Half Marathon: Elite Men
Bib #1
Celedonio Rodriguez, 25, USA (Alamosa, CO)
Personal Best: 1:04:09 (B.A.A. Half Marathon, 2005)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 1st in 2005 (1:04:09)
Celedonio Rodriguez is a newcomer to the road-racing scene, and his breakout performance came in last year's B.A.A. Half Marathon. A relative unknown when the starting gun fired, Rodriguez quickly seized the lead and set out on his own. After building up a considerable lead, Rodriguez held off the late charge of Samuel Ndereba, winning with a personal-best time of 1:04:09. Continuing to hone his skills at the half marathon distance, Rodriguez won the 2006 Spokane Half Marathon and the Wine Country Half Marathon. At Adams State College, Rodriguez was a three-time NCAA Division II national champion (5,000m, 10,000m, cross country) and 14-time All-American. Born in Mexico City but raised in Santa Rosa, CA, Rodriguez was sworn in as an American citizen less than two weeks before last year's B.A.A. Half Marathon.
Bib #2
Samuel Ndereba, 29, KEN
Personal Best: 1:01:50 (Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, 2006)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 6th in 2004 (1:04:02); 2nd in 2005 (1:04:21)
2006 is Samuel Ndereba's third try at the B.A.A. Half Marathon, and if his trend of steady improvement continues, this might be his lucky year. After placing sixth in 2004, Ndereba made a late charge last year, nearly catching Celedonio Rodriguez in the final mile of the race (he fell 12 seconds short). Should he succeed this year, Ndereba won't be the first member of his family to break the tape in Boston: his older sister Catherine is the only four-time women's champion at the Boston Marathon. Ndereba has shown remarkable consistency at the half marathon distance, often running under 1:05:00. Earlier this fall he showed himself to be in top form with a personal best of 1:01:50 at the Jefferson Hospital Distance Run in Philadelphia, where he placed fifth. Earlier this year, Ndereba won the Azalea Trail 10K and was the runner-up in the Cherry Blossom 10M.
Bib #3
Richard Kiplagat, 25, KEN
Personal Best: debut
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
As a star on the Iona College track and cross country teams, Richard Kiplagat showed tremendous range. Among his personal records were times of 1:50:01 for 800m, 3:57.40 for the mile, and 13:41.24 for 5,000m. He was a 10-time NCAA Division I All-American, finishing as high as second in the nation (in both the 2005 cross country championships and the 2006 outdoor track 5,000m). Kiplagat recently won his professional road-racing debut, the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K in Providence, RI. In a tight finish, Kiplagat out-kicked U.S. Olympian Anthony Famiglietti to win by one second, 13:49-13:50. This will be his debut at the half marathon distance.
Bib #4
Michael Misoi, KEN
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
Michael Misoi placed second in this year's Mombasa Marathon, just missing the victory by two seconds. Both he and the winner, Philip Kimei, were under the race's previous course record.
Bib #5
Peter Gilmore, 29, USA (San Mateo, CA)
Personal Best: 1:04:32 (Aramco Houston Half Marathon, 2006)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
Peter Gilmore has quickly become a familiar face in Boston, based on his top-10 finishes in the last two Boston Marathons. The UC-Berkeley graduate made his Boston debut in 2005, placing 10th in a time of 2:17:32. This past April he did even better, crossing the line in seventh place with a new personal-best time of 2:12:45. Gilmore's best half marathon was a Boston tune-up race earlier in the year, a 1:04:32 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. This will be his first appearance in the B.A.A. Half Marathon.
Bib #6
John Mortimer, 30, USA (Waltham, MA)
Personal Best: 1:07:55 (B.A.A. Half Marathon, 2003)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 8th in 2003 (1:07:55)
Though this will be only the second half marathon that he's run (he placed eighth here in 2003), John Mortimer has been at the top of the sport for a decade. He was a 12-time New Hampshire state champion and three-time national champion in high school. At the University of Michigan he was a seven-time All-American. He has placed as high as third in the nation in the 3,000m steeplechase, and was seventh in that event at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Mortimer now coaches track at Boston College.
Bib #7
Nate Jenkins, 26, USA (Lowell, MA)
Personal Best: 1:03:44 (3M Half Marathon, 2006)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 9th in 2005 (1:07:32)
After cracking the top 10 in the 2005 B.A.A. Half Marathon, Nate Jenkins returns this year looking to improve on that placing. So far, 2006 has been a great year for the UMass-Lowell alum. First he ran a half marathon PR at the 3M Half Marathon in January (1:03:44, though the course was short; for the full 13.1-mile distance his time converts to 1:04:14), then Jenkins qualified for the 2008 Olympic Team Trials in his debut marathon, finishing the Austin Freescale Marathon in 2:15:28.
Bib #10
Steve Meinelt, 23, USA (Washington, DC)
Personal Best: debut
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
A 2006 graduate of Georgetown University, Steve Meinelt will be making his half marathon debut here in Boston. As a varsity athlete for the Hoyas cross country and track teams, Meinelt posted personal bests of 3:53.69 (1500m), 14:05 (5,000m), and 30:00 (10,000m). His track success has quickly translated to the roads where he has posted a 5K best of 14:43.
Bib #11
Wayne Levy, 41, JAM (Newton, MA)
Personal Best: 1:09:19 (Kyoto City Half Marathon, 2001)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 1st in 2001 (1:10:57); 5th in 2002 (1:12:12); 9th in 2003 (1:11:08); 20th in 2004 (1:13:31); 15th in 2005 (1st Master; 1:12:50)
The B.A.A. Running Club's Wayne Levy just might be the most decorated runner in the short history of the B.A.A. Half Marathon. The Jamaican native and Massachusetts resident won the inaugural edition of the race in 2001, breaking the tape in 1:10:57. Levy's win led the B.A.A. team to the championship, and he's been a scoring member of the team every year since, as the B.A.A. men have accumulated five consecutive titles. Levy added to his collection of titles last year, winning his first masters title at the B.A.A. Half Marathon in a time of 1:12:50. He is one of 151 entrants in this year's race to have completed all five previous B.A.A. Half Marathon.
Bib #12
Eric Morse, 41, USA (Berlin, VT)
Personal Best: 1:00:48 20K (New Haven Road Race)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 17th in 2005 (2nd Master; 1:13:19)
Last year's runner-up in the Masters Division, Eric Morse has some impressive credentials. His PRs include a 29:29 10K and a 60:48 20K (which converts, approximately, to a 1:03:55 half marathon). Three times he has finished second in the grueling Mt. Washington Road Race. As a masters competitor, he's run 15:09 for 5K and 31:59 for 10K.
Bib #13
Oscar Gonzalez-Barreto, 42, USA (New Haven, CT)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
A top age-group competitor, Oscar Gonzalez-Barreto's name can be found in the results of top road races throughout New England. Already this year, Barreto was the fourth master at the Falmouth Road Race and won the Masters Division at the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K. In 2005, he placed fourth overall at the New Bedford Half Marathon (1:08:31) and finished 49th overall in the ING New York City Marathon (2:46:00).
Bib #14
Robert Cannon, 23, USA (Toms River, NJ)
Personal Best: 1:08:59 (NYC Half Marathon, 2006)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
As an undergraduate at Haverford College, Robert Cannon was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American, capturing that honor in all three seasons, cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. On the track he posted PRs of 3:50.6 (1500m) and 14:48 (5,000m). Since graduating in May, Cannon has turned his focus to the roads running bests of 15:12 (5K) and 55:31 (10M). In his half marathon debut, Cannon placed 14th in the NYC Half Marathon with a time of 1:08:59.
2006 B.A.A. Half Marathon: Elite Women
Bib #F1
Marie Davenport, 31, IRL (Guilford, CT)
Personal Best: 1:10:57 (B.A.A. Half Marathon, 2003)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 1st in 2003 (1:10:57 Course Record)
Marie Davenport is one of the most decorated runners in the history of Providence College. The 1998 graduate was an eight-time Big East champion and a 10-time NCAA Division I All-American. In addition to leading the 1995 Friars team to their first NCAA team title in cross country, she captured an indoor 5,000m NCAA championship. Davenport won comfortably in her one appearance at the B.A.A. Half Marathon, setting the still-standing course record of 1:10:57 in the process. Last fall, Davenport set a marathon PR of 2:33:57 at the ING New York City Marathon. She has twice represented her native Ireland in the Olympic Games, running the 5,000m in 1996 and placing 14th in the 10,000m in 2004.
Bib #F2
Josephine Deemay, 20, TAN
Personal Best: 1:12:34 (Le Lion Half Marathon, 2004)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
Despite Josephine Deemay's youth--she is just 20 years old--she already has an impressive international résumé. Just two weeks after her 18th birthday, the Tanzanian star recorded a personal best of 16:07.24 for 5,000m, and followed that up a few months later with a 1:12:34 half marathon. At the age of 19 she placed fifth in the Commonwealth Games marathon with a time of 2:36:27. This will be her first appearance in the B.A.A. Half Marathon.
Bib #F3
Anne Kugler, 38, USA (New York, NY)
Personal Best: 1:15:54 (Grete's Great Gallop Half Marathon, 2005)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
After competing in high school and college, Anne Kugler took more than a decade off from racing. Having recently returned to the sport, Kugler has thus far experienced tremendous results. In 2005 she won Grete's Great Gallop Half Marathon (1:15:54) followed shortly by a 12th-place finish at the Tufts 10K (34:19)--both races yielding personal bests. She capped off her season with a huge PR at the ING New York City Marathon, finishing in 2:43:14. As a result of her accomplishments, the New York Road Runners named her as NYRR Club Night Runner of the Year. This will be her first appearance at the B.A.A. Half Marathon.
Bib #F4
Kasie Enman, 27, USA (Huntington, VT)
Personal Best: 1:17:40 (New Bedford Half Marathon, 2006)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
As a distance star at Division III Middlebury College, Kasie Enman was a cross country All-American, placing 13th in the nation in 2000. Since graduating, Enman has moved up in distance, and 2006 has been her most successful season yet. In March she ran a 1:17:40 half marathon PR, then in June she posted a qualifying time for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials--Women's Marathon with her 2:44:06 finish at Grandma's Marathon.
Bib #F5
Kara Ryczek, 31, USA (Waltham, MA)
Personal Best: 1:23:30 (B.A.A. Half Marathon, 2005)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 10th in 2005 (1:23:30)
Following in the footsteps of her mother, Mary Ryczek, a top age-group competitor, Kara Ryczek began running competitively just over a year ago. Her 10th-place finish at last year's B.A.A. Half Marathon, in 1:23:30, was a personal best for the distance, and she followed that up with a 3:04:36 PR in the 2006 Boston Marathon.
Bib #F6
Carly Graytock, 28, USA (Cambridge, MA)
Personal Best: 1:16:42 (Dallas White Rock Half Marathon, 2004)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 2nd in 2001 (1:21:35)
Five years after finishing as the runner-up in the inaugural B.A.A. Half Marathon, Carly Graytock returns, looking to improve on that race and to help the B.A.A. Running Club add to their string of five consecutive team titles. Since that 2001 race, Graytock, a graduate of Bucknell University, has posted a half marathon PR of 1:16:42, and has twice placed in the top 20 in the Boston Marathon. She finished 14th with a time of 2:44:02 in 2005 and was 18th in 2006 with a time of 2:43:19, the latter qualifying her for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials--Women's Marathon, which will be held in Boston. Graytock also qualified for the 2004 Olympic Team Trials--Women's Marathon.
Bib #F7
Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova, 45, RUS
Personal Best: 1:09:08 (Chelyabinsk Half Marathon, 1994)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 3rd in 2005 (1st Master; 1:15:19)
Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova has already had a big year. The B.A.A. Half Marathon's defending Masters Division champion collected two half marathon victories in January, the Naples Daily News Half and the Chevron Houston Half, then after her 45th birthday in April she captured two masters titles--the Peachtree 10K and Utica Boilermaker 15K--within a one-week span. Her personal bests run the gamut from a 15:13.46 5,000m best to a 2:27:05 marathon PR. She holds the Masters Division course record in the Boston Marathon, having run 2:27:58 to place fifth overall in 2002.
Bib #F8
Janelle Kraus, 28, USA (Pawtucket, RI)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: debut
As a student-athlete at Wake Forest University, Janelle Kraus posted personal bests of 4:28 (1500m), 16:09 (5,000m), and 33:31 (10,000m). In 2004 she ran a marathon best of 2:44:07 to place eighth in the Twin Cities Marathon. This will be her first appearance in the B.A.A. Half Marathon.
Bib #9
Kimberly Nolan, 24, USA (Watertown, MA)
Personal Best: 1:23:14 (B.A.A. Half Marathon, 2005)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 9th in 2005 (1:23:14)
Kimberly Nolan was a four-time competitor in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships for Stonehill College. After graduating in 2004 she turned her focus to the roads, and in 2005 she posted two big PRs. The first was her 1:23:14 ninth-place finish in the B.A.A. Half Marathon, followed a few weeks later by a 2:56:21 11th-place finish in the Philadelphia Marathon.
Bib #F10
Sarah Nixon, 42, USA (Medfield, MA)
Personal Best: 1:19 (Newport Half Marathon, 1999)
B.A.A. Half Marathon History: 1st in 2001 (1:21:16); 1st in 2002 (1:22:34); 9th in 2003 (1:26:02); 9th in 2004 (4th Master; 1:26:22); 12th in 2005 (4th Master; 1:24:50)
Sarah Nixon holds a unique distinction: she is the only two-time champion of the B.A.A. Half Marathon, male or female. Nixon edged Carly Graytock by 19 seconds to win the inaugural race in 2001, then returned 12 months later to win again. This year, Nixon will be one of the top contenders in the Masters Division. She is one of 151 entrants in this year's race who has completed all five previous B.A.A. Half Marathons.
Media Contacts: Jack Fleming (617-236-1652, x2627; fleming@baa.org) or Marc Chalufour (617-236-1652, x2632; chalufour@baa.org).
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