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Posted Thursday, 27 July, 2006 Contact: Dan Breidinger, (563) 359-9197 DAVENPORT, Iowa - (July 25, 2006) - Officials from the Quad-City Times Bix 7 have announced their professional athlete field. The list is headlined by defending champions Gilbert Okari and Nuta Olaru in addition to the course record holders John Korir and Susan Chepkemei as well as 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi and two-time Olympian Marla Runyan, both of the USA. On Saturday, July 29, these athletes will toe the line against a talented international field of 28 elite men and 19 elite women for the title of Quad-City Times Bix 7 champion and a 2006 car. Meb Keflezighi, 31, who this past April finished 3rd at the Boston Marathon and followed that with a road victory at the Orange Classic 10K as well as national runner-up at the USA 10,000m Championships in Indianapolis. Meb is no stranger to the Bix 7 course as the Team Running USA athlete won the 2002 edition and placed third in the closely contested 2003 race. The Mammoth Lakes, Calif. resident has been the most successful U.S. men's distance runner since Frank Shorter with his 2004 Olympic silver medal, the U.S. 10,000m record of 27:13.98 and 15 national titles. Marla Runyan, 37, will be making her Bix 7 debut, but she is no stranger to the roads as she ran the second fastest debut marathon in U.S. history with a 4th place finish at the 2002 New York City Marathon. Even more astounding is the fact that Marla is classified as legally blind as she was diagnosed at the age of nine with a degenerative eye condition known as Stargardt's disorder. The Eugene, Ore. resident is recently returning to competition after taking the 2005 season off to become a first-time mother. Nuta Olaru of Romania spent the early part of her season concentrating on the marathon where she placed 4th in the City of Los Angeles Marathon. She is rounding into shape and will be considered a contender for the women's title. She will be challenged by course record holder Susan Chepkemei who recently placed second at the equally challenging Utica Boilermaker 15K. On the men's side, defending champion Gilbert Okari of Kenya will look to earn a second crown after sweeping victories at all of the major road race stops this spring. Lurking close will be course record holder and five-time Bix 7 champion John Korir who has the most Open titles, male or female, in the history of the event. Next in his sights is Joan Benoit Samuelson who with her master's title last year won her ninth overall Bix crown (four Open and five masters). Each Bix Open champion will receive a 2006 automobile from Lujack's Northpark Auto Plaza of Davenport, the nation's largest independently owned auto mall featuring vehicles from 16 different manufacturers. The prize structure for 2nd to 10th place is as follows: 2nd - $4000; 3rd - $2500; 4th - $1500; 5th - $1000; 6th - $900; 7th - $800; 8th - $700; 9th - $600; 10th - $500. 32nd Quad-City Times Bix 7 Professional Athlete Field WOMEN MEN For more race information, visit: www.Bix7.com Latest articles in Top News
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