Men's Course Record, Great Women's Finish!

Kebede's Course Record and Thrilling Women's Finish Highlight 35th Running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Ethiopians Dominate the Podium with Sweep of Men's Race and Women's Victory
Press Release
CHICAGO --Today's 35th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon witnessed historic performances by men's champion Tsegaye Kebede and women's champion Atsede Baysa, both of Ethiopia, as an event record 37,455 participants crossed the finish line under cool conditions in Grant Park. Kebede's time of 2:04:38 broke the previous course record by nearly a minute, while Baysa's one-second margin of victory over Rita Jeptoo of Kenya in the closest women's finish in race history.
"I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Bank of America Chicago Marathon's 35th year than by rewriting the record books," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Tsegaye took advantage of great racing conditions and stiff competition to smash the course record, and Atsede and Rita treated us to a spirited battle all the way to the finish tape. Their performances set the pace for a wonderful day of marathon running in Chicago, and it's my pleasure to congratulate all race finishers, and to thank our volunteers, city partners, and sponsors who help make this event possible."
With a start time temperature of 42 degrees and light winds, the lead men's pack of 12 runners reached the halfway point in 1:02:54. At 25K, Kebede forged to the lead and the race was on. Along with fellow Ethiopians Tilahun Regassa and Feyisa Lilesa, they attacked the second half, putting the course record in jeopardy. But Kebede was a man on a mission, and the 2010 Chicago runner-up advanced to the top of the podium in style, blazing the last 13.1 miles in 1:01:44 en route to victory. Not only was Kebede's win the first by an Ethiopian male in Chicago, but he was followed across the line by Lilesa (2:04:38) and Regassa (2:05:27) for an Ethiopian sweep, all three bettering the previous record of 2:05:37 set by Kenya's Moses Mosop in 2011. Michigan native Dathan Ritzenhein was the top U.S. finisher in ninth, establishing a more than two-minute personal best of 2:07:47 and becoming the third fastest American of all time.
In the women's race, three-time defending champion Liliya Shobukhova's reign came to an end as she was fourth in a race where the top four finished under 2:23. Shobukhova ran in a pack of nine that covered the first half in 1:11:15, before she fell five seconds behind the leaders at 30K. Also trailing was Ethiopia's Atsede Baysa, who then surged to catch the pack by 35K. Over the final miles, it was a three-woman race between Baysa and Kenyans Rita Jeptoo and Lucy Kabuu. Baysa and Jeptoo battled all the way to the tape in the closest women's finish in race history. In the end, only one second separated the two with Baysa edging Jeptoo, 2:22:03 to 2:22:04, both personal bests. Kabuu was third in 2:22:41. Oregon's Renee Metivier Baillie, running her debut marathon, was the top American in eighth with a 2:27:17.
In the wheelchair race, defending women's champion Tatyana McFadden of Champaign, Ill., returned to the winner's circle with a powerful performance, winning by more than six minutes in 1:49:52. In the men's race, last year's fourth-place finisher, Canada's Josh Cassidy, moved up to the top spot on the podium, besting Adam Bleakney of Champaign, Ill., 1:32:58 to 1:34:23.
The fourth annual Nike Northside/Southside Challenge featured the area's top high school cross country athletes competing in a unique race that covers the final 2.62 miles of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon course. In the boys' race, Pat McMahon of Carl Sandburg High School finished first in 13:07. In the girls' race, Carly Krull, also of Carl Sandburg High School, won in 15:18. In the team challenge, the Northside squad captured the title over the Southside team.

D'Amico, Lifka Win Lake Zurich Half

It'sa a great run on a great course, and when it was over, Joseph D'Amico, 38, of Palatine was the winner of the Lake Zurich Alpine Races Half-Marathon on Sunday with a 1:19:53.51. Tammy Lifka, 42, of Glen Ellyn, was the women's champ in 1:24:32.47. On a course with nice views and some healthy hills, it was pretty close on the men's side as 51-year-old Janusz Malski of Chicago showed the younger runners how it's done with a great 1:20:21.35 runner-up performance. Gavin Campbell, 36, of Deer Park, was a close third in 1:20:32.94. Stephanie Wagner, 38, of Lombard, ran a 1:31:56.99 for second place female overall, and Hannah Klinger , 26, of North Fond du Lac, WI, was third in 1:32:23.95. There were 284 finishers in this event put on each year by the Alpine Runners. They also had a 5K and kids events.

Wallor, Saunders Fastest at Park Ridge

The 35th Park Ridge Charity Classic 5K has its usual stacked field on Saturday. Eric Wallor, 29, of Chicago, was overal winner on the fast course in 15:46.91, and Ashley Saunders, 16, of Gardner, was the women's winner in 17:33.58. Mark Wehrman, 26, of Chicago, logged second place with a 15:55.09, and Emisael Favela, 35, of Berwyn, was third in 15:58.94. The top eight were under 16:16 in this highly competitive CARA Runners' Choice Circuit race. Runner-up on the women's side was Pamela Staton, 25, of Chicago, in 17:36.10, and third went to Columba Montes, 33, of Chicago, in 17:43.02. Hats off to 65-year-old Nancy Rollins of Evanston who clocked a 20:58.89. Incredible. There were 519 finishers in this race that has stood the test of time (pun intended) quite well.

Gillette, Meneses Win Fox Valley Marathon

It was a great morning of running in the Fox River Valley Sunday as Justin Gillette and Vanessa Meneses won the Advocate Dreyer Fox Valley Marathon, which starts and finishes in St. Charles. Gillette, 29, of Goshen, IN, won by more than 10 minutes with a race record 2:31:34. According to the marathon staff, this was Gillette's 51st all-time marathon victory and 14th this year! The distant second-place runner was Gregory Maves, 25, who finished in 2:41:52. Third male was Steve Nusser, 43, who "mastered" the course in a very nice 2:49:36. Meneses, 27, of Peoria, won the women's competition in 3:03:46, also an event record. Second was Hailey Kryston, 20, in 3:14:58, and third went to Samantha Vander Heyden, 28, in 3:15:41. There were 1,060 finishers in the main event. There also was a 20-mile and a half-marathon. Both were well-attended.

Mull, Staton Lead 4,868 at Bucktown 5K

It was a great day for the annual RAM Racing Bucktown 5K, and as of now, there were 4,868 finishers. Some familiar names topped the men's and women's leaderboards in this neighborhood staple event in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. Brandon Mull, 26, of Wheaton, was the overall winner in 15:19. Women's champ was Pamela Staton, 25, of Ingleside, in 17:53. They were moving. Runners-up were Andrew Leonard, 28, of Chicago, in 15:36, and Melissa Hardesty, 35, of Chicago, in 18:13. Third places were taken by Lars Juhl, 35, of Chicago, in 15:46, and Jill Czarnik, 24, of Chicago, in 18:25. Great job by everyone in this festive and competitive race.

Marathon Elite Fields Announced

Kebede and Kidane Among Talented Group of International Athletes
Set to Compete for 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Crown

Smyth, Grabow and Metivier Baille Highlight Promising U.S. Contingent
Press Release
CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Wednesday announced its full elite athlete field for the event's 35th running on October 7. Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede tops a stacked roster of athletes hungry for a breakthrough performance on Chicago's international stage, while the women's field welcomes, among others, Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia, coming off a fourth-place finish in the 10,000-meter race at the London Olympics. These athletes join previously announced 2012 Boston Marathon champion and Chicago runner-up Wesley Korir of Kenya, three-time U.S. Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, and three-time defending champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia.
"The men's field is the deepest we've ever had in Chicago, and I think it will take a career performance to win on October 7," said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. "In the women's field, with the addition of Werknesh Kidane, you are looking at some of the most talented athletes on the planet, each of whom will be trying to figure out a way to beat Liliya Shobukhova on what has become her home course. These are going to be magnificent races to help celebrate the Chicago Marathon's 35th anniversary."
Kebede returns to Chicago after a memorable duel against the late Sammy Wanjiru at the 2010 race. During the Olympic champion's brief but spectacular period of dominance in the sport, Kebede, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, was Wanjiru's most famous opponent, with the 2010 Chicago Marathon being the pinnacle of their rivalry. He'll be joined by countrymen Feyisa Lilesa, the 2011 World Championship bronze medalist; 2:05 performers Dadi Yami and Shami Dawit; 2012 Paris Marathon runner-up Raji Assefa; and Tilahun Regassa in his highly anticipated debut.
Kenya's Levy Matebo is the fastest entrant in the field, with a 2:05:16 performance at the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon. He'll challenge fellow Kenyan Wesley Korir, who came from behind to steal victory away from him at the 2012 Boston Marathon. The Kenyan contingent also includes 2012 Tokyo Marathon champion Michael Kipyego, 2011 Chicago Marathon runner-up Bernard Kipyego, 2011 Amsterdam Marathon runner-up Laban Korir, 2012 Lake Biwa Marathon champion Samuel Ndungu, and Sammy Kitwara, the fifth-fastest half-marathon performer of all time.
A strong group of Japanese men is led by Takashi Horiguchi, who cracked the top 10 in Chicago last fall and ran a personal best of 2:09:16 at the Lake Biwa Marathon in February.
Kidane owns history's eighth-fastest 10,000-meter performance, and, like former track stars Shobukhova and Ejegayehu Dibaba, she'll look to Chicago's flat and fast course to capitalize on her superior track speed. She's joined by fellow Ethiopians Atsede Baysa, the 2010 Chicago Marathon runner-up and two-time Paris Marathon champion, and Belainesh Gebre, the fourth-place Chicago finisher last year.
In addition to 2:19 performer Lucy Kabuu, the Kenyan women will be represented by former Boston Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo and Caroline Rotich.
Shobukhova will be joined by Russian teammate Maria Konovalova, the third-place finisher from the 2010 Chicago Marathon.
Smyth, Grabow and Metivier Baille highlight U.S. contingent
Along with Ritzenhein, the top U.S. entrants include University of Notre Dame All-American and 2010 U.S. Half Marathon runner-up Patrick Smyth; California's Jimmy Grabow, who ran 2:12:35 in his debut at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January; 2:13 athletes Jeffrey Eggleston of Arizona and Patrick Rizzo, a Chicago native; and Oregon's Craig Leon.
Recent U.S. 20K champion and 11-time NCAA All-American Renee Metivier Baille of Oregon headlines the U.S. women in her marathon debut. She's joined by fellow debutant Stephanie Pezzullo, and U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers Deanna Ardrey and Addie Bracy. To view the complete 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon elite athlete roster, go to www.chicagomarathon.com/2012eliteathletes.

Susan Croll Memorial This Saturday

A memorial for Susan Croll, a great runner and wonderful person, will be this Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at Lou Malnati's, 8515 Redtail Drive in Lakewood, IL 60014. According to Susan's daughter Ande, the restaurant is about 15 minutes north on Randall Road from I-90. "We are inviting anyone from the family, running community, etc who wants to come," Ande said in an e-mail. "The room has space for 100 people so we think we should be just fine. We will be serving pizza and drinks. "If anyone would like, we are asking that donations in memory of mom be given to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. Details for giving are at http://www.theaftd.org/about/get-involved/donate." Susan passed away after a difficult multi-year struggle. She will be greatly missed by the Chicago-area running community.