MEDia info & ElitE fast faCts athlEtEsassets.chicagomarathon.com/.../05/2_Elite-Athletes.pdf ·...

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MEDIA INFO & FAST FACTS ELITE ATHLETES ELITE ATHLETES

Transcript of MEDia info & ElitE fast faCts athlEtEsassets.chicagomarathon.com/.../05/2_Elite-Athletes.pdf ·...

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MEDia info &fast faCts

ELITEATH

LETES

ElitEathlEtEs

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ELITE ATHLETES

ELITE ATHLETE ROSTER ............................................................................................ 28

MALE ATHLETE PROFILESRaji Assefa .............................................................................................................. 30Diego Colorado ........................................................................................................ 32Shami Dawit ............................................................................................................ 34Jeffrey Eggleston ...................................................................................................... 35Jimmy Grabow .......................................................................................................... 37Jason Gutierrez ........................................................................................................ 38Takashi Horiguchi ..................................................................................................... 39Hiroki Kadota ........................................................................................................... 40Tsegaye Kebede ....................................................................................................... 41Bernard Kipyego ....................................................................................................... 43Michael Kipyego ....................................................................................................... 45Sammy Kitwara ........................................................................................................ 47Koji Kobayashi ......................................................................................................... 49Laban Korir .............................................................................................................. 50Wesley Korir ............................................................................................................. 51Takeshi Kumamoto ................................................................................................... 53Craig Leon ............................................................................................................... 54Feyisa Lilesa ............................................................................................................ 56Levy Matebo ............................................................................................................ 58Yuki Moriwaki ........................................................................................................... 60William Naranjo ........................................................................................................ 61Samuel Ndungu ....................................................................................................... 62Drew Polley .............................................................................................................. 63Tilahun Regassa ...................................................................................................... 64Dathan Ritzenhein .................................................................................................... 66Patrick Rizzo ............................................................................................................ 69Patrick Smyth ........................................................................................................... 71Carlos Trujillo ........................................................................................................... 73Dadi Yami ................................................................................................................ 75

FEMALE ATHLETE PROFILESDeanna Ardrey ......................................................................................................... 76Atsede Baysa ........................................................................................................... 77Addie Bracy.............................................................................................................. 79Devon Crosby-Helms ................................................................................................. 81Belainesh Gebre ...................................................................................................... 83Rita Jeptoo .............................................................................................................. 85Lucy Kabuu .............................................................................................................. 87Werknesh Kidane ..................................................................................................... 89Maria Konovalova ..................................................................................................... 91Renee Metivier Baillie ............................................................................................... 93Dot McMahan .......................................................................................................... 94Merima Mohammed ................................................................................................. 96Stephanie Pezzullo ................................................................................................... 97Caroline Rotich ........................................................................................................ 99Fatuma Sado ........................................................................................................... 101 Liliya Shobukhova ..................................................................................................... 102

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ELITE ATHLETE ROSTERELITE ATHLETE ROSTER

2012 ELITE ATHLETE ROSTER(as of September 17, 2012)

MENName Country Personal Best

Levy Matebo KEN 2:05:16Tsegaye Kebede ETH 2:05:18Feyisa Lilesa ETH 2:05:23Dadi Yami ETH 2:05:41Shami Dawit ETH 2:05:42Laban Korir KEN 2:06:05Wesley Korir KEN 2:06:15Raji Assefa ETH 2:06:24Bernard Kipyego KEN 2:06:29Michael Kipyego KEN 2:06:48Samuel Ndungu KEN 2:07:04Takeshi Horiguchi JPN 2:09:16Dathan Ritzenhein USA 2:09:55Takeshi Kumamoto JPN 2:10:13Yuki Moriwaki JPN 2:11:52Hiroki Kadota JPN 2:12:25Jimmy Grabow USA 2:12:35Koji Kobayashi JPN 2:12:52Jeffrey Eggleston USA 2:13:12Jason Gutierrez COL 2:13:24Patrick Rizzo USA 2:13:42Drew Polley USA 2:14:58Patrick Smyth USA 2:15:00William Naranjo COL 2:15:39Craig Leon USA 2:15:42Diego Colorado COL 2:16:45Malcolm Richards USA 2:17:29Tim Tollefson USA 2:18:26Stephen Muturi KEN 2:18:51Thomas Frazer IRL 2:19:42Carlos Trujillo USA 2:20:56Sammy Kitwara KEN 58:48 (half marathon)Tilahun Regassa ETH 59:19 (half marathon)Stephen Pifer USA Debut

WOMENName Country Personal Best

Liliya Shobukhova RUS 2:18:20Lucy Kabuu KEN 2:19:34Atsede Baysa ETH 2:22:04Merima Mohammad ETH 2:23:04Rita Jeptoo KEN 2:23:38Maria Konovalova RUS 2:23:50Caroline Rotich KEN 2:24:26Fatuma Sado ETH 2:25:39 Werknesh Kidane ETH 2:26:15Belainesh Gebre ETH 2:26:17Dot McMahan USA 2:31:48Devon Crosby-Helms USA 2:38:50Lindsay Tollefson USA 2:43:00Deanna Ardrey USA 2:43:12Addie Bracy USA 2:44:34Renee Metivier Baillie USA 1:11:51 (half marathon)Stephanie Pezzullo USA 1:13:12 (half marathon)

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MALE ATHLETESMALE ATHLETES

RAJI ASSEFA Birthdate: September 29, 1986 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Agent: Mark Wetmore Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:06:24 (Paris, 2012)Half Marathon 1:00:07 (Rotterdam, 2008)10,000m 27:15.68 (Hengelo, 2007)

CAREER OVERVIEWAssefa has improved his marathon time by more than 10 minutes since his debut in Vienna in 2010. In January, he mounted a late challenge at the Mumbai Marathon, but lost out to Kenya’s Laban Moiben in a sprint finish (both athletes were credited with the same finish time). After a solid half marathon tune up in March, he returned to Paris for the full marathon, finishing second in 2:06:24. He has twice represented Ethiopia at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and at the 2008 Rotterdam Half Marathon he ran a personal best of 1:00:07, good for ninth place in a race where six men broke 60 minutes.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Paris Marathon 2nd 2:06:2403/04/12 Paris Half Marathon 4th 1:01:1301/15/12 Mumbai Marathon 2nd 2:10:48

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Paris Marathon 2nd 2:06:2401/15/12 Mumbai Marathon 2nd 2:10:4810/16/11 Beijing Marathon 4th 2:12:1204/18/10 Vienna City Marathon 17th 2:16:42

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

10/12/08 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 14th 1:04:3210/14/07 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 12th 1:00:31

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DIEGO COLORADO Birthdate: August 31, 1973 Citizenship: Colombia Resides: Medellin, Colombia Agent: Luis Posso Club Affiliation: Correcaminos

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:16:48 (Nashville, 2000) Half Marathon 1:03 (Medellin, 1997)

CAREER OVERVIEWColorado is a two-time medalist at the Pan American Games Marathon, winning silver in 2011 and bronze in 2003. He also represented Columbia at the 2001 IAAF World Championships Marathon, finishing 32nd.

The 39-year-old ran his personal best of 2:16:48 in his debut at the 2000 Country Music Marathon in Nashville, but he has approached that time in two of his last three marathon outings with a pair of 2:17 performances in 2011.

2012 RACESDates Race Place Time 04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 39th 2:21:11 03/18/12 Shamrock Half Marathon 6th 1:05:07

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time 04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 39th 2:21:11 10/30/11 Pan American Games Marathon 2nd 2:17:13 04/18/11 Boston Marathon 18th 2:17:54 05/25/09 Los Angeles Marathon 10th 2:20:38 04/13/08 Rotterdam Marathon 22nd 2:19:22 01/29/06 Miami Marathon 4th 2:21:04 04/24/04 Country Music Marathon 7th 2:18:49 08/09/03 Pan American Games Marathon 3rd 2:21:48 08/03/01 IAAF World Championships Marathon 32nd 2:26:13

Date Race Place Time

04/29/00 Country Music Marathon 11th 2:16:45

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

10/14/07 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 59th 1:04:1811/12/00 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 23rd 1:06:2703/22/98 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12K 67th 36:55

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SHAMI DAWIT Birthdate: July 16, 1984 Citizenship: Ethiopia Agent: Gianni Demadonna Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:05:42 (Dubai, 2012) Half Marathon 1:00:44 (Olomouc, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEWDawit made a huge breakthrough in January as he carved more than four minutes of his marathon personal best to finish seventh in a historically fast race in Dubai. Just three months later, he dipped under the 2:06 barrier again, winning the Hamburg Marathon in a course record time of 2:05:58. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be his first appearance at a World Marathon Majors event.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/29/12 Hamburg Marathon 1st 2:05:5801/27/12 Dubai Marathon 7th 2:05:42

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/29/12 Hamburg Marathon 1st 2:05:5801/27/12 Dubai Marathon 7th 2:05:4210/16/11 Toronto Marathon 2nd 2:09:5103/20/11 Rome Marathon 3rd 2:09:4210/10/10 Carpi Marathon 3rd 2:09:5003/21/10 Rome Marathon 8th 2:12:3611/08/09 Cannes Marathon 7th 2:14:09

JEFFREY EGGLESTON Birthdate: October 1, 1984 Citizenship: United States Resides: Flagstaff, AZ Height: 5’9” Weight: 125 lbs. Coach: Self Agent: Self Sponsor: Brooks

Twitter: @jde66leston

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:13:12 (Duluth, 2011)Half Marathon 1:03:54 (San Francisco, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWEggleston has been busy in 2012 with three marathons already in the books, each one faster than the last. He won The Woodlands Marathon in March, was runner-up at the Pittsburgh Marathon in May, and less than a month later he was one second off his personal best in San Diego. In June, he ran a personal best at the San Francisco Half Marathon.

After a solid marathon debut in 2010, he won the 2011 Pittsburgh Marathon despite starting the race as a rabbit for other elite runners. A month later, he ran his current personal best of 2:13:12 at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN.

This year will mark his first appearance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. As a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in 2008, he finished third at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago.

A high mileage athlete, he averages 125 miles per week, with a peak of 150 weekly miles and a long run of 50K (31 miles).

PERSONALEggleston was a 2010 RRCA Roads Scholar. He is a part-time cataloger at the Flagstaff Public Library, and he enjoying cooking with his girlfriend, hiking, reading and homebrewing in his free time.

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2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/19/12 America’s Finest City Half Marathon 2nd 1:04:5707/29/12 San Francisco Half Marathon 1st 1:03:5406/03/12 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon 8th 2:13:1305/06/12 Pittsburgh Marathon 2nd 2:14:2603/31/12 Cooper River Bridge Run 10K 9th 30:0303/03/12 The Woodlands Marathon 1st 2:15:4202/04/12 All-America City 10K 2nd 29:56

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

06/03/12 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon 8th 2:13:1305/06/12 Pittsburgh Marathon 2nd 2:14:2603/03/12 The Woodlands Marathon 1st 2:15:4210/30/11 Pan American Games Marathon DNF09/04/11 IAAF World Championships Marathon 39th 2:23:3306/18/11 Grandma’s Marathon 5th 2:13:1205/15/11 Pittsburgh Marathon 1st 2:16:4010/03/10 Twin Cities Marathon 2nd 2:14:0901/17/10 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon 6th 2:14:32

JIMMY GRABOW Birthdate: September 20, 1984 Citizenship: United States Resides: Running Springs, CA Height: 5’ 7” Weight: 120 lbs. Coach: Jim Roldan Agent: J.T. Service Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:12:29 (Houston, 2012)Half Marathon 1:03:37 (Huntington Beach, 2011)10,000m 28:35.295,000m 13:44.04

CAREER OVERVIEWGrabow was impressive in his marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a top 10 finish in 2:12:29, the 12th fastest American debut of all-time. The nine athletes who finished in front of him were all previous Olympians and/or U.S. national team members. Grabow punched his ticket to the Trials with a victory at the 2011 Surf City Half Marathon in 1:03:37.

He is a world record holder of sorts, as part of the 13-member world record-setting centipede team at the 2012 Bay to Breakers 12K. PERSONALGrabow is a graduate of California State University-Long Beach, where he currently works as an academic counsler.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

06/16/12 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 13th 1:04:5305/06/12 Orange County Half Marathon 1st 1:06:2003/11/12 Gate River Run 15K 19th 46:4201/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 10th 2:12:29

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 10th 2:12:29

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JASON GUTIERREZ Birthdate: May 8, 1984 Citizenship: Columbia Resides: Bogota, Colombia Agent: Luis Posso Club Affiliation: Porvenir

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:13:24 (Los Angeles, 2011)Half Marathon 1:05:57 (Medellin, 2010)

CAREER OVERVIEWGutierrez was leading the 2009 Long Beach Marathon until mile 23.5 when his body began to shut down. He walked/jogged home in 2:30:21, still good for third place. In 2010, he redeemed himself with a victory there in 2:19:41. The following spring he ran a big PR at the L.A. Marathon, finishing fifth in 2:13:24, and he turned in a solid performance at the Rotterdam Marathon in April.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 14th 2:15:45

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 14th 2:15:4503/20/11 Los Angeles Marathon 5th 2:13:2410/17/10 Long Beach Marathon 1st 2:19:4104/24/10 Country Music Marathon 5th 2:18:43 10/18/09 Long Beach Marathon 3rd 2:30:21

TAKASHI HORIGUCHI Birthdate: September 26, 1979 Citizenship: Japan Resides: Sayama City, Japan Height: 5’5” Weight: 115 Coach: Kiyoshi Akimoto, Satoshi Ogawa Sponsor: Honda

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:09:16 (Otsu, 2012)Half Marathon 1:02:32 (Marugame, 2002)10,000m 28:07.57 (Yokohama, 2007)

CAREER OVERVIEWHoriguchi debuted with a solid 2:12:06 in 2003, but as of 2011, he had only improved his time by a single second, until this spring when the 33-year-old ran a nearly three-minute personal best at the Lake Biwa Marathon. He cracked the top 10 in Chicago last fall, and this year is looking to break the 2:09 barrier.

PERSONALIn his free time he likes relaxing at home with his wife, Sakoto, and playing with his four-year-old son. Last year, he was captivated by the view from the top of the Hancock Building, and he plans to capture the same view again this year.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/01/12 Sapporo International Half Marathon 23rd 1:04:2705/13/12 Sendai International Half Marathon 5th 1:04:1503/04/12 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon 7th 2:09:16

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

03/04/12 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon 7th 2:09:1610/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 9th 2:14:4802/27/11 Tokyo Marathon 10th 2:12:0502/17/05 Tokyo Marathon 7th 2:16:0809/28/04 BMW Berlin Marathon 31st 2:19:4302/16/04 Tokyo Marathon 16th 2:13:2402/02/03 Los Angeles Marathon 5th 2:12:06

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HIROKI KADOTA Birthdate: May 1, 1985 Citizenship: Japan Resides: Tokyo, Japan Height: 5’8” Weight: 120 lbs. Coach: Tadashi Otokita Sponsor: Kanebo Cosmetics, Inc.

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:12:25 (Oita, 2012)Half Marathon 1:02:35 (Marugame, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEWIn his debut at the Beppu-Oita Marathon in February, Kadota passed halfway with a share of the lead in 1:04:38. He slowed during the second half, but managed a solid time of 2:12:25, good for seventh place. He is aiming for a 2:10 in Chicago.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/21/12 Hyogo Relay Carnival 10,000m 19th 29:26.8502/02/12 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon 7th 2:12:25

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

02/02/12 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon 7th 2:12:25

TSEGAYE KEBEDE Birthdate: January 15, 1987 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’3” Weight: 108 lbs. Coach: Getaneh Tessema Agent: Valentijn Trouw Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:05:18 (Fukuoka, 2009)Half Marathon 59:35 (Ras al Khaimah, 2008)10K 27:57 (Manchester, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWKebede returns to Chicago where he was involved in what many consider to be one of the greatest showdowns in marathon history, when he engaged in a seesaw battle with the late Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya, falling just short of beating the 2008 Olympic champion in what would turn out to be Wanjiru’s final competition.

Kebede has a pair of bronze medals from the 2008 Olympic and 2009 World Championship marathons. He has placed in the top three in 10 of his last 11 marathon finishes.

In April, he placed third at the London Marathon, but was passed over for selection to the Ethiopian Olympic team, despite his consistent record of top international finishes at the marathon distance.

PERSONALKebede is the fifth of 13 children. He was raised in poverty in Gerar Ber, a town 25 miles north of Addis Ababa. As a young boy, he collected firewood to sell and herded livestock, earning $.30 USD per day to pay for his own education and food. He began running at the age of eight, and completed his first half marathon in Addis Ababa in 2006.

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2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

05/20/12 BUPA Great Manchester Run 10K 3rd 27:5604/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 3rd 2:06:5202/17/12 Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon 10th 1:02:34

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 3rd 2:06:5211/06/11 ING New York City Marathon 3rd 2:07:1404/17/11 Virgin London Marathon 5th 2:07:4810/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:06:4304/25/10 Virgin London Marathon 1st 2:05:1908/22/09 IAAF World Championships Marathon 3rd 2:08:3512/06/09 Fukuoka International Marathon 1st 2:05:1804/26/09 Virgin London Marathon 2nd 2:05:2012/07/08 Fukuoka International Marathon 1st 2:06:1008/24/08 Olympic Games Marathon 3rd 2:10:0004/06/08 Paris International Marathon 1st 2:06:4010/21/07 Amsterdam Marathon 8th 2:08:1606/10/07 Abebe Bikila Marathon 1st 2:15:34

BERNARD KIPYEGO Birthdate: July 16, 1986 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Eldoret, Kenya Height: 5’7” Weight: 110 lbs. Coach: Patrick Sang Agent: Michel Boeting Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:06:29 (Chicago, 2011)Half Marathon 59:10 (Rotterdam, 2009)10,000m 26:59.61 (Brussels, 2007)

CAREER OVERVIEWBernard Kipyego finished third at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a personal best 2:06:29. He matched that finish this spring in Boston, though his time was slowed by the unseasonably warm conditions there.

Kipyego won a silver medal at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2009, and his 59:10 half marathon personal best ranks among the top 20 all-time.

PERSONALKipyego and his wife, Esilyne, have four children. He is an avid soccer fan and roots for Manchester United.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 3rd 2:13:1302/17/12 RAK Half Marathon 4th 1:01:29

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 3rd 2:13:1310/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 3rd 2:06:2904/10/11 Paris Marathon 2nd 2:07:1609/26/10 BMW Berlin Marathon 6th 2:08:5004/11/10 Rotterdam Marathon 5th 2:07:01

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OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

10/11/09 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2nd 59:5908/17/09 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 5th 27:18.4703/30/08 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12k 10th 35:2403/24/07 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12K 3rd 36:3703/20/05 IAAF Junior World Cross Country Championships 8K 2nd 24:00

MICHAEL KIPYEGO Birthdate: October 2, 1983 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Eldoret, Kenya Height: 5’6” Weight: 130 lbs. Coach: Patrick Sang Agent: Michel Boeting Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:06:48 (Eindhoven, 2011)Half Marathon 1:02:08 (Lille, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEWMichael Kipyego’s brief marathon career has been a successful one, with a personal best of 2:06:48 set in Eindhoven last fall, and a victory at the Tokyo Marathon in February, beating the great Haile Gebrselassie in the process. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be his fourth 42K race and his first appearance at a World Marathon Majors event.

Kipyego is an accomplished steeplechaser, having won the 2002 Junior World title and owning a personal best of 8:08.48 set in 2009. He has also finished among the top 10 at the World Cross Country Championships in both the short and long course events.

He trains among the elite company of Olympic Marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich, London Marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai, and fellow Chicago Marathon competitor Bernard Kipyego.

PERSONALHis younger sister Sally Kipyego won the silver medal in the 10,000m at the 2012 Olympics. He is married with two children, ages seven and two. Kipyego was inspired to be a professional runner by three-time world champion steeplechaser Moses Kiptanui, who was from his village.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

02/26/12 Tokyo International Marathon 1st 2:07:37

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CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

02/26/12 Tokyo International Marathon 1st 2:07:3710/09/11 Eindhoven Marathon 3rd 2:06:4804/10/11 Rotterdam Marathon 6th 2:11:03

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

03/24/07 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12K 6th 37:0408/23/03 IAAF World Championships 3,000m Steeplechase 9th 8:14.9903/29/03 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 4K 4th 11:1807/20/02 IAAF Junior World Championships 3,000m Steeplechase 1st 8:29.54

SAMMY KITWARA Birthdate: November 26, 1986 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Eldoret, Kenya Height: 5’9” Weight: 115 lbs. Coach: Moses Kiptanui Agent: Frans Denissen Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSHalf Marathon 58:48 (Philadelphia, 2011)10K 27:11 (Utrecht, 2010)

CAREER OVERVIEWKitwara is a Kenyan police officer by trade who did not take up running until 2007, but just two years later he was winning major road races including the Bay to Breakers 12K in San Francisco, the World’s Best 10K in Puerto Rico, and the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.

He is a half marathon specialist with victories at Pier-City-Pier and Rotterdam. He was the bronze medalist at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2009, and last September, he finished second at the Philadelphia Half Marathon in 58:58, ranking him fifth on the all-time list.

He attempted his first marathon in Rotterdam this spring, but dropped out at 30K after passing halfway with the lead pack in 1:01:38.

PERSONALKitwara is married with a two-year-old son. Outside of running he is a fan of volleyball, and he enjoys playing pool biljart (billiards) to relax.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/29/12 Bogotá Half Marathon 6th 1:05:1307/04/12 Peachtree Road Race 10K 8th 28:2405/27/12 Abraham Rosa International 10K 2nd 28:5705/20/12 Bay to Breakers 12K 1st 34:41

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Date Race Place Time

02/26/12 World’s Best 10K 1st 28:02

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon DNF

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

09/18/11 Philadelphia Half Marathon 2nd 58:4810/16/10 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 10th 1:01:5910/11/09 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 3rd 1:00:2209/13/09 Rotterdam Half Marathon 1st 58:58

KOJI KOBAYASHI Birthdate: January 16, 1989 Citizenship: Japan Resides: Gunma, Japan Height: 5’7” Weight: 120 lbs. Coach: Wataru Okutani Sponsor: Subaru

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:12:52 (Nobeoka, 2012)Half Marathon 1:03:17 (Tachikawa, 2010)

CAREER OVERVIEWIn his debut at the Nobeoka Marathon in February, Kobayashi hung with the leaders through 30K and was on 2:10 course record pace until late, but he faltered in the final 10K. He still managed a fine debut of 2:12:52, good for fourth place.

He logs high mileage with Team Subarau, peaking at 185 miles per week with a long run of up to 40 miles. He’s aiming for a 2:10 performance in Chicago.

PERSONALA big sports fan, he enjoys soccer, baseball and table tennis.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

02/12/12 Nobeoka Marathon 4th 2:12:52

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

02/12/12 Nobeoka Marathon 4th 2:12:52

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LABAN KORIR Birthdate: December 30, 1985 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Kaptagat, Kenya Height: 5’3” Weight: 110 lbs. Coach: Patrick Sang Agent: Jos Hermens Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:06:05 (Amsterdam, 2011)Half Marathon 1:00:38 (Ostia, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWLaban Korir’s 2:06:05 performance at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon was, at that time, the third-fastest debut of all-time. In February, during his build-up for the Boston Marathon, he ran a half marathon personal best of 1:00:38 to finish fifth in Rome-Ostia. In Boston, he managed a sixth place finish, just missing a World Marathon Majors point, through his time was slowed significantly due to the warm racing conditions.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

02/26/12 Rome-Ostia Half Marathon 5th 1:00:38

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 6th 2:15:2910/16/11 Amsterdam Marathon 2nd 2:06:05

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

03/28/10 Berlin Half Marathon 6th 1:01:03

WESLEY KORIR Birthdate: November 15, 1982 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Louisville, KY Height: 5’8” Weight: 120 lbs. Coach: Ron Mann Agent: Karen Locke Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:06:15 (Chicago, 2011)Half Marathon 1:01:19 (New York City, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWWesley Korir will be running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for the fifth consecutive year. In 2008, he started with the masses five minutes after the elite race yet managed to run the fourth fastest time of the day. He came back the following year and finished sixth overall, then placed fourth in 2010, and had a major breakthrough in 2011, finishing as the runner-up in a personal best 2:06:15. He is a two-time winner of the Los Angeles Marathon, and this past spring, he won a tactical race in challenging conditions at the Boston Marathon, coming from nearly a minute behind the leader with five miles to go. Korir was an All-American at the University of Louisville under Coach Ron Mann, who still coaches him to this day.

PERSONALKorir says that his competitive running career started when his mom used to send him to the store on foot and she would time how long it took him to get back. He is married to Canadian distance runner Tarah McKay. They have a two-year-old daughter, McKayLA, whose last name is a combination of Tarah’s last name (McKay) and LA, for his victories at the L.A. Marathon. He is the founder of the Kenyan Kids Foundation, through which he helps finance education for high school students in Kenya, as well as the construction of a hospital in his village. Outside of running, his favorite sport is soccer and he supports Manchester United.

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2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 1st 2:12:4003/18/12 NYC Half Marathon 4th 1:01:19

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 1st 2:12:4010/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:06:1503/20/11 Los Angeles Marathon 4th 2:13:2310/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 4th 2:08:4403/21/10 Los Angeles Marathon 1st 2:09:1910/11/09 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 6th 2:10:3805/25/09 Los Angeles Marathon 1st 2:08:2410/12/08 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Open Race) 1st 2:13:53

TAKESHI KUMAMOTO Birthdate: January 6, 1984 Citizenship: Japan Resides: Aichi, Japan Height: 5’7” Weight: 117 lbs. Coach: Toshinobu Sato Sponsor: Toyota

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:10:13 (Tokyo, 2012)Half Marathon 1:02:29 (Yamaguchi, 2007)10,000m 29:12.85 (Yokohama, 2003)

CAREER OVERVIEWAfter a less than stellar debut at the Sapporo Marathon in 2011, Kumamoto improved his time by more than eight minutes to finish ninth at the Tokyo Marathon in February.

He is a member of Team Toyota. His weekly training mileage peaks at 185 and his longest training run is 28 miles. His favorite event is the New Year Ekiden in Japan because he enjoys the team aspect.

PERSONALThis is Kumamoto’s first trip to Chicago and he’s looking forward to practicing his English skills. He is married with two children, including a newborn, and enjoys playing with his children in his spare time.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

02/26/12 Tokyo International Marathon 9th 2:10:13

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

02/26/12 Tokyo International Marathon 9th 2:10:1308/28/11 Sapporo Marathon 6th 2:18:41

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CRAIG LEON Birthdate: November 8, 1984 Citizenship: United States Resides: Eugene, OR Height: 5’7” Weight: 120 lbs. Coach: Andy Downin Agent: Self Sponsor: Mizuno/Team Run Eugene

Twitter: @CLeonRun

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:15:42 (Houston, 2012)Half Marathon 1:04:52 (Philadelphia, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWLeon has steadily improved his marathon performance over the past two years from his 2:23:15 debut in 2010, to his solid showing of 2:15:42 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January. He’ll be looking for another personal best in Chicago.

He resides in Eugene, OR, where he attends law school at the University of Oregon and trains as a member of Team Run Eugene. He averages 115 miles per week in training with a peak mileage week of 135 miles.

PERSONALBorn and raised in northwest Ohio, Leon attended Ohio University. He is an avid Chicago Bulls fan and looks forward to eating Giordano’s pizza after the race.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/12/12 Falmouth Road Race 7 Mile 22nd 34:4006/16/12 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (U.S. Championship) 28th 1:06:0605/19/12 Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon 5th 1:07:4905/12/12 River Bank Run 25K (U.S. Championship) 7th 1:17:2304/29/12 Eugene Half Marathon 1st 1:05:3504/01/12 Sac-Town 10 Mile 5th 49:3503/25/12 Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon 3rd 1:06:0803/10/12 Gate River Run 15K (U.S. Championship) 18th 46:41

Date Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 26th 2:15:42

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 26th 2:15:4210/03/10 Twin Cities Marathon 10th 2:18:2805/02/10 Eugene Marathon 1st 2:23:15

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FEYISA LILESA Birthdate: February 1, 1990 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 6’0” Weight: 115 lbs. Coach: Haji Adilo Agent: Hussein Makke Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:05:23 (Rotterdam, 2010)Half Marathon 59:22 (Houston, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWJust two months after his 20th birthday, Lilesa became the youngest athlete to break 2:06 in the marathon with a 2:05:23 performance in Rotterdam, which remains his personal best. He has gone on to finish third at the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and he captured the bronze medal at the 2011 IAAF World Championships. An aggressive front-runner, he was with the leaders this spring at the London Marathon through 30K—near world record pace—but faded to 10th at the finish.

He kicked off the 2012 season with a victory at the Houston Half Marathon in a personal best 59:22. In July, he was runner-up at the Bogota Half Marathon in 1:03:18, which is run at an altitude of 8,500 feet.

His training group is an all-star cast that includes Boston Marathon champion Deriba Merga, Paris Marathon champion Tadese Tola, and Tilahun Regassa. He logs upwards of 140 miles per week under coach Haji Adilo. When asked what he is looking forward to doing while in Chicago, he simply stated, “I want to win the marathon!”

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/29/12 Bogota Half Marathon 2nd 1:03:1804/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 10th 2:08:20

Date Race Place Time

03/18/12 NYC Half Marathon 3rd 1:00:4502/17/12 RAK Half Marathon 5th 1:01:5201/15/12 Houston Half Marathon 1st 59:22

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 10th 2:08:2009/04/11 IAAF World Championships Marathon 3rd 2:10:3204/10/11 Rotterdam Marathon 7th 2:11:4210/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 3rd 2:08:1004/11/10 Rotterdam Marathon 4th 2:05:2301/02/10 Xiamen Marathon 1st 2:08:4710/26/09 Dublin Marathon 1st 2:09:12

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time 03/20/11 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12K 17th 35:1303/28/10 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12K 25th 34:2703/28/09 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12K 12th 35:2203/30/08 IAAF Junior World Cross Country Championships 8K 14th 23:18

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LEVY MATEBO Birthdate: November 3, 1989 Citizenship: Kenya Agent: Gianni Demadonna Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:05:16 (Frankfurt, 2011)Half Marathon 1:00:06 (Nice, 2011)5,000m 13:03.04 (Heusden, 2008)

CAREER OVERVIEWMatebo is the winner of the 2010 Brussels and 2011 Barcelona marathons. But his big breakthrough came last fall at the Frankfurt Marathon, when he finished runner-up to Wilson Kipsang (who was just four seconds shy of the world record) in 2:05:16.

At the 2012 Boston Marathon, he was the late leader until Wesley Korir caught him with a mile to go and he once again had to settle for second place. Matebo will have the opportunity to turn the tables on Korir in Chicago.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

05/24/12 BAA 10K 8th 28:4604/16/12 Boston Marathon 2nd 2:13:0602/17/12 RAK Half Marathon 8th 1:02:15

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 2nd 2:13:0610/30/11 Frankfurt Marathon 2nd 2:05:1603/06/11 Barcelona Marathon 1st 2:07:3111/28/10 La Rochelle Marathon 6th 2:12:0610/10/10 Brussels Marathon 1st 2:13:30

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

03/30/08 IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships 8K 10th 23:03

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YUKI MORIWAKI Birthdate: August 25, 1984 Citizenship: Japan Resides: Fukuyama, Japan Height: 5’7” Weight: 125 lbs. Coach: Hiroshi Sakanashi Sponsor: JFE Steel Corporation

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:11:51 (Oita, 2012)Half Marathon 1:03:38 (Tachikawa, 2005)

CAREER OVERVIEWMoriwaki struggled in his first marathon outside of Japan last fall at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, when after passing halfway in 1:08:46, he registered a finish time of 2:27:33. However, he bounced back considerably with a personal best of 2:11:51 at the Beppu-Oita Marathon in February, good for fifth place overall.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/01/12 Sapporo International Half Marathon 21st 1:04:1105/19/12 Chugoku Jitsugyodan Championships 10,000m 4th 28:55.6102/05/12 Beppu-Oita Marathon 5th 2:11:51

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

02/05/12 Beppu-Oita Marathon 5th 2:11:5110/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 45th 2:27:3302/06/11 Beppu-Oita Marathon 6th 2:12:3402/07/10 Beppu-Oita Marathon 22nd 2:19:3002/15/09 Nobeoka Marathon 5th 2:16:37

WILLIAM NARANJO Birthdate: August 18, 1978 Citizenship: Colombia Resides: Medellin, Colombia Agent: Luis Posso Club Affiliation: Porvenir

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:15:39 (Nashville, 2010)Half Marathon 1:03:26

CAREER OVERVIEWNaranjo won the 2010 Country Music Marathon in Nashville in a personal best 2:15:39. He has been a steady marathon performer in the 2:15 to 2:17 range. In April, he set out to significantly improve his time at the Rotterdam Marathon, passing halfway in 1:06:09, but had to settle for another 2:16 performance.

He has twice represented Colombia at the Pan American Games in the 5,000m and 10,000m. In 2008, he won his country’s national titles at those distances.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 18th 2:16:27

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 18th 2:16:2709/05/10 Oasis de Montreal Marathon 2nd 2:17:4104/24/10 Country Music Marathon 1st 2:15:3904/25/09 Country Music Marathon 5th 2:16:3204/13/08 Rotterdam Marathon 26th 2:21:32

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

07/27/07 Pan American Games 10,000 7th 29:13.9307/23/07 Pan American Games 5,000m 7th 13:56.4508/07/03 Pan American Games 10,000m 6th 30:13.26

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SAMUEL NDUNGU Birthdate: April 4, 1988 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Aichi, Japan Height: 5’5” Weight: 115 lbs. Coach: Taisuke Kodama Sponsor: Aichi Steel Corporation

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:07:04 (Otsu, 2012)Half Marathon 1:00:55 (Marugame, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEWNdungu has been a consistent half marathon performer registering times of 1:01:17, 1:01:29, 1:01:19, 1:00:55, and 1:01:57 in each of the last five years, respectively. After serving as a pacemaker the year before and despite modest personal bests of 13:28.44 for 5,000m and 27:48.03 for 10,000m, he was the surprise winner in his debut at the Lake Biwa Marathon in Otsu, running 2:07:04 in cold, rainy conditions.

Based in Japan, he joined Team Aichi Seiko in 2007. He follows a high mileage training program, averaging 180 miles per week and peaking at more than 200 miles in a week. He is married with one child, and enjoys listening to music.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

05/20/12 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon 2nd 1:01:5705/13/12 Chubu Jitsugyodan Championships 5000m 3rd 13:46.3703/04/12 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon 1st 2:07:04

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

03/04/12 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon 1st 2:07:04

DREW POLLEY Birthdate: November 12, 1985 Citizenship: United States Resides: Rochester Hills, MI Height: 6’0” Weight: 150 lbs. Coach: Keith and Kevin Hanson Agent: Keith and Kevin Hanson Sponsor: Brooks-Hansons Distance Project

Twitter: @Drewmors

PERSONAL RECORDS Marathon 2:14:58 (Houston, 2010) Half Marathon 1:05:38 (Seattle, 2010)

CAREER OVERVIEW Since joining the Michigan-based Brooks-Hansons Distance Project in 2010, Polley has taken his marathon time from 2:20:59 to 2:14:58, which he ran at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January. He’ll be looking for another sizeable improvement in his first appearance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. He is a graduate of Washington State University, where he earned a degree in civil engineering.

2012 RACES Date Race Place Time 01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 21st 2:14:58 CAREER MARATHONS Date Race Place Time 04/19/10 Boston Marathon 16th 2:16:36 11/15/09 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon 8th 2:20:59

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TILAHUN REGASSA Birthdate: January 18, 1990 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’9” Weight: 110 lbs. Coach: Haji Adilo Agent: Hussein Makke Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSHalf Marathon 59:19 (Abu Dhabi, 2010)10,000m 27:18.90 (Hengelo, 2012)5,000m 13:12.40 (Tangier, 2008)

CAREER OVERVIEWRegassa has been a star on the rise since age 18, when he won the 2008 Lille Half Marathon in 59:36. In 2010, he improved his half marathon time to 59:19 with a victory at the Zayed International Half Marathon in Abu Dhabi. He dominated the U.S. road circuit in 2009 with victories at the Falmouth Road Race, Cooper River Bridge Run, Monument Ave. 10K, and Bolder Boulder 10K. This summer, he added the Crazy 8s 8K and Utica Boilermaker 15K to his list of U.S. road wins.

Regassa was a pacemaker at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, taking the leaders through 30K in 1:29:25 (2:06 marathon pace). He’s back in Chicago for his first full marathon attempt.

He trains with coach Haji Adilo and a group of all-star marathoners including Boston Marathon champion Deriba Merga, Paris Marathon champion Tadese Tola, and World Championship bronze medalist Feyisa Lilesa.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/14/12 Crazy 8s 8K 1st 22:1507/08/12 Utica Boilermaker 15K 1st 43:0107/04/12 Peachtree Road Race 10K 6th 28:1206/09/12 Lille Métropole 5,000m 8th 13:21.0105/27/12 FBK Games 10,000m 6th 27:18.9001/15/12 Houston Half Marathon 2nd 1:01:28

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

10/11/09 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 11th 1:02:08

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DATHAN RITZENHEIN Birthdate: December 30, 1982 Citizenship: United States Resides: Beaverton, OR Height: 5’8” Weight: 120 lbs. Coach: Alberto Salazar Agent: Dan Lilot Sponsor: Nike

Twitter: @djritzenhein

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:09:55 (Houston, 2012)Half Marathon 1:00:00 (Birmingham, 2009)10,000m 27:22.28 (Berlin, 2009)5,000m 12:56.27 (Zurich, 2009)

CAREER OVERVIEWRitzenhein is a three-time U.S. Olympian and former American record holder in the 5,000m. He ran a personal best 2:09:55 at U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January, but finished one place shy of qualifying for the Olympic squad. He then turned his focus to the Track & Field Trials, where he booked his ticket to the London Olympics with a third place finish in the 10,000m. The 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon marks his first appearance in Chicago, where he’s hoping to significantly lower his personal best.

A high school prodigy growing up in Rockford, MI, Ritzenhein won back-to-back Foot Locker National Cross Country titles in 1999 and 2000, and he was the bronze medalist at the 2000 IAAF Junior World Cross Country Championships, becoming only the second American to medal at that event. While at the University of Colorado, he helped his team to the 2001 NCAA Cross Country title, and captured the individual title in 2003.

He ran 2:14:01 at his highly anticipated debut at the 2006 New York City Marathon. A year later, he finished second at the Olympic Trials Marathon, earning at ticket to Beijing where he finished as the top American in ninth place.

After partnering with coach Alberto Salazar in 2009, Ritzenhein had a career year,

setting the American record in the 5,000m, running a personal best in the 10,000m at the World Track & Field Championships, and winning a bronze medal at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships with the second fastest time ever by an American.

A member of the Nike Oregon Project based in Beaverton, OR, his training partners include Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Mo Farah of Great Britain and 10,000m silver medalist Galen Rupp of the U.S. He averages 110 miles per week in training, with a peak mileage week of 120 miles and a long run of 28 miles.

PERSONALRitzenhein’s wife, Kalin, was also a standout runner in Rockford, MI and at the University of Colorado. They have two children, ages five and two. Besides running, he enjoys playing golf.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/04/12 Olympic Games 10,000m 13th 27:45.8907/13/12 London Grand Prix 5,000m 5th 13:15.9106/22/12 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m 3rd 27:36.0906/08/12 Portland Track Festival 5,000m (Heat 2) 1st 13:58.6806/08/12 Portland Track Festival 5,000m (Heat 1) 1st 13:19.7805/27/12 FBK Games 10,000m 12th 27:50.8205/18/12 USATF High Performance Meet 5000m 4th 13:14.7204/06/12 Stanford Invitational 10,000m 1st 28:21.4803/18/12 NYC Half Marathon 15th 1:01:5201/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 4th 2:09:55

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 4th 2:09:5511/07/10 ING New York City Marathon 8th 2:12:3304/26/09 London Marathon 11th 2:10:0008/24/08 Olympic Games Marathon 9th 2:11:5911/03/07 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 2nd 2:11:0711/05/06 ING New York City Marathon 11th 2:14:01

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OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

08/17/09 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 6th 27:22.2808/27/07 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 9th 28:28.5910/11/09 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 3rd 1:00:0003/25/01 IAAF Junior World Cross Country Championships 8K 3rd 25:46

PATRICK RIZZO Birthdate: July 25, 1983 Citizenship: United States Resides: Boulder, CO Height: 5’9” Weight: 130 lbs. Coach: Brad Hudson Agent: Brendan Reilly Sponsor: Mizuno

Twitter: @RunPRizzo

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:13:42 (Houston, 2012)Half Marathon 1:04:20 (Duluth, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWRizzo is a Chicago area native who was a star runner at Schaumburg High School and an NCAA All-American at North Central College in Naperville. He spent five years as a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in Michigan before relocating to Boulder, CO and joining a group of athletes coached by Brad Hudson. He averages 125 miles per week in training, with a peak weekly mileage of 150 miles.

He has been a steady marathon performer, gradually improving his time from 2:20:12 in his debut at the 2006 Chicago Marathon to 2:13:42 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January. He represented Team USA at the 2011 Pan American Games Marathon, finishing as the top American in eighth place.

PERSONALPrior to competing in the Chicago Marathon, Rizzo volunteered at the event for several years with his high school cross country team. He is partially deaf, suffering permanent damage to his hearing in 1999 due to an allergic reaction.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/19/12 Heart & Sole Half Marathon 3rd 1:08:0108/05/12 Colorado 10K Championships 2nd 29:4806/17/12 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (U.S. Championship) 8th 1:04:2005/28/12 Bolder Boulder 10K 17th 31:38

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Date Race Place Time

05/20/12 Colorado Half Marathon 1st 1:08:0804/01/12 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile 8th 49:1403/11/12 Gate River Run 15K (U.S. Championship) 25th 47:4003/04/12 Colorado 10 Mile Championships 2nd 51:0501/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 13th 2:13:42

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 13th 2:13:4210/30/11 Pan American Games Marathon 8th 2:21:5810/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 13th 2:16:1210/11/09 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 10th 2:15:4804/20/09 Boston Marathon 15th 2:17:0511/03/07 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 26th 2:18:3010/22/06 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 35th 2:20:12

PATRICK SMYTH Birthdate: August 6, 1986 Citizenship: United States Resides: Salt Lake City, UT Height: 5’11” Weight: 130 lbs. Coach: Terrance Mahon Agent: Daniel Lilot Sponsor: Nike

Twitter: @PatrickGSmyth

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:15:00 (Houston, 2012)Half Marathon 1:02:01 (Houston, 2010)10,000m 28:25.85 (Palo Alto, 2009)

CAREER OVERVIEWAfter dropping out of his marathon debut in London, Smyth ran a solid 2:15:00 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January. With a feel for the full 26.2-mile distance, he’ll be looking for a significant improvement in Chicago. He has competed well over 13.1 miles, with a pair of 1:02 performances and podium finishes at the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Houston.

A native of Salt Lake City, where he is currently based, he attended the University of Notre Dame in nearby South Bend, IN, where he was a NCAA All-American in cross country and track.

Smyth is coached by Terrance Mahon and trains with the Mammoth Track Club. He is coming off a stress fracture to his hip socket sustained in March of this year.

PERSONALSmyth was inspired to run by his sister, Kathleen, who earned a scholarship to Boston College. He’s a bit of a coffee connoisseur, and has a particular fondness for Chicago-based roaster Intelligentsia. Outside of running, he has a recently discovered passion for racquetball.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/24/12 Deseret Morning News 10K 1st 28:42

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Date Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 22nd 2:15:00

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 22nd 2:15:0004/17/11 Virgin London Marathon DNF

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

01/17/11 U.S. Half Marathon Championships 3rd 1:02:3201/29/10 U.S. Half Marathon Championships 2nd 1:02:0103/28/10 IAAF World Cross country Championships 12K 35th 34:51

CARLOS TRUJILLO Birthdate: July 17, 1985 Citizenship: United States Resides: Boise, ID Height: 5’7” Weight: 125 lbs. Coach: Brad Hudson Agent: Caroline Bierbaum LeFrak Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:20:56 (Houston, 2012)Half Marathon 1:03:51 (Seattle, 2011)10,000m 28:15.94 (Palo Alto, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWTrujillo ran for the University of Oregon where he was the 2008 PAC 10 champion in the 10,000m. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon with a victory at the 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon in 1:03:51. He struggled in his debut at the Trials, but in a 2012 season where he has improved his personal best in the 10,000m, he’ll be looking for a major improvement in Chicago.

PERSONALTrujillo hails from Middleton, Idaho, where he and his twin brother Esteban were both standout runners. Upon arriving at the University of Oregon, the brothers were initially not allowed to walk on to the team. They joined a local running club instead, and when Vin Lananna assumed coaching duties the following year, he accepted them onto the team at the recommendation of their running club coach.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/19/12 America’s Finest City Half Marathon 7th 1:08:1707/04/12 Peachtree Road Race 10K 27th 30:3206/09/12 Portland Track Festival 5,000m 12th 14:04.4505/06/12 Lilac Bloomsday Run 10th 35:4204/29/12 Payton Jordan Cardinal 10,000m 10th 28:15.9404/01/12 SacTown 10 Mile 2nd 48:0701/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 58th 2:20:56

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CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 58th 2:20:56

DADI YAMI Birthdate: January 1, 1982 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’7” Weight: 130 lbs. Coach: Getaneh Tessema Agent: Valentijn Trouw Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:05:41 (Dubai, 2012)Half Marathon 1:02:21 (Dubai, 2012, split)

CAREER OVERVIEWAfter running his debut last fall, Yami improved by more than five minutes at the historically fast Dubai Marathon in January, placing sixth in 2:05:41. He edged his fellow Ethiopian Shami Dawit in Dubai by one second and the pair went head-to-head again three months later in Hamburg. This time Dawit got the better of him, winning in a course record 2:05:58, while Yami hung on for second in 2:07:01.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/29/12 Hamburg Marathon 2nd 2:07:0101/27/12 Dubai Marathon 6th 2:05:41

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/29/12 Hamburg Marathon 2nd 2:07:0101/27/12 Dubai Marathon 6th 2:05:4110/09/11 Eindhoven Marathon 9th 2:11:04

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ATSEDE BAYSA Birthdate: April 16, 1984 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’3” Weight: 95 lbs. Coach: Getaneh Tessema Agent: Valentijn Trouw Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:22:04 (Paris, 2010)Half Marathon 1:08:42 (New Delhi, 2010)

CAREER OVERVIEWBaysa is a two-time winner of the Paris Marathon, setting her personal best and a course record there in 2010. At the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, she set a quick pace of 5:20 per mile, passing halfway on sub 2:20 pace, and by 30K she had built a 28-second lead over eventual champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia. After being overtaken by Shobukhova and despite slowing considerably over the final 10K, she held on to finish runner-up in 2:23:40.

At the 2010 Xiamen International Marathon, she became the first non-Chinese athlete to win the women’s race.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 9th 2:25:59

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 9th 2:25:5908/27/11 IAAF World Championships Marathon 14th 2:31:3704/17/11 Virgin London Marathon 5th 2:23:4901/21/11 Dubai Marathon 5th 2:25:0810/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2nd 2:23:4004/11/10 Paris Marathon 1st 2:22:0401/03/10 Xiamen International Marathon 1st 2:28:5310/25/09 Frankfurt Marathon 7th 2:32:05

DEANNA ARDREY Citizenship: United States Resides: Boulder, CO Height: 5’6” Weight: 113 lbs. Coach: Steve Jones Agent: Bob Gordon Twitter: @DeannaArdrey

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:43:12 (Chicago, 2011)

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/20/12 West End 3K 3rd 10:0301/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 71st 2:44:27

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 71st 2:44:2710/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 12th 2:43:1205/01/11 Eugene Marathon 9th 2:48:14

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Date Race Place Time

08/23/09 IAAF World Championships Marathon 27th 2:36:0404/05/09 Paris Marathon 1st 2:24:4201/16/09 Dubai Marathon 9th 2:29:1309/28/08 Toronto Waterfront Marathon 5th 2:35:5603/16/08 Rome Marathon 5th 2:33:0710/28/07 Istanbul Eurasia Marathon 1st 2:29:0804/15/07 Rotterdam Marathon 4th 2:33:5411/19/06 Tokyo Women’s Marathon 8th 2:37:4806/11/06 Addis Ababa Marathon 1st 2:48:0804/16/06 Nagano Marathon 5th 2:39:31

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

10/14/07 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 11th 1:09:15

ELITE FEMALE ATHLETES

ADDIE BRACY Birthdate: August 4, 1986 Citizenship: United States Resides: Boulder, CO Height: 5’3” Weight: 105 lbs. Coach: Brad Hudson Agent: Caroline Bierbaum LeFrak Sponsor: None

Twitter: @AddieBracy

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:44:34 (Chicago, 2010)Half Marathon 1:14:09 (Las Vegas, 2011)10,000m 32:375,000m 15:49

CAREER OVERVIEWAddie Bracy is a 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where she was a NCAA qualifier in the indoor 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase. She ran her marathon debut at the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon with a time of 2:44:34. She had to withdraw from the Olympic Trials Marathon with a stress reaction in her femur, but she returned to compete in the 10,000m at the U.S. Track & Field Trials this summer.

She recently moved from Chapel Hill, NC to join Brad Hudson’s training group in Boulder, CO, which she hopes will lead to a significant improvement in her marathon time.

PERSONALOutside or running, Addie roots for University of North Carolina Tar Heel basketball, and she enjoys reading and spending time with her boxers, Roscoe and Joni.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

06/22/12 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m 19th 33:14.1205/12/12 Virginia Challenge 5,000m 4th 16:13.2004/29/12 Payton Jordan Invitational 10,000m 4th 33:09.26

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CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

10/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 27th 2:44:34

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DEVON CROSBY-HELMS Birthdate: June 23, 1982 Citizenship: United States Resides: San Francisco, CA Coach: Howard Nippert Agent: None Sponsor: The North Face Twitter: @fastfoodiecooks

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:38:55 (Houston, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWDevon Crosby-Helms enters the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with a heavy load of racing under her belt in 2012, including a marathon personal best of 2:38:55 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January. She has since won both the Napa Valley (in a course record time) and San Francisco marathons, and has registered top five finishes at two ultra-marathons, including the 56-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Prior to Chicago, she is slated to run the Kauai Marathon in Hawaii on September 2.

She has two U.S. ultra-running titles to her credit—the 2011 USATF 100K and 2010 USATF 50 Mile—and has represented Team USA at the 100K World Championships on three occasions. She competes in distances ranging from the marathon to 100 miles. She cites 50 miles as her favorite distance.

PERSONALOutside of running she is a certified personal chef who runs her own company, Fast Foodie.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/29/12 San Francisco Marathon 1st 2:44:0206/03/12 Comrades Marathon (89.3K) 5th 6:39:5904/07/12 Two Oceans Marathon (56K) 3rd 3:47:3003/04/12 Napa Valley Marathon 1st 2:39:3701/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 36th 2:38:55

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CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

07/29/12 San Francisco Marathon 1st 2:44:0203/04/12 Napa Valley Marathon 1st 2:39:3701/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 36th 2:38:5511/11/11 ING New York City Marathon 21st 2:42:4403/20/11 Los Angeles Marathon (mixed race) 1st 2:43:3212/07/08 California International Marathon 10th 2:49:52

ELITE FEMALE ATHLETES

BELAINESH GEBRE Birthdate: December 21, 1987 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Flagstaff, AZ Height: 5’5” Weight: 110 lbs. Agent: Luis Posso Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:26:17 (Chicago, 2011)Half Marathon 1:08:51 (Houston, 2012)

CAREER OVERVIEWBelainesh Gebre broke through the 2:30 barrier for the first time at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. She won her first marathon at Honolulu in 2010, and has never finished worse than fourth in five career marathon finishes.

She started the year off on a positive note with a half marathon personal best of 1:08:51 in Houston. She was on personal best pace through 30K at the L.A. Marathon in March, but did not finish. She rebounded with a second place showing at the Nagano Marathon a month later.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/08/12 Utica Boilermaker 15K 5th 51:1807/04/12 Peachtree Road Race 10K 8th 33:4904/15/12 Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon 2nd 2:35:1903/18/12 L.A. Marathon DNF01/15/12 Houston Half Marathon 3rd 1:08:51

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/15/12 Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon 2nd 2:35:1910/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 4th 2:26:1705/08/11 Prague Marathon 3rd 2:32:1501/30/11 Houston Marathon 4th 2:34:4712/12/10 Honolulu Marathon 1st 2:32:13

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OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

08/19/06 IAAF World Junior Championships 3000m 4th 9:10.9204/01/06 IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships 5th 04/19/05 IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships 5th

RITA JEPTOO Birthdate: February 15, 1981 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Kapsabet, Kenya Height: 5’8” Weight: 106 lbs. Coach: Gabriele Rosa Agent: Federico Rosa Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:23:38 (Boston, 2006)Half Marathon 1:07:05 (Lisbon, 2007)

CAREER OVERVIEWJeptoo was victorious in her first two marathons in Stockholm and Milan before graduating to World Marathon Majors competition where she has been a consistent top-five performer. Her crowning achievement came at the 2006 Boston Marathon, when she ran a personal best of 2:23:38 to win the coveted title over Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka by 10 seconds. She was unsuccessful in her title defense the following two years, finishing fourth in 2007 and third in 2008. In that same time span, she also registered a pair of fourth place finishes in New York.

Jeptoo took a maternity break from competition in 2008. She returned in 2011 with top-five finishes at the Rotterdam and Frankfurt marathons. She looks to get back on the podium in her first appearance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

PERSONALJeptoo is married to Noah Busienei, a middle distance runner with the Kenyan Armed Forces. She began her professional running career in Italy and continues to spend much time there because of her interest in fashion.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 6th 2:35:53 CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon 6th 2:35:53

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Date Race Place Time 10/30/11 Frankfurt Marathon 5th 2:25:4404/10/11 Rotterdam Marathon 5th 2:28:0911/02/08 ING New York City Marathon 4th 2:27:4904/21/08 Boston Marathon 3rd 2:26:3409/02/07 IAAF World Championships Marathon 7th 2:32:0304/16/07 Boston Marathon 4th 2:33:0811/05/06 ING New York City Marathon 4th 2:26:5904/17/06 Boston Marathon 1st 2:23:3808/14/05 IAAF World Championships Marathon 7th 2:24:2204/17/05 Turin Marathon 3rd 2:31:5011/28/04 Milan Marathon 1st 2:28:1106/05/04 Stockholm Marathon 1st 2:35:14

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

10/08/06 IAAF World Road Running Championships 20K 3rd 1:03:4710/03/04 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 14th 1:13:08

LUCY KABUU Birthdate: March 24, 1984 Citizenship: Kenya Height: 5’1” Weight: 95 lbs. Agent: Gianni Demadonna Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDS Marathon 2:19:34 (Dubai, 2012) Half Marathon 1:07:04 (New Delhi, 2011) 10,000m 30:39.96 (Beijing, 2008) 5,000m 14:33.49 (Oslo, 2008)

CAREER OVERVIEW Kabuu ran the second-fastest debut marathon in history with her 2:19:34 at Dubai in January. In April, she picked up her first World Marathon Majors point with a fifth place finish at the London Marathon, but that left her two places shy of qualifying for Kenya’s Olympic Marathon squad.

She won a gold and bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. After competing in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympics, she was sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury and took a subsequent break for maternity. She returned stronger than ever in 2011, winning the Great North Run, Great Edinburg Run and the New Delhi Half Marathon in a personal best 1:07:04.

Kabuu began her competitive running career at the high school level in Japan and was a multi-winner in the 10,000m at the Hyogo Relays (2005-2007).

2012 RACES Date Race Place Time 05/18/12 Kenya Police Championships 1,500m 2nd 4:08.0 05/17/12 Kenya Police Championships 5,000m 1st 15:45.8 05/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 5th 2:23:12 01/27/12 Dubai Marathon 2nd 2:19:34

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WERKNESH KIDANE Birthdate: July 7, 1981 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’2” Weight: 115 lbs. Coach: Kassu Alemayehu Agent: Mark Wetmore Sponsor: Adidas

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:26:15 (Boston, 2011)Half Marathon 1:07:26 (Philadelphia, 2011)10,000m 30:07.15 (Paris, 2003)5,000m 14:33.04 (Oslo, 2003)

CAREER OVERVIEWKidane owns the eighth fastest women’s 10,000m performance of all-time (30:07.15), which she ran at the 2003 Paris World Championships, claiming the silver medal. She is also one of the all-time great cross country runners with eight global medals to her credit, including a pair of golds at the 1999 Junior and 2003 Senior World Championships.

After the 2005 season, she took an extended break from competition to start a family. She returned in 2009 with a focus on the roads. She ran 2:27:15 in her first marathon last year in Dubai. Three months later she improved her time by a minute in Boston.

Her 1:07:26 at the 2011 Philadelphia Half Marathon ranks among the top 30 all-time.

In 2012, Kidane went back to the track, qualifying for her third Olympics in the 10,000m and finishing fourth at the London Games, equaling her result in the same event eight years prior in Athens.

PERSONALKidane is married to fellow elite runner Gebre Gebremariam, the 2010 New York City Marathon Champion. They have two children, Nathaniel and Muse. The couple holds the unique distinction of being the world’s fastest husband/wife marathon duo, with a combined personal best time of 4:31:08 (2:04:53 and 2:26:15).

CAREER MARATHONS Date Race Place Time 05/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 5th 2:23:12 01/27/12 Dubai Marathon 2nd 2:19:34 OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Date Race Place Time 08/15/08 Olympic Games 10,000m 7th 30:39.96 03/24/06 Commonwealth Games 5,000m 3rd 15:00.20 03/21/06 Commonwealth Games 10,000m 1st 31:29.66 08/27/04 Olympic Games 10,000m 9th 31:05.90

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2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/03/12 Olympic Games 10,000m 4th 30:39.3804/01/12 Carlsbad 5000 2nd 15:13

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/18/11 Boston Marathon 7th 2:26:1501/21/11 Dubai Marathon 8th 2:27:15

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

08/03/12 Olympic Games 10,000m 4th 30:39.3808/06/05 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 6th 30:32.4708/27/04 Olympic Games 10,000m 4th 30:28.3008/23/03 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 2nd 30:07.1503/29/03 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 8K 1st 25:5308/09/01 IAAF World Championships 5,000m 11th 15:29.9609/25/00 Olympic Games 5,000m 7th 14:47.4008/24/99 IAAF World Championships 5,000m 7th 15:38.1203/27/99 IAAF Junior World Cross Country Championships 6K 1st 21:26

ELITE FEMALE ATHLETES

MARIA KONOVALOVA Birthdate: August 14, 1974 Citizenship: Russia Resides: Irkutsk, Russia Height: 5’11” Weight: 138 lbs. Coach: Yuriy Konovalova Agent: Andrey Baranov Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:23:50 (Chicago, 2010)Half Marathon 1:10:39 (Chicago, 2010, split)10,000m 30:31.03 (Moscow, 2009)5,000m 14:38.09 (Moscow, 2008)

CAREER OVERVIEWMaria Konovalova was a latecomer to the marathon after a stellar career on the track, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympics.

After an inauspicious debut at the 2010 London Marathon (16th, 2:35:21), she improved her time by nearly 12 minutes at the 2010 Chicago Marathon (2:23:50) to place third. She followed that with a solid 10th place showing in 2:25:18 at the 2011 London Marathon.

A DNF at the 2011 Chicago Marathon ended Kononvalova’s bid to represent Russia at the 2012 Olympics, and after a sub-par performance this spring at the London Marathon, she’ll be looking to get back on track in Chicago.

PERSONALKonovalova is a thyroid cancer survivor. Two surgeries in 2000 and 2002 saved her life, but left her with damaged vocal chords.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

04/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 15th 2:30:29

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CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/22/12 Virgin London Marathon 15th 2:30:29 10/09/11 Bank of America Marathon DNF04/17/11 Virgin London Marathon 10th 2:25:1810/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 3rd 2:23:50 04/25/10 Virgin London Marathon 16th 2:35:21

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

08/15/09 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 11th 31:26.94 08/15/08 Olympic Games 10,000m 5th 30:35.84 09/01/07 IAAF World Championships 5,000m 11th 15:09.71 08/27/99 IAAF World Championships 5,000m 7th 14:58.60 08/12/95 IAAF World Championships 5,000m 6th 15:01.23

RENEE METIVIER BAILLIE Birthdate: December 25, 1981 Citizenship: United States Resides: Bend, OR Coach: Austin Baillie Agent: Ray Flynn Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSHalf Marathon 1:11:51 (Houston, 2010)10K 32:31 (Cape Elizabeth, 2012)5,000m 15:15.78 (Heusden, 2005)

CAREER OVERVIEWMetivier Baillie will be running her debut at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. She was an 11-time NCAA All-American at the University of Colorado and a five-time qualifier for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Career highlights include winning the 2005 NCAA Indoor 3,000m title, and the 2010 U.S. Indoor title in the same event. She was also a two-time NCAA Cross Country runner-up in 2001 and 2004.

While she has primarily focused on track and cross country, she ran a promising half marathon at the 2010 USA Championships, finishing fourth in 1:11:51.

She has been having a solid 2012 season, registering a 3,000m personal best of 8:59.39 in February and finishing as the first American and fifth overall at the Beach to Beacon 10K in August. She competed in the 5,000m at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, but did not advance to the final.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/04/12 Beach to Beacon 10K 5th 32:3106/25/12 U.S. Olympic Trials 5,000m 9th 16:01.4702/11/12 U.S. Cross Country Championships 8K 4th 27:22

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DOT MCMAHAN Birthdate: November 6, 1976 Citizenship: United States Resides: Royal Oak, MI Height: 5’6” Coach: Keith and Kevin Hanson Agent: Keith and Kevin Hanson Sponsor: Brooks-Hansons Distance Project

PERSONAL RECORDS Marathon 2:31:48 (Duluth, 2011) Half Marathon 1:12:57 (Philadelphia, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEW McMahan was a top 10 finisher at the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. She ran a personal best of 2:31:48 last year at Grandma’s Marathon. After a maternity break in 2009, she returned to form at the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, finishing 17th overall and 7th American in 2:36:01. McMahan represented the U.S. at the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and the following year launched her marathon career at the 2006 Chicago Marathon. She’s aiming for a sub 2:30 performance this fall. PERSONAL McMahan is married and has a three-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she specialized in the 800m on the track. 2012 RACES Dat Race Place Time 01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 9th 2:32:16 CAREER MARATHONS Date Race Place Time 01/14/12 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 9th 2:32:16 06/18/11 Grandma’s Marathon 3rd 2:31:48

Date Race Place Time 10/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 17th 2:36:01 04/20/08 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 8th 2:35:02 04/16/07 Boston Marathon 17th 2:43:56 10/22/06 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 23rd 2:43:27 OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Date Race Place Time 10/12/08 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 24th 1:15:14 10/01/05 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 48th

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STEPHANIE PEZZULLO Birthdate: May 29, 1982 Citizenship: United States Resides: Charlotte, NC Coach: Mark Hadley Agent: Bob Gordon Sponsor: Newton Twitter: @pezzpezz

PERSONAL RECORDSHalf Marathon 1:13:12 (Naples, 2012)3,000m 9:19.00 (Boston, 2006)3,000m Steeplechase 9:56.82 (Los Angeles, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEWStephanie Pezzullo rang in the New Year with a victory at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run 4 Mile in New York City. She was victorious again two weeks later at the Naples Daily News Half Marathon in a personal best 1:13:12. Facing stiffer competition at the NYC Half Marathon in March, she finished 20th, two seconds shy of her personal best. After focusing on shorter distances over the summer, Pezzullo began to ramp up for her debut at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with a half marathon victory in Providence, RI.

An All-American soccer player in high school, Pezzulo was a four-year starter at Penn State University. She did not begin running competitively until the spring of her senior year in college when she joined the outdoor track team. After college, she played semi-professional soccer for two years in Charlotte, NC, before turning her focus to running in 2006. However, an accident during a 3,000m steeplechase race forced her to have reconstructive surgery on her ankle, and she did not resume competitive running until 2009.

By 2011, Pezzullo was up to full-speed. She had a number of top-10 finishes in major U.S. road races, including 6th at the U.S. 5K Championships in Providence, RI; 8th at the U.S. 10K Championships in Boston; 2nd American at the Utica Boilermaker 15K; and 3rd American at the Peachtree 10K.

MERIMA MOHAMMED Birthdate: June 10, 1992 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’5” Coach: Haji Adilo Agent: Hussein Makke Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDS Marathon 2:23:04 (Toronto, 2010) Half Marathon 1:08:36 (New Delhi, 2010)

CAREER OVERVIEW Mohammed’s 2:23:04 at the 2010 Toronto Marathon made her the second-fastest teenage marathon runner, behind China’s Ying-ying Zhang. At the Rotterdam Marathon, she was among the pre-race favorites, but fellow Ethiopian Tiki Gelana’s 2:18:58 proved to be too much. Mohammed split 1:10:28 through the half and hung on for a third place finish in 2:25:48.

2012 RACES Date Race Place Time 04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 3rd 2:25:48 05/27/12 TCS World 10K 9th 33:50 01/07/12 Xiamen International Marathon 3rd 2:31:46

CAREER MARATHONS Date Race Place Time 04/15/12 Rotterdam Marathon 3rd 2:25:48 01/07/12 Xiamen International Marathon 3rd 2:31:46 10/30/11 Frankfurt Marathon 4th 2:24:32 05/09/11 Dusseldorf Marathon 1st 2:28:15 09/26/10 Toronto Marathon 3rd 2:23:04 05/30/10 Ottawa Marathon 1st 2:28:18 11/08/09 Alps-Maritimes-Nice-Cannes Marathon 1st 2:33:56 OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Date Race Place Time 03/20/11 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 8K 15th 26:24 03/28/10 IAAF Junior World Cross Country Championships 6K 12th 19:26

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2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/19/12 Rock ‘n’ Roll Providence Half Marathon 1st 1:15:1707/08/12 Utica Boilermaker 15K 10th 52:4606/16/12 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 9th 1:13:4305/17/12 Medtronic TC Road Mile 10th 4:47.305/13/12 NC State Invite 3000m Steeplechase 1st 10:15.2604/29/12 Payton Jordon Invitational 10,000m DNF04/01/12 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile 6th 55:1603/18/12 NYC Half Marathon 20th 1:13:1403/03/12 Carolina First Reedy River Run 10K 2nd 35:1001/15/12 Naples Daily News Half Marathon 1st 1:13:1201/01/12 Emerald Nuts Midnight Run 4 Mile 1st 21:05

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CAROLINE ROTICH Birthdate: May 13, 1984 Citizenship: Kenya Resides: Santa Fe, NM Agent: Isaya Okwiya Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:24:46 (Boston, 2011)Half Marathon 1:08:52 (New York City, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEWThis will be Caroline Rotich’s first appearance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon after registering top-10 finishes in New York the past two autumns. At the 2011 Boston Marathon she took advantage of ideal conditions to finish fourth in a personal best 2:24:46.

She ran 1:08:52 at the 2011 NYC Half Marathon to establish a new course record and personal best. In her title defense in March, she went out extremely fast (32:43 through 10K), but fell off the pace and finished eighth. In April, she was with the race leaders through 30K of the Boston Marathon but did not finish.

After a debut of 2:49:47 at the 2006 Nairobi Marathon, she improved by 20 minutes at the 2009 Las Vegas Marathon and won the “Battle of the Sexes” race against the men.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

07/28/12 Quad City Times Bix 7-Miler 2nd 36:4204/16/12 Boston Marathon DNF03/18/12 NYC Half Marathon 8th 1:10:17

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

04/16/12 Boston Marathon DNF11/06/11 ING New York City Marathon 7th 2:27:06

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Date Race Place Time

08/27/11 IAAF World Championships Marathon 29th 2:37:0704/18/11 Boston Marathon 4th 2:24:4611/07/10 ING New York City Marathon 8th 2:29:4612/06/09 Las Vegas Marathon 1st 2:29:4710/29/06 Nairobi Marathon 11th 2:49:47

FATUMA SADO Birthdate: October 11, 1991 Citizenship: Ethiopia Resides: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Height: 5’5” Coach: Haji Adilo Agent: Hussein Maake Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDS Marathon 2:25:39 (Los Angeles, 2012) Half Marathon 1:09:02 (Vitry Sur Seine, 2011)

CAREER OVERVIEW Sado has had a successful 2012 campaign thus far with victories at the L.A. Marathon, in a personal best 2:25:39, and Pittsburgh Half Marathon. She also won the 2011 Hamburg Marathon, running 2:28:30, and followed that up with a runner-up performance at the Eurasia Marathon in Istanbul, improving her time to 2:28:01. Just 20 years old, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be her first appearance at a World Marathon Majors event.

2012 RACES Date Race Place Time 05/06/12 Pittsburgh Half Marathon 1st 1:12:43 03/18/12 Los Angeles Marathon 1st 2:25:39 CAREER MARATHONS Date Race Place Time 03/18/12 Los Angeles Marathon 1st 2:25:39 10/16/11 Eurasia Marathon 2nd 2:28:01 05/22/11 Hamburg Marathon 1st 2:28:30 01/15/11 Mumbai Marathon 7th 2:30:20

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LILIYA SHOBUKHOVA Birthdate: November 13, 1977 Citizenship: Russia Resides: Beloretsk, Russia Height: 5’7” Weight: 112 lbs. Coach: Igor Shobukhova Agent: Andrey Baranov Sponsor: Nike

PERSONAL RECORDSMarathon 2:18:20 (Chicago, 2011)Half Marathon 1:09:25* (Chicago, 2010, split)10,000m 30:29.36 (Cheboksary, 2009)5,000m 14:23.75 (Kazan, 2008)

*1:08:55 (Chicago, 2011, second half split)

CAREER OVERVIEWLast year, Shobukhova became the first runner to win three consecutive Bank of America Chicago Marathon titles. Her 2:18:20 winning time was an improvement on her own Russian record and made her the second fastest woman of all-time, behind Paula Radcliffe. En route she recorded a 1:38:23 split at 30K, a pending world record for the distance. This year, she has the opportunity to join Khalid Khannouchi as the only four-time Chicago winners.

A two-time World Marathon Majors series champion, and the 2010 London Marathon champion, Shobukhova was one of the favorites for the 2012 Olympic Marathon, but she did not finish due to stomach cramps.

Prior to her marathon debut in 2009, she excelled on the track, and is the former world record holder in the 3,000m, and the current European record holder in the 3,000m and 5,000m. She won a silver medal in the 3,000m at the 2006 IAAF Indoor World Championships.

PERSONALShobukhova is a certified fitness coach with a degree in physiology from Bashkirskiy State University. Outside of running he is a fan of tennis, and in her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening and taking care of her nine-year-old daughter, Anna. When

2012 ELITE FEMALE ATHLETES

she is in training camp she enjoys embroidering as a way to relieve stress and to focus on patience and composure. She says that embroidering is very similar to training for a marathon—every stitch you put in compliments the full picture.

2012 RACESDate Race Place Time

08/05/12 Olympic Games Marathon DNF

CAREER MARATHONSDate Race Place Time

08/05/12 Olympic Games Marathon DNF10/09/11 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1st 2:18:2004/18/11 Virgin London Marathon 2nd 2:20:1510/10/10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1st 2:20:2504/25/10 Virgin London Marathon 1st 2:22:0010/11/09 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1st 2:25:5604/26/09 Virgin London Marathon 3rd 2:24:24

OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTSDate Race Place Time

08/15/09 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 19th 32:42.36 08/22/08 Olympic Games Beijing 5,000m 6th 15:46.62 10/14/07 IAAF World Half Marathon Championship 25th 1:11:35 09/17/06 IAAF World Cup 5,000m 2nd 15:05.33 08/12/06 European Championships 5,000m 2nd 14:56.57 03/11/06 IAAF Indoor World Championships 3,000m 2nd 8:42.18 08/13/05 IAAF World Championships 5,000m 9th 14:47.07 08/23/04 Olympic Games 5,000m 13th 15:15.64

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