FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Two-Time Champions Elisha Barno & Weldon Kirui,
New Zealand's Zane Robertson Headline 2020 Los Angeles Marathon
- Presented by ASICS, the milestone 35th anniversary event will take
place on Sunday, March 8 and will be broadcast globally
for the first time in 2020
- The world-renowned 'Stadium to the Sea' course tours iconic landmarks
in Greater Los Angeles taking athletes from Dodger Stadium
to the Santa Monica Pier
LOS ANGELES - (March 7, 2020) - A world class field of elite athletes will
compete in the 35th edition of the Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS
on Sunday, March 8, led by two-time champions Elisha Barno and Weldon Kirui
of Kenya, along with New Zealand's marathon record holder Zane Robertson,
event organizers announced today.
"It's great to have the last two Champions in Elisha Barno (2017 & 2019)
and Weldon Kirui (2016 & 2018), who have combined to win the last four Los
Angeles Marathons, both returning here to battle it out on the famous
'Stadium to the Sea' course on Sunday," said Matthew Turnbull, Elite
Athlete Coordinator. "On paper it looks like a competitive field.
Three-time Amsterdam champion Wilson Chebet had a recent podium finish in
Honolulu. Zane Robertson is also a great addition and is in great form
having set a National Record his last time out on the Gold Coast. Throw
into the mix marathon debutant Bayelign Yegzaw of Ethiopia along with
two-time L.A. runner up Lani Rutto and 2:07 man John Langat, and we should
have an exciting contest this weekend."
The men's field features nine athletes with sub-2:10 personal bests.
Previous Los Angeles champions Elisha Barno (2:09:32 PB) and Weldon Kirui
(2:09:06 PB) of Kenya have exchanged victories each of the past four years.
Kenya's Wilson Chebet comes to Los Angeles with the fastest time in the
field (2:05:27).
Other athletes from the Kenyan squad include two-time event runner-up Lani
Rutto (2:06:34 PB), John Langat (2:07:11 PB) and Milton Rotich (2:08:55
PB), who finished fourth in Los Angeles last year.
The non-African challenge will be led by New Zealand National Record Holder
Zane Robertson. Now training with his twin brother Jake in Africa,
Robertson competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio in 10000m where he
set a new national record. The distance running star owns a half-marathon
best of 59:47.
"I'm super excited to be racing in Los Angeles, this is my first trip to
the race and to see the city, and I've heard really good things and have
obviously seen lots of the city on television over the years," said
Robertson. "My training has gone very well and as usual when I race, I will
put it all out there and see what happens on the day. The field is really
strong and I'm looking forward to a great race."
In the women's contest, Kenya's Antonina Kwambai brings the fastest PB of
2:27:43 to the start line. Kwambai's key challengers should be Kenya's Jane
Kibll (2:29:31 PB), the 2019 California International Marathon winner last
December and Margaret Muriuki, who won the 2019 Honolulu Marathon in
December in her debut at the distance (2:31:10).
"With incredible neighborhood support, exciting competitive wheelchair and
elite races, amazing charity partners and compelling athlete stories, the
marathon continues to deliver experiences and life-changing moments
unmatched by any other event in the Greater Los Angeles Area," said Murphy
Reinschreiber, Chief Operating Officer of The McCourt Foundation. "Our goal
celebrating this milestone 35th edition is to raise the bar of the
marathon's positive impact on the Los Angeles community and the experience
of running from the 'Stadium to the Sea' has never been more popular."
Marathon weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Los
Angeles Convention Center on Friday, March 6. The free expo is open to the
public and features interactive exhibits, live entertainment and the
official Los Angeles Marathon Merchandise Store, where all runners pick up
their race packet.
The running begins on Saturday with the BIG LA 5K. The course starts and
finishes at Dodger Stadium and runs through the beautiful Elysian Park.
This family-friendly event starts at 8am and is open to participants of all
ages and abilities, including kids races for children from kindergarten to
seventh grade. All participants will receive a race shirt, finishers medal
and post-race refreshments to top off a truly unforgettable race
experience.
On Sunday, the 35th Los Angeles Marathon will commence with the wheelchair
start at 6:30am, and the elite women scheduled to start at 6:45am. Runners
enjoy a one-of-a kind pre-race starting line venue at Dodger Stadium.
KTLA Los Angeles (channel 5) will broadcast the marathon locally, carrying
live, high-definition coverage of the race from 6:00 am to 11:00 am, which
will also be streaming live on KTLA.com and the marathon's facebook page.
WGN America will broadcast the marathon live nationally from 7:00 am to
10:00 am PDT. For the first time in 2020, both Fox Sports Asia and Fox
Sports Australia will carry the international feed live to a potential
reach of 450 million.
"This year's coverage promises to celebrate the magic of the world's best
destination marathon. From the diversity of one of the world's great
cities, to the iconic landmarks and the thousands of inspirational stories
that will use this day to set new standards and achieve dreams that many
thought were impossible," said John Palmer, Director of Broadcasting. "All
of this will be captured on the roads and in the air from our international
team of motorbikes, helicopters and crews scattered across the course and
broadcast around the globe."
The 35th running welcome 131 legacy athletes who have competed in all
previous 34 editions of the race. Nearly 32% of the 2020 field will be
participating in their very first marathon. The marathon's charity platform
educates and empowers 74 local and national charities to raise awareness
for their causes and increase fund-raising efforts. Since 1985, the Los
Angeles Marathon has helped charities raise over $54 million for a variety
of causes and non-profit organizations.
Further information about the 2020 Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS
can be found online at http://www.LAMarathon.com.
Top Elite Entrants - 35th Los Angeles Marathon
Bib, Name, Country, DOB, PB, Career Highlight
MEN
1. ELISHA BARNO, KENYA, 05/22/1985, 2.09.32,
2017 & 2019 LA Marathon Champion.
3. WILSON CHEBET, KENYA, 12/7/85, 2.05.27,
2nd at 2019 Honolulu Marathon
4. LANI RUTTO, KENYA, 3/29/1989, 2.06.34,
PB from Frankfurt Marathon 2015.
5. JOHN LANGAT, KENYA, 2/10/93, 2.07.11,
2019 Lens Marathon Champion & 3rd in Eindhoven
7. ZANE ROBERTSON, NEW ZEALAND, 11/14/1989, 2.08.19,
National Record Holder
9. MILTON ROTICH, KENYA, 03/29/1986, 2.08.55,
Finished 4th in Los Angeles last year.
10. EMMANUEL NGATUNY, KENYA, 10/10/92, 2.08.22,
2019 La Rochelle Marathon Champion.
11. WELDON KIRUI, KENYA, 2/12/88, 2.09.06,
Two Time Event Champion in 2016 and 2018
12. MICHAEL CHEGE, KENYA, 11/15/1990, 2.09.12,
2019 Brussels Marathon Champion
13. DANIEL MESFUN, ERITREA, 1/1/88, 2.10.06,
2018 Cleveland Marathon Champion
14. BONIFACE KONGIN, KENYA, 1/16/1990, 2.10.34,
2019 Pittsburg Marathon Champion
15. BAYELIGN TESHAGER, ETHIOPIA, 9/2/00,
Debut, Half Personal Best of 1:00:31.
WOMEN
52. ANTONINA KWAMBAI, KENYA, 1/4/92, 2.27.43,
2019 Porto Half Marathon Champion (withdrew)
54. JANE KIBII, KENYA, 10/3/85, 2.29.31,
2019 CIM Marathon Champion
55. MARGARET MURIUKI, KENYA, 3/21/1986, 2.31.10,
2019 Honolulu Marathon Champion.
56. ALMAZ NEGEDE, ETHIOPIA, 02/19/1997, 2.30.33,
2nd 2018 Chongqing Marathon
59. MERINE GEZAHEGN ETHIOPA, 2.34.54,
2nd place 2019 Tolouse Marathon
60. JOAN MASSAH, KENYA, 2.35.56,
2nd place 2019 RnR Montreal Marathon
62. GRACE GONZALES, 2.41.00
63. REGINA LOPEZ, USA - Los Angeles, 3/11/90, 2.42.07,
2020 Pasadena Half Marathon Champion
64. WESLIE PEARCE, USA - Claremont, 11/21/1994, 2.45.29,
PB on debut at CIM, December 2019
About The McCourt Foundation
On January 1, 2020 Conqur Endurance Group merged with The McCourt
Foundation (TMF). The combined entity with offices in Los Angeles and
Boston, produces a world-class portfolio of events including the Los
Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS, Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K at the
Rose Bowl, the Santa Monica Classic 5K/10K, the LA BIG 5K, Boston
Waterfront 5K Fitness & Wellness Festival, Tour de South Shore and the
Educational Update. TMF is nonprofit that empowers individuals and
communities build a healthier world through events and educational forms.
TMF provides a platform for these individuals and other nonprofits to fund
raise and create awareness of health-related causes. For more information,
please visit www.mccourtfoundation.org and www.goconqur.com.
###
|
