FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurence Cohen, TLC MediaWorks
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Kenyans Munji, Okayo Headline International Field at
Inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon
Race offers over $300,000 in prize money,
$50,000 "Challenge" bonus and up to $2.5 million for world records
LAS VEGAS - (November 15, 2005) - With an elite field of over 30 athletes
assembled from all over the world competing for a portion of the $302,000
prize purse, there will be a number of accomplished racers at the inaugural
New Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday, December 4.
The men's field will be led by Kenyan Titus Munji, who placed third in the
2003 real,-Berlin Marathon in a personal best time of 2:06:15. Munji is the
seventh fastest marathoner in the world and his 2003 Berlin Marathon
performance is the 10th fastest marathon finish of all-time. Top
competitors in the men's field also include fellow countrymen Stephen
Kiogora (second in 2005 Coca Cola Zero Rock n' Roll Marathon) and Haron
Toroitich (winner of the 2004 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon).
Also joining the field is Girma Tola, who comes from an Ethiopian track
background. Although somewhat new to marathon running, Tola won the 2004
Enschede Marathon in 2:10:33. Gilbert Koech, winner of the former Las Vegas
Marathon in January of 2005, returns to Las Vegas with hopes to dominate
the field again.
Perhaps Munji's greatest competition will come from the stellar group of
women athletes led by Kenyan Margaret Okayo, the 8th fastest female
marathoner all-time, who will compete against each other to win "The
Challenge." The New Las Vegas Marathon will offer a $50,000 bonus to the
winner of "The Challenge," an innovation created by the Los Angeles
Marathon, which allows the Elite Women to start the race ahead of the Elite
Men in a unique time handicap format. "The Challenge" rewards the first
person, man or woman, to cross the finish line and promises to deliver an
exciting race as the athletes compete for the $50,000 bonus and $50,000
first place finish.
"The Challenge has revitalized the sport of marathon running and adds
excitement to the race for spectators and television viewers," said Race
President Dr. William A. Burke.
Okayo won the 2002 BAA Boston Marathon, the 2001 and 2003 ING New York City
Marathons and the 2004 Flora London Marathon. She is the course record
holder at the New York City and Boston Marathons, and her 2002 finish at
the Boston Marathon in 2:20:43 is the 13th fastest marathon finish of
all-time.
Two of Okayo's biggest competitors in the women's field are Mexico's
marathon record holder Adriana Fernandez, winner of the 1999 New York City
Marathon, and Romanian Nuta Olaru, runner-up at the 2004 LaSalle Bank
Chicago Marathon in 2:24:33. Also joining the deep field of women's talent
is 2005 Nagano Marathon champion Albina Ivanova from Russia, who ran in the
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2003-05, placing 4th and setting her PR of
2:25:35 in the 2003 race.
Although making her marathon debut, Galina Bogomolova is the second fastest
Russian 10,000 meter track runner and could definitely stir things up. Also
making her debut on the women's side will be Ethiopian Merima Hashim, who
placed 2nd at the 2005 Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10K in 33:17.
The women's elite field represents 9 different countries - Belarus,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Tanzania and the United
States.
This year the New Las Vegas Marathon will feature seven leading Ethiopian
marathoners. Joining Girma Tola and making his debut on the men's side will
be 5000 and 10,000 meter track runner Berhanu Adane, along with Araya
Haregot (2005 Salt Lake City Champion, 2:15:02), Tekeste Kebede (3rd - 2005
Coca Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 2:11:48) and Assefa Mezgebu (Bronze
medalist at 10,000 meters in the Sydney 2000 Olympics).
In total, the New Las Vegas Marathon will be offering $302,000 in prize
money, including a $50,000 first place prize for men and women. Race
organizers will also offer a $1.25 million bonus to the first man or woman
to break the world record. In addition to the $50,000 bonus for "The
Challenge," the race will be offering $226,000 in prize money for places 1
thru 10 for men and women along with $10,000 each for the fastest man and
woman from Clark County, Nevada.
About the New Las Vegas Marathon
The New Las Vegas Marathon, a Devine Racing event, will debut on Sunday,
December 4, 2005 as the first marathon in history to run the world famous
Las Vegas Strip. The race will begin at 6:00am in front of Race
Headquarters Mandalay Bay with a spectacular display of fireworks and Elvis
singing "Viva Las Vegas." The race will take place on a fast, flat course
with an average temperature of 50 degrees at the start. The race will be
broadcast live on CBS affiliate KLAS - First in Las Vegas. Visit the race
website at: www.LVMarathon.com
About Devine Racing
Committed to the celebration of individual accomplishment, Devine Racing
was created to bring a new level of quality and professionalism to amateur
road racing events - delivering the highest level of professional service
in the industry for participants, sponsors and the communities where races
are held. In the process of building its national footprint, Devine Racing
currently owns the City of Los Angeles Marathon, the New Las Vegas
Marathon, the Salt Lake City Marathon, the Chicago Half Marathon and the
Chicago BIG 10K.
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