The 30th anniversary Philadelphia Distance Run promises to be one of the most wide open men's races in the last ten years with the defending champion out and only one past champion in a professional field of 37 men. On the women's side, Edna Kiplagat from Kenya returns to better her 2006 second place finish.

Kenyan Julius Kibet (25) returns after winning the 2004 Philadelphia Distance Run in a time of 1 hour, 1 minute, 18 seconds. He will be joined by last year's third place finisher, countryman Linus Maiyo (24). Both Kibet and Maiyo are among eleven runners who are coming to Philadelphia fresh from the Rock `n` Roll Half Marathon held two weeks ago in Virginia Beach.

Kenyan Tom Nyariki (36) who is blind in one eye from a 2003 assault and carjacking in Kenya, ran third in Virginia Beach. Nyariki's career highlights include a win at the 2006 New York City Half Marathon (1:01:22) and bronze medals at both the World Track & Field Championships and World Cross Country Championships.

Another contender with world championship credentials is Nyariki's Kimbia Athletics teammate John Yuda (27) from Tanzania. Yuda finished third in both the 2001 and 2002 World Half Marathon Championships and carries a personal best of 1:00:02 for the half-marathon, fastest in this year's Philadelphia field.

On the cusp of the U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City to be held on Saturday, November 3, 2007, seven entrants in Sunday's race have qualified and will tune up for their Olympic bid at the Philadelphia Distance Run. Leading the American contingent is 31-year-old Brandon Leslie from Arizona who has a half-marathon best time of 1:03:10. He is coached by Joe Vigil, who guided Deena Kastor to her Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Games in the marathon.

Leslie is joined by David Gramlich (24) from Ohio, Edward Callinan (33) from New Jersey, John Supsic (28) from Colorado, Karl Dusen (25) from New York, Marc Jeuland (27) from North Carolina, and Matt Pelletier (28) from Rhode Island.

The women's field features last year's runner-up, Edna Kiplagat (27) from Kenya, who won her second straight Rock `n` Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach two weeks ago. It was her fifth win of the year, but victory in Philadelphia is not certain. She will have to contend with Pamela Chepchumba (28), also from Kenya, who has the fastest half-marathon time in the field (1:08:57).

Also challenging the field are Japanese runners Akemi Ozaki (29) and twins Takami and Hiromi Ominami (31). Osaki was second at the 2006 Tokyo Women's Marathon. Takami and Hiromi finished first and second respectively at the America's Finest City Half Marathon held this past August in San Diego, CA.

A runner to watch on race day is Kenyan Alice Timbilili (24) who ran second at the prestigious Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta on July 4, 2007. Her time of 31:47 remains one of the fastest road 10K times of the year.

Saturn SKY to Pace the Race

The Saturn SKY is the official vehicle of the 2007 Philadelphia Distance Run and will lead the professional athletes as they race for victory. The SKY will also be on display at the Health & Fitness Expo and Finish Line Festival. To discover Saturn, please visit your local Saturn retailer.

Elite Athlete List as of September 11, 2007

Men's Elite Field


NAME, AGE, COUNTRY, BEST, FACT/COMMENT


 1) Brandon Leslie, 31, USA (AZ), 1:03:10, 
2008 Olympic Trials  Qualifier (A Standard), 17th 2006 Chicago Marathon
 2) Bryan Skelly, 25, USA (PA), 1:07:00, 
2nd 2006 DC National Marathon

 
 3) Charles Munyeki, 19, KEN, 1:01:34,
1st 2005 Nairobi Half Marathon, 2nd 2006 Lilac Bloomsday

 
 4) David Gramlich, 24, USA (OH),
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier, '01, '02 & '03 NAIA Collegiate XC All-American

 
 5) Daniel Cheruiyot, 33, KEN, 1:03:30,
1st 2007 Capital City Half Marathon, 2nd 2007 Indianapolis Mini Marathon

 
 6) Daniel Kipkoech, 28, KEN,
9th 2007 Lilac Bloomsday Run, 8th 2007 Peachtree

  
 7) David Langat, 33, KEN,
1st 2007 RRCA National 5k Championship, 2nd 2006 Nyeri Half Marathon


 8) Demesse Tefera, 25, ETH, 1:02:15,
7th 2007 NYC Half Marathon, 5th 2006 NYC Half Marathon

 
 9) Edward Callinan, 33, USA (NJ), 1:06:00,
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier


10) Festus Langat, 22, KEN, 1:01:01,
1st, 2007 Nedbank Half Marathon Durban, 5th 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half Mar VB


11) Francis Githama, N/A, KEN, 1:07:54,
5th 2007 America's Finest City Half Marathon

       
12) Gideon Mutisya, 40, KEN, 1:01:41,
4th 2007 Charlestown Distance Classic 15 Miler (1st Master)


13) Gilbert Koech, 28, KEN, 1:02:08,
1st 2005 Las Vegas Marathon, 1st 2004 Houston Half Marathon 

  
14) Girma Tola, 32, ETH, 1:02:00,
5th 2007 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, 4th 2007 Parkersburg Half 

 
15) Gurmessa Mergessa, 28, ETH, 1:03:53,
9th 2007 NYC Half Marathon


16) John Gathoga, 28, KEN, 1:01:56,
3rd 2007 Central Province Ch'ships 10,000m, 5th 2007 Utica Boilermaker 15k


17) John Itati, 34, KEN, 1:02:04,
3rd 2007 Fifth Season 8k, 4th 2007 Wharf to Wharf, 
4th 2007 Shelter Island 10k


18) John Supsic, 28, USA, N/A,
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier   

    
19) John Yuda, 27, TAN, 1:00:02,
3rd 2006 Beach to Beacon 10k, 3rd '01 & '02 World Half Mar Ch'ship


20) Joseph Chirlee, 25, KEN, 1:02:18,
9th 2006 Philadelphia Distance Run, 6th 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half San Jose


21) Julius Kibet, 25, KEN, 1:01:17,
4th 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half VB, 1st 2004 Philadelphia Distance Run


22) Karim El Mabchour, 24, MAR,
3rd 2007 Bix 7, 1st 2007 Wharf to Wharf, 5th 2006 Utica Boilermaker 15k


23) Karl Dusen, 25, USA (NY),
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier


24) Linuis Mayo, 24, KEN, 1:02:40,
3rd 2007 Crescent Classic 10k, 3rd 2006 Philadelphia Distance Run


25) MacDonald Ondara, 23, KEN, 1:01:21,
5th 2007 Lilac Bloomsday, 3rd 2006 Big Sur Half Marathon


26) Marc Jeuland, 27, USA (NC), 1:08:08,
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier


27) Matt Pelletier, 28, USA (RI), 1:06:20,
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier, 13th 2007 Shamrock Half Marathon


28) Mesfin Hailu, 26, ETH, 1:01:59,
3rd 2007 Parkersburg Half, 13th 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half VB


29) Nate Pennington, USA (CO),
24th 2007 C U Cherry Blossom 10M, 25th 2007 USA 25k National Ch'ships

 
30) Nelson Lebo, 29, KEN,
1st 2007 Salt Lake City Marathon, 2nd 2007 Toronto Marathon


31) Philippe Rolly, 35, USA (VA)

    
32) Pius Muli, 25, KEN, 1:03:59,
2nd 2006 Brescia Marathon   


33) Reuben Chebii, 24, KEN,
6th 2006 Philadelphia Distance, 3rd 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half San Jose, 
2nd 2007 Park Forest 10 Mile Run


34) Ross Martinson, 29, USA (PA)

   
35) Samuel Ndereba, 30, KEN, 1:01:50,
1st 2007 Azalea Trail Run 10k, 5th 2006 Philadelphia Distance Run


36) Tom Haxton, 25, USA (PA), 1:08:00,
Former Collegiate Division III 10k Champion


37) Tom Nyariki, 36, KEN,
3rd 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half VB, 1st 2006 NYC Half Marathon, 
1st 2006 Beach to Beacon




Women's Elite Field


NAME, AGE, COUNTRY, BEST, FACT/COMMENT


 1) Akemi Ozaki, 29, JPN, 1:10:31,
2nd 2006 Tokyo Women's Marathon, 7th 2007 NYC Half Marathon


 2) Alice Timbilili, 24, KEN, 1:12:39,
2nd 2007 Peachtree Road Race


 3) Angelina Mutuku, 25, KEN, 1:13:59,
3rd 2006 Wharf to Wharf, 8th 2007 Crazy 8's 8k, 9th 2007 Boilermaker 15k


 4) Ashu Kasim, 22, ETH, 1:12:08,
4th 2007 10,000m All-African Games, 4th 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half VB


 5) Aziza Aliyu, 22, ETH, 1:13:58,
9th 2007 NYC Half Marathon


 6) Caroline Bierbaum, 23, USA (NY), 1:18:03,
Ivy League 10,000m record holder, 14th 2007 NYC Half Marathon


 7) Caroline Chepkorir, 20, KEN, Debut


 8) Claire Duncan, 24, USA (PA), N/A,
2006 Penn Relays Steeplechase Champion


 9) Edna Kiplagat, 27, KEN, 1:10:12,
1st 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half VB, 2nd 2006 Philadelphia Distance Run


10) Florence Jepkosgei, 23, KEN, N/A,
1st 2007 Sporting Life 10k (CR)


11) Hiromi Ominami, 31, JPN, 1:08:45,
2nd 2007 America's Finest City Half Marathon


12) Kara Roy, 27, USA (CO), 1:17:16,
1st '07 & '06 Colorado Marathon, 1st 2006 USATF Colorado Half Ch'ships


13) Melisa Chritian, 30, USA (TX), 1:16:03,
2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier, 14th 2007 Philadelphia Distance Run


14) Olga Krautsova, 26, BLR, NA,
2006 Belarusian 10,000m Champion, 5th 2006 European Ch'ships 5000m


15) Pamela Chepchumba, 28, KEN, 1:08:57,
1st 2006 Lisbon Half, 3rd 2006 Paris Mar, 6th 2007 XC Ch'ships (Long)


16) Sharon Cherop, 23, KEN, 1:11:00,
1st 2007 Parkersburg Half, 6th 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Half VB


17) Takami Ominami, 31, JPN, 1:10:21,
1st 2007 America's Finest City Half 

For more information about the 30th anniversary Philadelphia Distance Run.