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|  Kenyan Takes Second Step Towards Prize Bonus 29th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run By Ian Monahan September 14, 2006 Philadelphia, PA For the Washington Running Report
Fresh off her victory at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in
Virginia Beach, VA just 11 days ago, 26-year-old Edna Kiplagat
from Kenya now has extra incentive to win the 29th Jefferson
Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006.
She is seeking the $25,000 "Triple Crown" bonus offered to any
athlete who wins all three fall half marathons produced by Elite
Racing, Inc. (Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, Virginia Beach, VA,
September 3 - Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run,
Philadelphia , PA, September 17 - Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon,
San Jose, CA, October 8).
Approaching the end of a conservative race in her half marathon
debut in Virginia Beach, Kiplagat knew she had secured victory
in the final two miles of the race along the ocean front
boardwalk, finishing in 1:11:08. If she is able repeat in
Philadelphia, Kiplagat will have the opportunity to take home at
least $53,000 if she can complete the hat trick in San Jose on
October 8.
Kiplagat admitted the field in Virginia Beach contained some
dangerous competition and Philadelphia will be no different. The
toughest challenge to Kiplagat could come from Japanese athletes
Naoko Takahashi (34) and Yurika Nakamura (20).
Takahashi, Japan's running super-star, returns to Philadelphia
for the second year in a row. Last year, she finished fourth
there (1:11:28) in preparation for what would be a victorious
run at the prestigious Tokyo International Women's Marathon
November 20, 2005 in a time of 2:24:39. Nakamura is coming off a
second place finish at the 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon
Championships in a time of 1:10:03, more than a minute faster
than Kiplagat's half marathon time.
The elder ladies in the field, Anne Jelegat (37) of Kenya
(1:08:58), and American Colleen De Reuck (42) with (1:08:38),
hold the fastest times of the group. De Reuck is well known for
winning the United States Olympic Marathon Trials in 2004 and
the USA Cross Country 8K Championships in 2005.
On the men's side, Wilson Kiprotich of Kenya leads the field
with the fastest half marathon time. Kiprotich is an experienced
distance athlete at the young age of 26 and already has a string
of victories at some of the world's toughest distance
competitions.
The running world will be watching Sammy Kipketer's half
marathon debut as he moves up in distance. The 25-year-old
Kenyan was the first and only athlete to run 13 minutes flat on
the roads when he set the world best in 2000 at the Carlsbad
5000 in Carlsbad, CA. In 2001, Kipketer came back to Carlsbad
and produced a carbon copy of his record setting performance
from the previous year.
Abdi Abdirahman (29) from Tucson, AZ leads a strong group of
Americans entered in the field. He finished third at the
inaugural New York City Half Marathon and has the speed that
could pose a threat to competitors around him near the finish.
Other top American athletes joining Abdirahman are Jason Hartman
(25) from Boulder, CO and Brandon Leslie (30) from Albuquerque,
NM. Hartman finished third at the U.S. Half Marathon
Championships this year and Leslie was fourth at the 2006
Houston Half Marathon.
This year, athletes from nine countries, masters runners, and
top Philadelphia area runners will compete for a prize purse set
at more than $70,000. Prizes are awarded to the top 10 elite men
and women. Course record bonuses, masters, and first male and
female Philadelphia resident prizes are included.
The 29th annual Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run
welcomes its largest field in race history with 13,000 runners
and walkers Sunday September 17. On race day, approximately 20
bands will play on 11 stages at points along the course and
including the finish line festival at Eakins Oval. Bands playing
jazz, reggae, alternative rock, classic rock, and country will
create a block party atmosphere for runners and walkers, as well
as cheering fans.
Elite Athlete Field (as of September 12, 2006 - Subject to Change)
MEN NAME AGE COUNTRY BEST FACT/COMMENT Wilson Kiprotich 26 KEN 59:25 1st 2006 World's Best 10k, 1st 2005 Stamilano Half Marathon Sammy Kipketer 25 KEN Debut Three-time Carlsbad 5000 winner (2000, 2001, 2002) C. Cheboiboch 28 KEN 60:33 1st '05 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 4th '05 Philadelphia Distance Run Abdi Abdirahman 29 USA, AZ 61:34 3rd NYC Half Marathon, 2X USA Nationals 10,000m Champion John Henwood 34 NZL 65:00 N/A Celedonio Rodriguez 25 USA, CO 64:08 1st 2005 Boston Athletic Association Half Marathon Matt Levassiur 25 USA, CO 64:45 7th 2006 Papa John's 10 Mile Brandon Leslie 30 USA, NM 63:10 5th 2006 Houston Half, 7th 2006 U.S. Cross Country Trials David Kemboi 23 KEN 63:09 2nd 2006 Prague Marathon, 2nd 2005 San Silvertre Nathan Wadsworth 24 USA, KS 67:30 2nd 2005 Mountain Valley Conference Indoor 5,000m Mario Macias 25 MEX 66:38 Adams State College, 8th 2006 Peachtree Road Race Jason Hartman 25 USA, OR 63:07 3rd 2006 U.S. Half Marathon Championships Ridouane Harroufi 25 MAR 61:01 2nd 2006 Marrakech Half Marathon, 6th 2006 Bolder Boulder Julius Kibet 24 KEN 61:18 1st 2004 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run Chris Seaton 27 USA, NC 66:32 7th 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Matthew McInnes 31 CAN 64:54 12th 2004 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run Samuel Ndereba 28 KEN 62:48 1st 2005 21k de Montreal, 7th 2005 Bix 7 mile Antonio Arce 29 USA, CA 67:42 N/A Luke Kipkosgei 30 KEN Debut 3rd 2003 Indoor World Championships John Supsic 26 USA, CO 63:30 N/A Reuben Chebii 24 KEN 60:59 3rd 2006 Parkersburg Half, 3rd 2006 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Fikadu Degefu 30 ETH 62:22 3rd 2005 Reims Marathon, 3rd 2006 Country Music Marathon Berhanu Adane 27 ETH 62:17 1st Bolder Boulder Dan Kahn 27 USA, NC 66:57 Duke University Matt Barresi 23 USA, MD Debut N/A Demesse Tefera 23 ETH 63:17 5th 2006 New York City Half Marathon Worku Beyi 19 ETH 63:41 6th 2006 New York City Half Marathon Mohamed Amyn 30 MAR 62:11 4th 2006 New York City Half Marathon Edwardo Torres 26 USA, CO Debut 10th 2006 Falmouth Road Race To learn more about the half marathon and the prize purse, visit www.runphilly.com or call 800/311-1255.
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