Navigation
Women's Defending Champion Returns to 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon
Women's Course Record-Holder Teyba Erkesso Seeks a Second Victory on January 17
From the Chevron Houston MarathonDecember 31, 2009
Houston, TX
Kenyans Jason Mbote, third at the 2008 Seoul International Marathon in 2:07:37, and Charles Kibiwott, fifth in the same race in 2:08:30, are among the top men's seeds in the 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon scheduled for Sunday, January 17 in Houston, TX. In the women's field, Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia is back to defend her title. Running in her first marathon in 2009, Erkesso won the Chevron Houston Marathon in a course record time of 2:24:18--the fastest marathon ever run in Texas by a female. The previous record of 2:24:40 was held by the 2008 women's champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia; Tune also won the 2008 Boston Marathon three months after her Houston victory.
2009 World Championship marathoner Paige Higgins of Flagstaff, AZ and Erin Moeller of Mt. Vernon, IA are the top American athletes entered in the Chevron Houston Marathon. Paige Higgins (2:33:06 personal best) finished 30th (2:37:11) in the 2009 World Track & Field Championships women's marathon. Erin Moeller (tenth at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:36:51) has completed nine marathons with six top ten finishes. Tara Quinn-Smith of Canada (2:33:58 PR), and Lydia Kurgat (2:31:26, 2009 Eindhoven) of Kenya are the other top women racers.
Joining Jason Mbote and Charles Kibiwott in the 38th edition of the country's premier winter marathon are Kenyans Benson and David Cheruiyot (not related). 2009 runner-up Benson Cheruiyot ran a breakthrough race while clocking a time of 2:11:33--his best marathon effort by two and a half minutes. David Cheruiyot, one of only two men to win in Houston three times (2008, 2006, 2005), and Canada's Andrew Smith, fifth (2:16:14) in the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon, also return as contenders.
Elite runners in both the men's and women's marathons will be vying for $130,000 in prize money, including $35,000 each to the champions.
Registration for the 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon and accompanying Aramco Houston Half Marathon closed in record time; both races sold out in less than 60 hours. A combined field of 22,000 runners is set for the 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon Weekend.
The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, annually attracts participants from all 50 states in the USA, and more than 20 foreign countries. In 2009, more than 26,000 runners participated in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half marathon, 5K run and children's fun run). The Houston Marathon has been ranked among the top five in the nation by Ultimate Guide to Marathons for the fastest course, organization, and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's largest single-day sporting event. More information is available at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or phone 713-957-3453.