Photo below: The lead women in the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

The lineup of elite runners for the 2003 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon has been announced, and some of the most prestigious names in road racing will hit the streets of Virginia Beach, Virginia at the third annual race on Sunday, August 31. Comprised of world champions and past winners, both the men's and women's fields are expected to generate fierce competition on one of the fastest and flattest half marathon courses in road racing. A total of 18 women and 20 men representing 16 different countries make up the elite field of runners.

The women's field will be led this year by 29-year-old Romanian Lidia Simon, the gold medallist in the marathon at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. Her world crown came on the heels of a silver medal performance in the marathon at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has a half marathon best of 68:51.

Simon's chief competition could come from Kenya's Margaret Okayo, winner of the 2002 Boston Marathon in a course record time of 2:20:43, and returning champion Adriana Fernandez from Mexico, who won the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll Half in 70:21. Fernandez staged an impressive race last year, blasting through mile seven at a 5:12 minute per mile pace en route to her victory. Her competitors should expect nothing less as she defends her title this year.

Complementing the women's field is newcomer Yashuko Hashimoto of Japan, who ran three half marathons in three months and lowered her personal best by a total of two minutes over that span, down to 68:55. Following her impressive showing at that distance, Hashimoto ran a 2:29:37 to finish fifth in her marathon debut at the Nagoya International Marathon in 2002

The men's elite field is equally impressive and is highlighted this year by the return of Shadrack Hoff, winner of the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in 2001. Featured as a prime contender at last year's event, Hoff was unable to defend his title, as he could not make it to Virginia Beach at the last minute because of visa problems. He completed the 2002 year in impressive fashion, however, finishing sixth at the World Half Marathon Championships in Belgium in a time of 61:30. Hoff returns to Virginia Beach in 2003 committed to reclaiming the Rock 'n' Roll title he earned with a time of 62:19.

"We are thrilled to have Shadrack return this year," said Mike Long, Elite Athlete Coordinator for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. We expect a great race from him, but with the overall quality of this men's field, there is no guarantee on who will grab the title."

An old nemesis will challenge Hoff in the race that finishes on the scenic oceanfront boardwalk. Kenya's John Gwako, who finished second to Hoff in 2001, returns for another shot at the title. He was poised to win in 2002, having led the race for the first 11 miles, but pulled up with a hamstring injury in the final stretch and was unable to finish. The 25-year-old Gwako owns a 61:00 personal best in the half marathon.

Both Hoff and Gwako will face strong competition from Kenya's Laban Kipkemboi and Peter Chebet. Kipkemboi took third place in his debut at the 2002 New York City Marathon and has a personal best of 61:16 in the half marathon. Chebet won the 2002 Berlin Half and finished second in the 2003 Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.

"It's always gratifying to have previous winners return," added Long. When you add in course record holders, it quickly becomes apparent the 2003 edition of the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon should be an exceptional event."

For optimal television coverage and on-course spectator viewing, the women's invitational field will start at 6:45 a.m., 15 minutes prior to the official start, a rare move in U.S. road racing. The sold-out event will be televised locally on WAVY-TV 10 and nationally on Fox Sports Net. The elite invitational runners will vie for more than $80,000 in cash and bonuses---the largest half marathon purse in the U.S.

The 2003 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon will host 15,000 runners and feature more than 20 live bands along its 13.1-mile course. In addition, 14 energetic high school cheerleading squads will root for the runners in a "Spirit on the Course" competition. The post-race evening concert on the boardwalk, featuring the Goo Goo Dolls, is free to all participants and volunteers.

Elite Athletes

Runner               Age   Country   PR        Quick Fact
Shadrack Hoff        30    RSA       61:11     1st 01 RNR Half
John Gwako           25    KEN       61:00     2nd 01 RNR Half.
John Korir           27    KEN       61:32     1st 03 Cherry Blossom
Paul Koech           34    KEN       60:01     5th 03 World X/C Championships
John Kagwe           34    KEN       61:18     1st 01 Suzuki RNRM, 6th 02 RNR Half
Ben Kimutai          32    KEN       62:10     3rd 02 RNR Half, 1st 02 Amsterdam Mar.
El Arbi Khattabi     36    MAR       62:42     1st 03 Kingston Classic 10K
Ronald Mogaka        32    KEN       61:25     1st 02 Philadelphia Distance Run
Javier Caballero     31    ESP       62:54     2nd 02 Spain Nat. Ch. Half Marathon
Joshua Chelanga      30    KEN       61:02     2nd 02 Commonwealth Games Marathon
Getachew Kebede      20    ETH       N/A       8th 02 Boston Marathon
Tekeste Kebede       24    ETH       62:59     5th 03 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
Abraham Assefa       31    ETH       60:57     3rd 02 Hartford Marathon
Michael Sarwarth     26    TAN       61:50     7th 03 Parkersburg Half Marathon
Haron Toroitich      25    KEN       60:53     2nd 03 Paris Half, 6th 03 Paris Marathon
Raymond Kipkoech     25    KEN       NA        1st 02 Berlin Marathon
Philip Tarus         27    KEN       60:24     1st 98  99 Suzuki RNR Marathon
Peter Chebet         20    KEN       60:56     2nd 03 Suzuki RNRM, 1st 02 Berlin Half
David Ruto           23    KEN       60:44     4th 02 Suzuki RNR Marathon
Laban Kipkemboi      25    KEN       61:16     3rd 02 NYC Marathon
James Kosgei         34    KEN       62:08     1st 03 Bay to Breakers
Wilson K. Kipkemboi  23    KEN       61:11     1st 03 Egmond Half Marathon
Evans Rutto          25    KEN       60:30     6th 01 World Half Marathon Champ.
Likhaya Dayile       23    RSA       NA        7th Litchfield Hills Road Race
Joseph Kimani        30    KEN       60:04     4th 00 World Champ. Half Marathon
**As of 8/19/03


Runner                Age   Country    PR      Quick Fact
Adriana Fernandez      32    MEX       N/A       1st 02 RNR Half
Margaret Okayo         27    KEN       68:49     1st 01 Boston Marathon (CR 2:20:43)
Lidia Simon            29    ROM       68:51     Silver Medalist 00 Olympic Marathon
Elana Meyer            35    RSA       66:44*    2nd 03 Johannesburg Half Marathon
Yashuko Hashimoto      26    JPN       68:55     N/A
Anuta Catuna           34    ROM       69:16     6th 99 NYCM
Margaret Atodonyang    24    KEN       69:55     5th 03 Lisbon Half
Ramilia Burangulova    42    RUS       70:14     1st 03 Coban Half Marathon
Tatiana Khmeleva       24    RUS       70:20     2nd 02 RNR Half, 1st 03 San Blas Half
Ludmila Biktasheva     29    RUS       70:31     1st 03 Bay to Breakers
Olga Romanova          23    RUS       71:16     1st 03 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
Liodmila Kortchaguina  32    RUS       72:15     1st 03 Pittsburgh Marathon
Iulia Olteanu          36    ROM       NA        2nd 02 Paris Half Marathon
Kayoko Obata           31    JPN       71:05     8th 01 RNR Half Marathon
Ichiyo Naganuma        31    JPN       72:57     10th 01 RNR Half Marathon
Aimi Ishida            19    JPN       Debut     NA
Ornella Ferrara        35    ITA       71:46     3rd 01 Suzuki RNR Marathon
*World Best
**As of 8/19/03

A Pre-Race Beach Party!
It's a pre-race Beach Party! Hear words of wisdom from some of the biggest names in running, then rock out to our feature band, Rockstar Parking.

It's a pre-race party on the beach and you're invited!

The party will be held at the 24th Street Beach Stage - 24th Street and the Oceanfront Boardwalk. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon presents "Words of Wisdom from the Founding Fathers." At 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Rockstar Parking will make a rock star out of you!

On Thursday, August 28, 2003, some of the biggest names in the running world will come together to offer their insights into running. Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon founders Khalid Khannouchi, current world record holder in the marathon, and Frank Shorter will be joined by Paul Tergat, current world record holder in the half marathon and Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon course record holder (2002). Fatuma Roba and Margaret Okayo will round out the evening! Of course, it wouldn't be an entertaining evening without a few laughs provided by the evening's Emcee, Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon founder and Runner's World columnist John "the Penguin" Bingham - waddle on friends!

The first 400 people to the event will receive a FREE commemorative Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon pin.

For information on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon visit the race Web site, call (800) 311-1255, or contact the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon c/o Elite Racing, 5452 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121.