It was only one small step, but for Haron Toroitich the final step of the 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA was the one of thousands he took that day that earned him thousands. By nipping fellow Kenyan Joshua Chelanga at the finish line with his last stride, the 26-year-old Toroitich earned $12,000 for first place along with a $25,000 musical marathon bonus awarded to the athlete who won both the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and any of the other musically-themed races staged by Elite Racing in 2004. "I will put up a building in Kenya and call it Virginia," Toroitich said in appreciation to the race's host state after his 2004 victory.

This year, Toroitich leads the men's field in pursuit of his second Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon title, but he will be vigorously challenged by a younger countryman and an Ethiopian with a kick.

James Kwambai (23) holds the fourth fastest half marathon time (60:22) in this year's field. He finished second here last year to fellow Kenyan James Mwangi in a time of 61:55. His strength will add to Kenya's chance at victory, but Dejene Berhanu of Ethiopia should be a formidable opponent for the Kenyan one-two punch.

Berhanu was built for speed and his numbers prove it. The 26-year-old won the prestigious Carlsbad 5000, home to 26 world best times, three consecutive years beginning in 2003. He holds the fastest half marathon time (59:37) in the men's field and has used his finishing kick to post impressive personal bests at the 5,000 and 10,000-meter distances of 12:54.15 and 27:12.22 respectively.

"If there is any competition along the final miles of the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, look for Berhanu to turn on the afterburners," said Mike Long, elite athlete coordinator for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

Japan will send a strong men's field, led by the champion of the 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon, 20-year-old Arata Fujiwara. Also included in this group are 26-year-old Takashi Ota, 20-year-old Yuki Tanaka, and Tetsuo Nishimura (23), who all finished fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively in the Japan Corporate Half Marathon.

In the women's field, eyes will be focused on the 25-year-old Kenyan Rita Jeptoo who won the 2006 Boston Marathon this past April. Her 2:23:38 finish in Boston went down as the eighth fastest time in race history. She set her personal best time of 69:56 in a victory at the Paris Half Marathon a month prior to her tour of Boston. However, where there is an outstanding Kenyan, there is always an Ethiopian ready to challenge.

Ethiopian Elfenesh Alemu (31) is the obvious choice for this role. Alemu relies on strength rather than speed.

"She is a runner that logs high mileage at altitude during her training in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), which will make it very hard for any competitor to produce a successful attack," said Long. "She can wear her competition down."

A strong Belarusian, Olga Kravtsova (24), has the potential to deliver an upset to the favored Kenyan and Ethiopian. Kravtsova recently became her country's national champion in the 10,000M (33.03.09) and finished fifth at the European Championships in the 5,000M.

Famed Japanese running star and coach, Hiromi Tanaguchi, who was the gold medalist in the marathon at the 1991 World Championships, is sending two of his most talented pupils. Twin sisters Hiroko and Yoko Miyauchi (24) lead a field of five Japanese women at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon this year.

The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon celebrates its sixth anniversary in Virginia Beach, Sunday, September 3, 2006 with 20,000 runners and walkers. Festivities begin with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Friday, September 1 and Saturday, September 2. The Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public, and features more than 80 exhibitors with the latest in endurance sports gear and nutrition products.

Elite Men

NAME                  AGE    COUNTRY  BEST    FACT/COMMENT 
Haron Toroitich        28      KEN    60:49   1st 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
James Kwambai          23      KEN    60:22   2nd 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Yusuf Songoka          26      KEN    60:53   3rd 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Evans Cheruiyot        25      KEN    59:23   2nd 2006 Berlin Half Marathon
Dejene Berhanu         26      ETH    59:37   3-time Carlsbad 5000 champion             
Assefa Mezgebu         28      ETH    Debut   Bronze Medal 2000 Olympics 10,000m 
Stephen Biwott         26      KEN    62:48   1st 2005 Maratona d'Italia
Mohammed Amyn          30      MAR    62:30   5th 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
David Langat           32      KEN    60:47   5th 2006 Paris Marathon 
Khalid El Boumlili     28      MAR    61:12   1st 2006 Casablanca Marathon 
Yuki Tanaka            20      JPN    62:01   5th 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon 
Arata Fujiwara         20      JPN    62:17   1st 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon 
Takashi Ota            26      JPN    61:50   4th 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon 
Tetsuo Nishimura       23      JPN    62:02   6th 2006 Japan Corporate Half Marathon 
Christopher Cheboiboch 28      KEN    60:33   1st 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
Mario Macias           25      MEX    66:38   Adams State College
Alejandro Suarez       26      MEX    63:44   2nd 2006 Bolder Boulder 
Benson Barus           26      KEN    60:00   3rd 2006 Coban Half Marathon 
Charles Kiama          20      KEN    61:34   3rd Bolder Boulder 
Ben Kimutai            25      KEN    61:33   N/A

Elite Women

NAME               AGE    COUNTRY  BEST   FACT/COMMENT 
Nuta Olaru         35     ROM      69:00  1st 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 
Rita Jeptoo        25     KEN      69:56  1st 2006 Boston Marathon 
Edna Kiplagat      26     KEN      Debut  4th 2006 Crescent City Classic
Olga Kratsova      24     BLR      Debut  Belarus National Champion 10,000m 
Luminita Talpos    33     ROM      70:08  10th 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 
Lidia Simon        32     ROM      68:34  2000 Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist   
Elfenesh Alemu     31     ETH      69:47  3rd Tokyo International Women's Marathon 
Hiroko Miyauchi    24     JPN      71:21  1st 2005 Great Scottish Run 
Yoko Miyauchi      24     JPN      70:15  N/A 
Miho Ichikawa      26     JPN      71:33  9th 2005, 5th 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Half   
Kayoko Obata       29     JPN      70:20  2nd 2006 Osaka Marathon 
Akemi Ozaki        29     JPN      70:31  11th 2004 Olympic 10,000m (Athens) 
Banuela Katesigwa  28     TAN      70:55  3rd 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon 
Nina Rillstone     31     NZL      70:49  3rd 2006 Jakarta 10K 
Askale Tafa        21     ROM      Debut  4th 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 
Maggie Chan-Roper  30     HKG      74:22  3rd 2004 Salt Lake City Marathon 
Adriana Pirtea     25     ROM      69:58  3rd 2006 Houston Half Marathon 
Nicole Johns       31     USA      73:47  2nd Dam to Dam 20K

Prize Money & Record Bonus Schedule

Men & Women Overall 
  
First man -- $12,000                     First woman -- $12,000 
Second man -- $7,000                     Second woman -- $7,000 
Third man -- $5,000                      Third woman -- $5,000 
Fourth man -- $3,000                     Fourth woman -- $3,000 
Fifth man -- $2,000                      Fifth woman -- $2,000 
Sixth man -- $1,500                      Sixth woman -- $1,500 
Seventh man -- $1,000                    Seventh woman -- $1,000 
Eighth man -- $750                       Eighth woman -- $750 
Ninth man -- $600                        Ninth woman -- $600 
Tenth man -- $500                        Tenth woman -- $500 
  
World Record Bonuses* 
  
$10,000 for the first finisher better than 58:55 (M) and 66:44 (W) 
  
American Record Bonuses* 
  
$5,000 for the first finisher better than 60:55 (M) and 67:34 (W) 
  
American Soil Record Bonuses* 
  
$5,000 for the first finisher better than 58:55 (M) and 67:53 (W) 
  
Course Record Bonuses* 
  
$1,000 for the first finisher better than 60:42 (M) and 69:17 (W) 
  
* Record Bonuses are cumulative. 
  
Wheelchair Prize Money (not handcycles) 
  
First man under 1:00:00 -- $600              First woman under 1:15:00 -- $600 
Second man under 1:00:00 -- $400             Second woman under 1:15:00 -- $400 
Third man under 1:00:00 -- $300              Third woman under 1:15:00 -- $300 
Fourth man under 1:00:00 -- $200             Fourth woman under 1:15:00 -- $200 
  
Masters (40 and over) Prize Money 
  
First man -- $500                             First woman -- $500 
Second man -- $250                            Second woman -- $250 
  
Prize Money for Hampton Roads Residents 
  
First man -- $500                             First woman -- $500 
Second man -- $250                            Second woman -- $250

For more information on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon or call (800) 311-12555.