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Debut Marathon Record Holder Moses Mosop Eyes 2011 Bank of America
Chicago Marathon for Encore Performance
After Course Tour with Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski, Mosop Has High Hopes for ChicagoÛªs Flat and Fast Route
CHICAGO ÛÒ KenyaÛªs Moses Mosop, the debut marathon record
holder, today announced he will run the 2011 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon, aiming to improve upon his historic first marathon. MosopÛªs
time of 2:03:06 at the 2011 Boston Marathon is the fastest marathon
ever run by a first-timer and the second fastest marathon in history.
After taking a course tour in Chicago with Executive Race Director
Carey Pinkowski, Mosop believes he can capitalize on ChicagoÛªs flat and
fast route and energetic neighborhoods to run even faster in his second
attempt at the marathon distance on October 9.
MosopÛªs Boston time broke the previous debut record of 2:05:50
set by KenyaÛªs Evans Rutto at the 2003 Chicago Marathon. MosopÛªs
performance ranks as the second-fastest marathon all-time behind fellow
Kenyan and 2011 Boston Marathon champion Geoffrey MutaiÛªs 2:03:02.
ÛÏI was very pleased with my performance at the Boston
Marathon, especially since it was my first marathon. In my second
marathon, I want to run even faster,Û said Mosop. ÛÏI feel that the Bank
of America Chicago Marathon is where I have the best opportunity to do
that. I like the course, I feel strong in my training and I am looking
forward to coming back to Chicago for this great event.Û
Mosop recently set a new 30-kilometer world record at the
Prefontaine Classic track meet in Eugene, Ore., on June 3. His time of
1:26:47 was more than two minutes faster than the previous record set
in 1981 by JapanÛªs Toshihiko Seko, the 1986 Chicago Marathon champion.
Prior to running his debut marathon, Mosop was a 2004 Olympian in the
10,000 meters. He won the bronze medal in the 10,000 at the 2005 World
Track & Field Championships, and a silver medal at the 2007 World
Cross Country Championships.
ÛÏMoses is one of the top runners in the world and his
performance at the Boston Marathon this past April was truly amazing,Û
said Pinkowski. ÛÏMoses is very athletic and I feel he can go even
faster on our course. His track and cross country credentials are
impressive and it is that blend of inherent speed and strength that has
traditionally produced historic performances at the Bank of America
Chicago Marathon.Û
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 34th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the
Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000
participants, including a world-class elite runner and wheelchair
field, and an estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its
national and international draw, each year, the iconic race assists in
raising millions for a variety of charitable causes while generating
$150 million in economic impact to its host city according to a report
by the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignÛªs Regional Economics
Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2011 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon will start and finish in ChicagoÛªs Grant Park beginning
at 7:30 a.m. on October 9. In advance of the race, a two-day Health
& Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on
October 7-8.
www.chicagomarathon.com