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Sep-1-2005
Chicago Marathon Champions Set to Defend Titles
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Organizers of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon announced this morning that
Evans Rutto of Kenya and Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania, who won that
42.195 km road race last year, plan to return and defend their titles on
October 9.
Rutto, 27, has won the last two editions of this marathon. In 2003, making
his marathon debut, he was a shocking upset winner in 2:05:50, the
fastest-ever by a debutant. He rallied to win going away in last year's
edition in 2:06:16.
"I am always overwhelmed by the support and excitement of the people in
Chicago," said Rutto in a press release. "After protecting my win last
year, I hope to keep up the winning tradition."
Tomescu-Dita, 35, who won by nearly a minute last year in 2:23:45, will have
to make a quick comeback from her World Championships bronze medal in the
marathon 18 days ago. There are just 56 days between the World
Championships marathon in Helsinki and the race in Chicago, but Tomescu-Dita
is undeterred.
"This year, I will have to pay close attention to the other runners as I
again face strong competition," she said. "I am hoping to set a new
personal best and to lower my current Romanian national record of 2:22:50."
Executive race director Carey Pinkowski is clearly pleased to have Rutto and
Tomescu-Dita back in Chicago, where the flat course and cool weather promote
the achievement of fast times. "Evans and Constantina both bring to the
race a brave front-running style that often defines the competition," he
said.
Top athletes will be competing for a share of a $650,000 prize money purse,
plus generous bonuses paid for fast times.
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