FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Basweti to Defend Men's Marathon Title, Field Full of Challengers;
Half Field Solid
MOLINE, IL - Three-time champion Jynocel Basweti (Kenya) will face a field
of challengers in the 2012 Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National
Bank. The full marathon, along with the Ruhl and Ruhl Half Marathon are the
featured prize money events on a Sept. 23rd race day that also includes a
5k run/walk and marathon relay. All races start at 7:30-am at John Deere
Commons in downtown Moline.
Basweti has been a fixture at the front of the field during recent QCM
history. In five starts he has three wins, one second-place, and one
third-place finish. His wins have come in 2011 (2:18:40), 2008 (2:18:04),
and 2006 (2:16:36). In 2009, he placed second in 2:19:40 and in 2007, he
placed third in 2:21:54. Basweti owns the second, third, and sixth best
times in QC history. This year, Basweti has wins at the following
marathons: Kentucky Derby, Knoxville, and Shamrock Sportsfest. His best
time was a 2:21:36 to finish fourth in Buffalo.
One of the top challengers to Basweti will be veteran Fred Mogaka-Tumbo.
Mogaka-Tumbo has a recent best of 2:14:59 from a seventh-place finish at
last year's Twin Cities Marathon. His PR sits at 2:12:03 from a silver
medal finish at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he also has a notable win from
the 2007 Los Angeles Marathon (2:17:14). John Njoroge (Kenya) ran an
impressive 2:12:52 to place fourth at the 2011 Grandma's. He also was
fourth in a very warm 2012 Green Bay Marathon (2:32:59).
Nixon Kiplagat-Cherutich (Kenya) is another top challenger. He placed third
at this year's Pittsburgh Marathon in 2:14:46. Mario Macias (Alamosa, CO)
notched a 2:15:56 to place fifth at last year's California International
Marathon. Macias has two wins in 2012: at Lincoln and Carlsbad. Abraham
Kogo (Kenya) is another top commitment. He ran 2:16:33 to place fifth at
Pittsburgh this year and won the 2012 Cleveland Marathon (2:19:59).
Jonathan Ndambuki (Kenya) is returning to the QCM. He owns three top-4
finishes (4th/2011, 4th/2008, 2nd/2006). Ndambuki also won last year's Rock
'n' Roll Seattle Marathon in 2:24:50. Bryan Morseman (Addison, NY) will
make his QC debut. Morseman ran 2:20:11 to win the 2011 Pocono Mountain
Marathon.
The master's field is headlined by Gilbert Kipchirchir (Kenya) and Jonathan
Piggott (Williamsburg, VA). Piggott was second in the 2010 QCM master's
race.
Other elites in this year's field include: Philip Lagat (Toledo, OH),
Dejene Nigusse (Ethiopia), Abraham Rutto (Kenya), Edward Tabut (Kenya),
Demesse Tefera (Ethiopia), Philip Njoroge (Kenya), and Kenneth Brooks
(Portage, MI). Tefera is a QC veteran, having placed fourth in the 2009
marathon. The men's full marathon course record was set in 2010 by Kenya's
Leonard Mucheru in 2:16:29.
QCM Men's Full Marathon Field - Top Seeds At a Glance:
Name, From, Notes
John Njoroge, Kenya, 2:12:52 (2011)
Nixon Kiplagat-Cherutich, Kenya, 2:14:46 (2012)
Fred Mogaka-Tumbo, Kenya, 2:14:59 (2011)
Mario Macias, Alamosa, CO, 2:15:56 (2011)
Abraham Kogo, Kenya, 2:16:33 (2012)
Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:18:40 (2011)*
* Three-time QCM champ (2006, 2008, 2011)
TALENTED FIELD TO CHALLENGE RUHL & RUHL HALF RECORD
Top QC returnees will be joined by a host of talented newcomers in the 2012
Ruhl & Ruhl Half Marathon. The leaders will be shooting for a 1:06:45
course record, set in 2011, by Charles Hillig (Denver, CO). Hillig has
announced he will not return this fall.
Sammy Rotich (Kenya) and Bryan Glass (Springfield, IL) are the top
returners from 2011. Last year, Rotich placed second in 1:07:08, while
Glass was third in 1:09:15. Glass did win the half title in 2010 (1:09:16)
and 2009 (1:09:50).
Arturs Bareikis (Crestwood, IL) also returns from last year. He was fourth
in 1:10:35. Other top returners from a year ago include: Ronald Lavaire
(Urbana, IL), 1:14:20 (8th); Marco Alfaro (Cicero, IL), 1:14:53 (10th); and
Alfredo Delgado (Chicago, IL), 1:14:56 (11th).
David Tuwei (Kenya) will have a solid shot at victory in the half. Tuwei
placed second in last year's full QCM (2:19:23). Richard Kandie (Kenya)
owns a 1:06:01 half best from the 2010 Bayshore event. Festus Kigen (Kenya)
was a top track athlete in college with a 5,000-meter best of 14:06.31.
Rounding out the field are: Matt Jordan (Toledo, OH) and Robert Wambua
(Kenya).
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