FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BASWETI, TUPTOVA GRIND OUT WINS AT THE QUAD CITIES MARATHON

MOLINE, IL – Both the men's and women's Open Division winners used
late-race surges to capture titles at today's 11th Annual THE Quad Cities
Marathon, presented by THE National Bank. The race was run under a cloudy
sky, with temperatures in the mid-60's (F).

Jynocel Basweti (Kenuya) moved into the lead in the men's race after the
24th mile and finished in 2:18:04 to secure his second Quad Cities' title.
He ran 5:17 pace this morning. The time was the second fastest in race
history. Basweti set the course record during his 2006 win (2:16:36).

The win was Basweti's first since his 2007 victory in Austin, TX. Today's
win was his fourth career title on US soil.

David Tuwei (Kenya) was the early leader, hammering a fast pace in the
first half of the race, but he dropped out in the 12th mile due to a
nagging hamstring. Worku Beyi (Ethiopia) then took over the lead through
the half-marathon point in just over 66-minutes and off Arsenal Island at
the 20-mile mark. Beyi also withdrew shortly thereafter. This opened the
door for a strong charging Basweti and Geoffrey Kiprotich (Kenya) who ran
stride for stride during the next 5k before, Basweti took control late in
the race. Kiprotich placed second in 2:18:27. Defending champion, Genna
Tufa (Ethiopia) captured third in 2:20:05. All three collected the race's
time bonus cash for finishing under 2:22:00.

Jonathan Ndambuki (Kenya) and Jacob Kendagor (Kenya) closed out the
top-five in 2:23:47 and 2:24:42, respectively.

The women's race featured a lead pack of three runners going
shoulder-to-shoulder for over 20 miles. The pack included Nadezhda Tuptova
(Russia), Meseret Kotu (Ethiopia), and Serkalem Abrha (Ethiopia).

Tuptova surged to the lead in the 22nd mile and grinded out a victory from
that point. She finished in 2:43:13 (6:14 pace) to record the
fourth-fastest time in race history. Kotu staved off Abrha down the
stretch to place second in 2:45:10, while Abrha clocked a 2:45:25. All
three earned the race's time bonus cash for finishing under 2:48:00.

Tuptova's win today was her second of the year; she also won the Kentucky
Derby Marathon. Tuptova was second at this year's Miami Marathon.

Larisa Mikhaylova (Russia) placed fourth in 2:51:17, while Frashiah
Waithaka (Kenya) rounded out the top-five with a 2:56:37.

Alexey Korobov (Russia) was the men's master's winner in 2:30:52, setting a
new course record for that division. The old record (2:31:13) dated back
to 2001. Matt Mattews (East Moline, IL) was second in 2:48:27 and Michael
Shulte (Cedar Rapids, IA) placed third in 3:00:58.

Michelle Didion (Laporte, IN) won the women's master's title at 3:01:48.
Elena Shemyakina (Geneva, IL) and Connie Gardner (Medina, OH) rounded out
the top-3 master's in 3:13:36 and 3:19:37, respectively.

Other event winners:
Half Marathon: Men – Vince Temu, 1:12:49; Women – Beth Whalen, 1:24:01
5K: Men – Justin Andrews, 16:14; Women – Kelley Timmerman, 19:11
5-Person Open Relay: Men – Dick Pond, Schaumburg, 2:35:46; Women – Heart
Attackers, 3:48:34.

Top-10 Open Marathon Male:

1 Jynocel Basweti, Kenya 2:18:04
2 Geoffrey Kiprotich, Kenya 2:18:27
3 Genna Tufa, Ethiopia 2:20:05
4 Jonathan Ndambuki, Kenya 2:23:47
5 Jacob Kendagor, Kenya 2:24:42
6 Andrew Musuva, Kenya 2:28:54
7 Alexey Korobov, Russia 2:30:52
8 Brian Grudowski, Charleston 2:32:04
9 Aaron Thomas, Slater 2:47:49
10 Matt Mattews, East Moline 2:48:27

Top-10 Open Marathon Female:

1 Nadezhda Tuptova, Russia 2:43:13
2 Meseret Kotu, Ethiopia 2:45:10
3 Serkalem Abrha, Ethiopia 2:45:25
4 Larisa Mikhaylova, Russia 2:51:17
5 Frashiah Waithaka, Kenya 2:56:37
6 Rael Murrey, Kenya 3:01:36
7 Michelle Didion, Laporte 3:01:48
8 Julie Spencer, Baraboo 3:02:52
9 Elena Shemyakina, Geneva 3:13:36
10 Amy Kintner, Bettendorf 3:15:10

Top-3 Master's Marathon Male:

1 Alexey Korobov, Russia 2:30:52*
2 Matt Mattews, East Moline 2:48:27
3 Michael Shulte, Cedar Rapids 3:00:58

* master's course record (male)

Top-3 Master's Marathon Female:

1 Michelle Didion, Laporte 3:01:48
2 Elena Shemyakina, Geneva 3:13:36
3 Connie Gardner, Medina 3:19:37

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