FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                 
             Records Abound at the 36th Running of the 
       Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon
   Female winner shatters 2007 record; race draws largest field ever

HOUSTON, Jan. 13, 2008 - More than 20,000 participants, a race record, 
lined up on a weather-perfect morning for the 36th running of the Chevron 
Houston Marathon trio of races. Among the records set, Dire Tune 
obliterated her 2007 record by a staggering 2 minutes, 12 seconds for 
back-to-back victories in the marathon. 

Tune, 22, of Ethiopia set a course record 2:24:40, besting her 2007 record 
of 2:26:52. Worknesh Tola, 30, of Ethiopia, finished second in 2:35:37.

In the men's race, David Cheruiyot, the 2005 and 2006 marathon winner, 
returned to Houston to claim his third victory in four years.

Cheruiyot, 37, of Kenya had a closer race, finishing in 2:12:32, just 13 
seconds ahead of Kasime Adilo of Ethiopia. With his victory, Cheruiyot 
joins Stephen Ndungu as the second three-time winner of the Houston 
Marathon.

In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, which serves as the USA Half Marathon 
Championships, James Carney clocked a 1:02:21, eleven seconds ahead of 
Jason Lehmkuhle. Kate O'Neill, 27, broke the tape in 1:11:57, 13 seconds 
ahead of Desiree Davila.

"We are proud the Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half 
Marathon continue to attract some of the finest athletes in the world, 
proven by yet another year of record-setting performances," said Brant 
Kotch, race director. "None of this would be possible without the support 
of our sponsors, our army of 5,000 volunteers and the quarter of a million 
spectators who line the streets of Houston on race day. They combine to 
provide a world-class experience for all participants."

Tune, who hopes to make the 2008 Ethiopian Olympic team, said she expected 
to run a record time, but was concerned about the breezy conditions on an 
otherwise ideal day. For her victory, Tune pocketed $25,000 and an 
additional $10,000 for the record.

O'Neill, of Palo Alto, California and Carney, 29, of Boulder, Colorado, 
fresh off his 2:16:54 showing at the U.S. Olympic Trial marathon in 
November, take home $12,000 each in prize money.

The races are expected to raise a record $1 million for 44 charities 
associated with the Houston Marathon Committee's Run for a Reason charity 
program. 

The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, is the 
nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 
50 U.S. states and nearly 30 foreign countries. In 2008, more than 23,000 
runners took part in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half marathon, 
5K and children's run). The Chevron Houston Marathon offers the only closed 
marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by 
the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd 
support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's 
largest single-day sporting event. 

More information is available online at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or 
by calling 713-957-3453. 
								 
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