FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   KOTU, BEYI HIGHLIGHT ELITE FIELD ADDITIONS – KILULAI OUT OF RACE

MOLINE, IL – Four elite runners have been added to the elite runner field 
for the 2008 Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank.  The 
race is scheduled for a 7:30-am start, Sept. 28th, at John Deere Commons.

Meseret Kotu (Ethiopia) highlights the latest additions.  The 27-year-old 
joins the Open Women's race and could contend for the title.  Kotu won the 
2008 Buffalo Marathon in 2:43:10.  She has the fastest 2008 time of any 
runner in the women's race.  Her PR is a 2:30:28 from 2002 in Amsterdam.  
Her top time in 2007 was a 2:39:03 in Zhengzhou.  Her 2006 best clocked in 
at 2:37:31 at Lahore.

Worku Beyi (Ethiopia) is an up and coming marathon, training in New York 
City.  Beyi ran a 1:03:39 last year at the NYC Half Marathon, placing 
eighth.  That race was won by internationally known Haile Gebrselassie in 
59:24.  Beyi was just five seconds behind top American Alan Culpepper in 
that race.  He has limited marathon experience, but did place 19th in last 
year's NYC Marathon in 2:25:56.  The 21-year-old will be one of the 
youngest runners in the Open Men's race at the QCM.

Jacob Kendagor (Kenya) has been added to the Open Men's field.  Kendagor 
ran a 2:18:06 at this year's Rawanda Marathon.  He added a 1:09:46 in an 
Italian half marathon last year.  Micah Kemboi (Kenya) also has been added 
to the Open Men's division.

Bruce Kilulai (Kenya) has withdrawn from the field.  The race now has 22 
elite entries.  In the elite Men's race 14 runners will toe the line (three 
master's), while the elite Women's field features 8 runners (three 
master's).

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