FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABRHA, GARDNER, GRUDOWSKI ADDED TO ELITE FIELD OF QC MARATHON

MOLINE, IL – Three runners have joined the elite runner field of THE Quad
Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank. The 26.2-mile race is set
for a 7:30-am start, Sun. Sept. 28th, at John Deere Commons.

Serkalem Abrha (Ethiopia) has joined the Open Women's race. The
21-year-old is making her USA debut in the marathon. She ran to a solid
1:22:09 at last month's Parkersburg (WV) Half Marathon.

Connie Gardner (Medina, OH) has joined the Master's Women's race. Gardner
owns a 3:05:06 2008 best from the Snickers Energy Bar Marathon (Albany,
GA), where she won the master's title.

Brian Grudowski (Charleston, IL) has joined the Open Men's field.
Grudowski owns a 2:26:09 personal best from last year's Houston Marathon.
He placed fifth at the QCM last year in 2:34:01.

Roberta Meyer (Shepherdsville, KY) has withdrawn from the Master's Women's
field due to injury.

The field now features 24 elite athletes (15 men, 9 women).

Since 2006, eight men, in the field, have run under 2:20. Three have
dipped under 2:15:00: David Tuwei (Kenya) has the best time of that group.
He ran a 2:13:44 to place 2nd at this year's Grandma's Marathon. Jynocel
Basweti (Kenya), the QCM course record holder, has the second best seed
time with a 2:14:02 from last year's win at the Austin Marathon. Jonathan
Ndambuki (Kenya) ran 2:14:58 to win the 2006 California International.

Three women have run 2:42:00 or better since 2006. Meseret Kotu (Ethiopia)
ran 2:37:31 in 2006 at Lahore, France. Larisa Mikhaylova (Russia) ran
2:41:43 at the 2006 Philadelphia Marathon, while Nadezhda Tuptova (Russia)
ran 2:41:56 at the 2006 Pyongyang, Korea, Marathon.

Three former champions are in the Open Men's race: Basweti (2006),
defending champ Genna Tufa (Ethiopia) and 2002/2004 champ Andrew Musuva
(Kenya).

QC Marathon course records: Open Men – Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2006,
2:16:36; Open Women – Halina Karnatsevich, Belarus, 2004, 2:36:26; Master's
Men – Steve Wilson, Lafayette, IN, 2001, 2:31:13; Master's Women – Cindy
Keeler, Clermont, FL, 2002, 2:46:32.

2008 ELITE FIELD, AT A GLANCE:

As of 9-24-08, Field Subject to Change

MEN'S FIELD (ODD NUMBERS)

# Name From, Age Career PR Recent Best
1 Genna Tufa +# Ethiopia, 24 2:17:38 (2008) 2:17:38 (2008)
3 Jynocel Basweti +#! Kenya, 21 2:14:02 (2007) 2:14:02 (2007)
5 Andrew Musuva +## Kenya, 38 2:12:01 (1998) 2:24:11 (2005)
7 David Tuwei Kenya, 29 2:13:44 (2008) 2:13:44 (2008)
9 Dzmitry Sivou + Belarus, 34 2:16:15 (2003) 2:19:07 (2006)
11 Jonathan Ndambuki + Kenya, 32 2:10:58 (1998) 2:14:58 (2006)
15 Geoffrey Kiprotich Kenya, 30 2:17:36 (2007) 2:17:36 (2007)
17 Worku Beyi Ethiopia, 21 2:25:56 (2007) 2:25:56 (2007)
19 John Rotich Kenya, 34 2:17 (2006) 2:17 (2006)
21 Micah Kemboi Kenya, 33 NA NA
23 Jacob Kendagor Kenya, 24 2:15:16 (2007) 2:15:16 (2007)
25 Alexey Korobov * Russia, 40 2:13:15 (2002) NA
27 Russ Boore +*@@ Hampton, IL, 46 2:32:47 (2006) 2:32:47 (2006)
29 Jerry Lack +*@ E. Moline 45 2:35:31 (2002) 2:39:39 (2006)
31 Brian Grudowski + Charleston, 26 2:26:09 (2007) 2:26:09 (2007)

WOMEN'S FIELD (EVEN NUMBERS)

# Name From, Age Career PR Recent Best
2 Larisa Mikhaylova + Russia, 39 2:41:43 (2006) 2:41:43 (2006)
4 Nadezhda Tuptova Russia, 39 2:41:56 (2007) 2:41:56 (2007)
6 Meseret Kotu Ethiopia, 27 2:30:28 (2002) 2:37:31 (2006)
8 Rael Murey Kenya, 28 3:06:15 (2006) 3:06:15 (2006)
10 Frashiah Waithaka Kenya, 30 NA NA
12 Mary Toohill * Davenport, 41 3:00:54 (2007) 3:00:54 (2007)
14 Elena Shemyakina +*@ Geneva, 49 3:12:39 (2006) 3:12:39 (2006)
18 Connie Gardner * Medina, OH, 44 3:05:06 (2008) 3:05:06 (2008)
20 Sherkalem Abrha Ethiopia, 21 NA NA

! Course record holder; + QCM veteran; * Master's division; # Former QCM
open champ; @ Former QCM master's champ

(24 Elite Runners in Field)
Counties represented: Kenya 10; USA 6; Ethiopia 4; Russia 3; Belarus 1

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