FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                 Contact: Elite Racing, Inc.
                                          Audra Fleming (858/518-2923 cell) 
 

            GEMECHU REPEATS AS CHAMPION AT SECOND ANNUAL    
            P.F . Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon 
               

TEMPE,  Ariz.  (Jan.  9,  2005)  --  The second annual P.F. Chang's Rock 
‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon brought more of the same on the women's side and 
crowned a new men's champion as the musical marathon hit the streets of 
Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe today. 

Ethiopia's Shitaye Gemechu, 24, successfully defended her title when she  
captured the women's 26.2-mile road race in a time of 2:32:51. Close behind 
was the young Australian, Haley McGregor, 25, who made her marathon debut 
in an impressive 2:33:47. 

A tactical race ensued on the men's side. Kenyan teammates Haron Toroitich, 
the defending champion, and Philip Tarus, ran shoulder-to-shoulder with  
Ethiopia's Terefe Yae through  25  miles before Yae finally broke away  
from Toroitich to capture his first major marathon title. He crossed the 
line in a time of 2:14:24.  Toroitich was second in 2:15:40 and Ethiopia's 
Belay Wolasha was third at 2:16:23. 

There were several famous faces in the crowd of over 29,000 marathon and 
half marathon registered participants. Shonda Schilling, wife of World 
Series Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling finished her first marathon in   
4:50:57. NFL great and three-time Super Bowl Champion Roger Craig completed   
the marathon in an impressive 3:50:45. Arizona Diamondback outfielder, Luis  
Gonzalez, completed his first half marathon in 2:16:19. Cindy McCain,   
wife of U.S. Senator John McCain walked the half marathon for Train to End 
Stroke in 3:58:05.


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