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2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon – Men’s Preview
by Sharon Ekstrom

With 10.10.10, the date of the 2010 Chicago Marathon, being such an auspicious day, excitement is brewing and expectations are high for the 33rd edition of the Chicago Marathon where one of the most spectacular fields will gather on the fastest marathon course in North America. The bar had been raised at the 2009 event when Beijing Olympic gold medalist Sammy Wanjiru started on pace to break the world record (2009 Chicago Marathon Half Split was 62:01) and, despite missing the mark, set a new course record and ran the fastest marathon finish ever run in North America, 2:05:41. The world record can still be achieved on this flat, fast course. Looking ahead to race day, the roster is rife with champions of major marathons worldwide, course record holders of Chicago, Boston, Fukuoka, Paris, Houston, Xiamen from the past year or two and three Olympic medalists, among others. What remains most notable are the five 2:05 marathoners that are slated to run the 2010 men’s race. The recognizable names include Sammy Wanjiru, Tsegaye Kebede, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Vincent Kipruto, Feyisa Lelisa and Deriba Merga whose talents and abilities are defining a new generation of marathoners and almost guarantee a fast fight to the finish.

Fastest course in the USA – Followup to 2009, the Fastest Finish Ever in North America
This notably fast course has produced two men’s world records in the past – Steve Jones (1984, 2:08:05) and Khalid Khannouchi (1999, 2:05:42) – and has seen a number of legendary marathoners and national stars run great times over the past thirty-three years; among them Moses Tanui, Khalid Khannouchi, Paul Tergat, Abelkader El Mouaziz, Steve Jones, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Toshihiko Seko, Rob DeCastella, Marilson dos Santos, Meb Keflezighi, Alan Culpepper, Abdi Abdirahmin, Silvio Guerra, Jaouad Gharib and Sammy Wanjiru. It was Wanjiru who in 2009 set the new course record 2:05:41 (breaking Khannouchi’s 10 year course record from 1999 Chicago, a world record at that time). Wanjiru could have been faster due to a number of variables, such as his pacers fading early in the race and his slowing in the final stretch to wave to the crowd. But that was 2009.

The Return of the Champion and Record Holder
In the dawn of the new decade, 2010 marks the deepest field Chicago has ever seen with gold medalist from the Beijing Olympics and former half marathon World Champion Wanjiru back to defend his title. While Wanjiru has laid down a few 2:05 finishes including his course record at Chicago and his personal best/course record victory at the 2009 London Marathon in 2:05:10), he has never run slower than 2:06:39 at his marathon debut at the 2007 Fukuoka Marathon. While Wanjiru seems the classic standout, a race is not a race without its competitors.

photo credit: Victah Sailer / Photo Run

The Contenders
In addition race organizers have lined up four additional 2:05 marathoners to give Wanjiru a run for his money…literally since a win at Chicago would guarantee a $500,000 payout from the World Marathon Majors prize purse for the 2009/2010 series. Among the competition are the 2010 Boston Marathon champion and course record holder, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot; 2010 London Marathon champion and Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede; 2009 Paris Marathon victor and course record holder Vincent Kipruto who led with Wanjiru through the first 20 miles of the 2009 Chicago Marathon before fading to 3rd place; and winner of the 2010 Xiamen Marathon and 2009 Dublin Marathon Feyisa Lelisa at the young age of 20. These men have achieved these times within the 2009/2010 marathon seasons.

Wanjiru will be met by some speedy counterparts, not least of whom are two of the men who finished third and fourth to Wanjiru’s Olympic Marathon Gold medal and record. One cannot overlook Deriba Merga, who despite having never run sub 2:06, has accolades including 2009 Houston Marathon champion and course record holder and his followup three months later as 2009 Boston Marathon winner. With a personal best finish of 2:06:38 (2008 London Marathon, 6th place), he remains a solid contender in this field. A 10K and half marathon specialist, Merga just missed an Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Men’s Marathon, as fellow countryman Tsegaye Kebede passed him on the track in the final hundred yards of the event. Merga’s strategic surges crack away at the other contenders in the lead pack which create great road racing, forcing a fast pace from the start. Tsegaye Kebede, after taking the bronze at the Beijing Olympics seems to have followed Wanjiru’s winning streak with wins at the Fukuoka Marathon setting two new course records and a victory of the 2010 London Marathon. Along the way Kebede also picked up another bronze medal from the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Vincent Kipruto has the second fastest time in the field (2:05:13 at Rotterdam) and Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot crushed the course record at the challenging Boston Marathon course – so both have proven that they can compete in any condition. Expect to see dark horse Feyisa Lelisa, in with the leaders. While Lelisa’s victories at the 2009 Dublin Marathon and 2010 Xiamen Marathon may not have made him a household name, his 2:05:23 finish at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon and the fact that he is only twenty should put him on everyone’s radar.

This is indeed a new era of marathoning with veteran runners – many coming off track or cross country careers – racing a new generation of young twenty-somethings that have trained solely for the marathon distance. When 2:05 has become the mark of a top performer; and 2:04, once a distant dream, now an attainable goal; one can only expect the best in the future of marathon running and for October 10, 2010…promise of a fantastic race in Chicago.

Notable Absence…
Chicago lost its American draw, the fastest current American marathoner and 2008 Olympian, Ryan Hall who withdrw from the field in advance of the event. Hall planned on attempting an American record at the event, but withdrew due to fatigue having felt the early physical and psychological wear of hard training at the 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon which would adversely impact his Chicago Marathon performance and attempts at a record.

Elite Men’s Lineup:

Male Elite Athletes

Athlete	Country	Bib	Personal Best	Chicago
Sammy Wanjiru (23)	Kenya	1	2:05:10, London, 2009	History
Vincent Kipruto (23)	Kenya	2	2:05:13, Rotterdam, 2010	History
Tsegaye Kebede (23)	Ethiopia	3	2:05:18, Fukuoka, 2009	History
Feyisa Lilesa (20)	Ethopia	4	2:05:23, Rotterdam, 2010	History
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (22)	Kenya	5	2:05:52, Boston, 2010	History
Deriba Merga (29)	Ethiopia	6	2:06:38, London, 2008	History
Negari Terfa (27)	Ethiopia	7	2:07:41, Berlin, 2009	History
Wesley Korir (27)	Kenya	8	2:08:24, Los Angeles, 2009	History
Shadrack Biwott (25)	Kenya	9	Debut	History
Nick Arciniaga (27)	USA	12	2:11:48, San Diego, 2010	History
Jason Hartmann (29)	USA	13	2:12:09, Twin Cities, 2009	History
Justin Young (31)	USA	15	2:13:54, Rotterdam, 2008	History
Chad Johnson (34)	USA	16	2:15:03, Chicago, 2006	History
Mike Morgan (30)	USA	17	2:15:11, Chicago, 2006	History
Luke Humphrey (29)	USA	18	2:15:22, Chicago, 2006	History
Fasil Bizuneh (30)	USA	21	2:16:47, New York City, 2007	History
James Carney (32)	USA	22	2:15:50, Rotterdam, 2010	History
Ryan Hall (28)	USA		2:06:17, London, 2008	History
Laban Moiben (26)	Kenya		2:09:43, Ottawa, 2010	History
Ridouane Harroufi (29)	Morocco		2:10:14, Seoul, 2008	History
Patrick Rizzo (27)	USA		2:15:48, Chicago, 2009	History
Mike Sayenko (26)	USA		2:16:38, New York City, 2009	History
Boaz Cheboiywo (32)	Kenya		2:21:40, New York City, 2008	History
Juan Carlos Romero (32)	Mexico		Debut	History

Men
The Marathon Project – Dec 20, 2020
18	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:13:34
21	Shadrack Biwott (USA)	2:13:51
Sacramento – Dec 8, 2019
16	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:17:46
19	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:17:53
Sacramento – Dec 2, 2018
64	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:20:22
91	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:23:46
Sacramento – Dec 3, 2017
21	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:17:27
76	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:26:41
Boston – Apr 17, 2017
4	Shadrack Biwott (USA)	2:12:08
15	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:18:14
24	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:23:12
30	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:25:02
Honolulu – Dec 11, 2016
4	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:15:56
7	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:24:28
Los Angeles Trials – Feb 13, 2016
7	Shadrack Biwott (USA)	2:15:23
10	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:16:25
22	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:20:59
Toronto Waterfront – Oct 18, 2015
15	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:21:36
Boston – Apr 20, 2015
5	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:10:49
14	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:18:02
Los Angeles – Mar 15, 2015
7	MIKE MORGAN (USA)	2:16:56
13	PATRICK RIZZO (USA)	2:21:54
19	LUKE HUMPHREY (USA)	2:25:43
Chicago – Oct 12, 2014
8	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:11:09
15	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:14:42
25	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:18:04
27	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:18:19
Boston – Apr 21, 2014
7	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:11:47
20	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:17:50
42	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:25:41
London – Apr 13, 2014
3	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:06:30
9	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:08:26
Houston – Jan 19, 2014
2	Negari Terfa (ETH)	2:07:54
11	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:15:53
13	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:16:34
New York City – Nov 3, 2013
2	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:09:16
9	WESLEY KORIR (KEN)	2:11:34
Minneapolis-St. Paul – Oct 6, 2013
1	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:13:11
3	SHADRACK BIWOTT (KEN)	2:13:25
17	PATRICK RIZZO (USA)	2:20:08
London – Apr 21, 2013
1	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:06:04
4	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:07:46
12	Patrick RIZZO (USA)	2:16:05
Boston – Apr 15, 2013
4	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:12:12
5	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:12:30
Chicago – Oct 7, 2012
1	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:04:38
2	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:04:52
5	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:06:13
21	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:15:44
Ottawa – May 27, 2012
1	Laban Moiben (KEN)	2:09:10
9	Negari Terfa (ETH)	2:17:20
London – Apr 22, 2012
3	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:06:52
10	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:08:20
13	Vincent Kipruto (KEN)	2:10:39
Boston – Apr 16, 2012
1	Wesley Korir (KEN )	2:12:40
4	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:14:31
Houston Trials – Jan 14, 2012
8	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:11:56
9	James Carney (USA)	2:12:23
13	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:13:42
17	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:14:22
30	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:16:40
32	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:16:44
Chicago – Oct 9, 2011
2	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:06:15
5	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:08:04
Daegu World Championships – Sep 4, 2011
2	Vincent Kipruto (KEN)	2:10:06
3	Feyisa Lilesa (EHT)	2:10:32
31	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:18:30
37	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:22:49
41	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:24:06
Boston – Apr 18, 2011
4	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:04:58
6	Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN)	2:06:43
Los Angeles – Mar 20, 2011
3	Laban Moiben (KEN)	2:13:12
4	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:13:23
10	Shadrack Biwott (KEN)	2:20:28
Chicago – Oct 10, 2010
1	Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)	2:06:24
2	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:06:43
3	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:08:10
4	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:08:44
5	Vincent Kipruto (KEN)	2:09:08
6	Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN)	2:09:28
7	Laban Moiben (KEN)	2:10:48
8	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:11:06
9	Ridouane Harroufi (MAR)	2:13:01
10	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:14:27
11	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:14:55
12	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:15:49
13	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:16:12
14	Negari Terfa (ETH)	2:17:43
15	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:18:12
18	Chad Johnson (USA)	2:19:31
Boston – Apr 19, 2010
1	Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN)	2:05:52
4	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:08:41
Rotterdam – Apr 11, 2010
3	Vincent Kipruto (KEN)	2:05:13
4	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:05:23
Xiamen – Jan 2, 2010
1	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	2:08:47
2	Negari Terfa (ETH)	2:09:40
New York City – Nov 1, 2009
4	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:10:36
8	NICK ARCINIAGA (USA)	2:13:46
14	MIKE SAYENKO (USA)	2:16:38
Chicago – Oct 11, 2009
1	Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)	2:05:41
3	Vincent Kipruto (KEN)	2:06:08
6	Wesley Korir (KEN )	2:10:38
10	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:15:48
Los Angeles – May 25, 2009
1	Wesley Korir (KEN)	2:08:24
5	Negari Terfa (ETH)	2:10:53
London – Apr 26, 2009
1	Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)	2:05:10
2	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:05:20
Boston – Apr 20, 2009
3	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:09:40
5	Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN)	2:10:06
16	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:18:48
New York City – Nov 2, 2008
11	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:18:38
19	Boaz Cheboiywo (KEN)	2:21:40
Minneapolis-St. Paul – Oct 5, 2008
4	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:17:58
5	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:19:18
7	Chad Johnson (USA)	2:20:47
8	Fasil Bizuneh (USA)	2:20:52
25	Justin Young (USA)	2:27:04
Beijing Olympics – Aug 24, 2008
1	Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)	2:06:32
3	Tsegay Kebede (ETH)	2:10:00
10	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:12:33
London – Apr 13, 2008
2	Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)	2:05:24
5	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:06:17
20	CHAD JOHNSON (USA)	2:18:49
New York City Trials – Nov 3, 2007
1	Ryan Hall (USA)	2:09:02
10	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:15:27
12	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:16:28
13	Fasil Bizuneh (USA)	2:16:47
14	James Carney (USA)	2:16:54
17	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:17:08
20	Chad Johnson (USA)	2:17:58
26	Patrick Rizzo (USA)	2:18:30
29	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:18:35
43	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:20:34
56	Justin Young (USA)	2:23:06
Nashville – Apr 28, 2007
2	Laban Moiben (KEN)	2:15:10
9	Ridouane Harroufi (MAR)	2:21:32
Chicago – Oct 22, 2006
14	Chad Johnson (USA)	2:15:03
15	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:15:11
18	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:15:22
20	Jason Hartmann (USA)	2:15:50
22	Nick Arciniaga (USA)	2:16:58
31	Justin Young (USA)	2:19:25