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

On October 10, 2010, the Chicago Marathon women’s race will see a rematch of the fastest elite female marathoners currently running. Many of the women are returning from the 2009 race, and going head-to-head after meeting earlier in the year at the 2010 London Marathon. The field has two strong favorites: the defending champion and 2010 London Marathon winner, Liliya Shobukhova; and the two time London Marathon champion (2008, 2009) and 2008 Berlin Marathon winner, Irina Mikitenko. But even with these two, the rest of the field cannot be written off. Five additional sub-2:26 marathoners are on the roster – Naoko Sakamoto, Lidiya Grigoryeva, and three Ethiopians Askale Tafa Magarsa, Atsede Baysa, Mamitu Daska. A notable absence is American record holder Deena Kastor who has withdrawn from the field due to pregnancy with her first child.

World Record Moments in Chicago – A Favorite of the Fastest Women
The women’s race at the Chicago Marathon is no stranger to quick times. The 2001 and 2002 races saw back to back world records as Catherine Ndereba set a new world mark of 2:18:47 in 2001 and Paula Radcliffe followed up with a 2:17:18 finish in 2002 – the second fastest time ever run by a woman and still regarded as the women’s-only race record. On the American front, Joan Benoit set the American record in her 2:21:21 win at the 1985 Chicago Marathon – an American record that would stand for more than 17 years until Deena Kastor broke it in London. Compared to other American marathons for speed, Chicago has no peer as evidenced by the fact that 8 of the 10 fastest women’s marathons run on American soil have been run in Chicago (the other two were run in Boston). As an aside, we’ll note that Joan Benoit will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of her win at Chicago by running the 2010 race and hoping to set a new world age-group record. The fastest female marathoners in the world often choose Chicago as their fast Fall Marathon. Name a marathoner and they are likely to have run Chicago: included in that list are Joan Benoit Samuelson, Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba, Constantina Dita, Benita Johnson, Ingrid Kristiansen, Yoko Shibui, Berhane Adere, Deena Kastor, Madai Perez, Rosa Mota, Lornah Kiplagat, Svetlana Zakharova, Lyudmila Petrova, Lisa Wiedenbach, Margaret Okayo, Elena Meyer, Colleen De Reuck, Irina Mikitenko and many others.

The 2010 Favorites
The two best female marathoners currently participating in marathons will go head-to-head once again in Chicago. Defending her title will be Liliya Shobukhova who has emerged into the marathon distance as an unstoppable force. This 1500m and 3000m track star turned distance runner is on a roll. After debuting at the 2009 London Marathon with a 3rd place finish of 2:24:24, Shobukhova quickly took victories at the World Marathon Majors – the 2009 Chicago Marathon (2:25:56) and the 2010 London Marathon (2:22:00) – and has not looked back and is guaranteed to win the 2009/2010 World Marathon Majors Series title. Shobukhova’s ascendance has mirrored Irina Mikitenko’s who had a similar string of successes… a runner-up debut at the Berlin Marathon in 2:24:51, followed by victories at the 2008 London Marathon (2:24:14), 2008 Berlin Marathon (2:19:19) and 2009 London Marathon (2:22:11) and earning the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 World Marathon Majors titles. Mikitenko stepped back from racing after her father died in the summer of 2009 and skipped past the Berlin World Championships and Berlin Marathon to choose the Chicago Marathon where she lost to Shobukhova. Mikitenko, behind in her training, was beaten in Chicago as Shobukhova surged to an incredible victory with a 4:35 last mile of the marathon. Poor winter training resulted in Mikitenko dropping out of the 2010 London Marathon as Shobukhova again was victorious. The 2010 Chicago Marathon will represent the third meeting of the women we consider the best currently in marathoning: Shobokhuva and Mikitenko.

Other Contenders
With Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba and Deena Kastor (who is pregnant) currently out of competition, there had been a dearth of female marathon superstars. The women’s roster for the 2010 Chicago Marathon includes a number of experienced twenty-somethings who had been in the shadow of these top female runners in the world and are stepping up to the plate and getting recognized. Alongside Shobukhova and Mikitenko; the field includes Atsede Baysa, the two-time winner of the Paris Marathon (2008 and 2009) and the Xiamen Marathon (2010); Mamitu Daska, the winner of the 2010 Dubai Marathon and third at the 2009 Berlin Marathon and who can be seen on the USA roads as the two-time defending champion at Bolder Boulder and runner-up at Bloomsday; and Magarsa Assale Tafa who has the second fastest time in the field with a 2:21:31 from the 2008 Berlin Marathon and although only 26 years old, already has fourteen career marathons to her name.

Is the Chicago Marathon the fastest in North America? We know that the women at the 2010 Chicago Marathon will perform well, but the 2010 Toronto Waterfront Marathon has thrown down the gauntlet with a challenge that it is the fastest marathon in North America with two women completing its course in under 2:22. Regardless, we’ll expect Shobukhova, Mikitenko and the others to produce a fast and exciting race.

Elite Women’s Lineup:

Female Elite Athletes
Athlete	Country	Bib	Personal Best	Chicago
Liliya Shobukhova (32)	Russia	101	2:22:00, London, 2010	History
Irina Mikitenko (38)	Germany	102	2:19:19, Berlin, 2008	History
Askale Tafa Magarsa (26)	Ethopia	103	2:21:31, Berlin, 2008	History
Naoko Sakamoto (29)	Japan	104	2:21:51, Osaka, 2003	History
Atsede Baysa (23)	Ethopia	105	2:22:04, Paris, 2010	History
Mamitu Daska (26)	Ethopia	106	2:24:19, Dubai, 2010	History
Lidiya Grigoryeva (36)	Russia	107	2:25:10, Los Angeles, 2006	History
Magdelena Lewy-Boulet (37)	USA	108	2:26:22, Rotterdam, 2010	History
Colleen de Reuck (46)	USA	109	2:26:35, Berlin, 1996	History
Desireé Davila (27)	USA	110	2:27:53, Berlin WC, 2009	History
Liz Yelling (35)	Great Britain	111	2:28:33, London, 2008	History
Tera Moody (29)	USA	114	2:32:59, Chicago, 2009	History
Kaori Yoshida (29)	Japan		2:30:58, Nagoya, 2008	History
Melissa White (28)	USA		2:32:55, Chicago, 2009	History
Zoila Gomez (31)	USA		2:33:53, US Olympic Trials, 2008	History
Dot McMahan (33)	USA		2:35:02, Boston, 2008	History
Maria Konovalova (36)	Russia		2:35:21, London, 2010	History
Erin Moeller (33)	USA		2:36:51, US Olympic Trials, 2008	History
Andrea Pomaranski (28)	USA		2:37:44, Arizona, 2010	History
Fiona Docherty (35)	New Zealand		2:37:55, London, 2010	History
Kim Duclos ()	USA		2:38:21, Rocket City, 2009	History
Jennifer Houck ()	USA		2:39:02, Boston, 2010	History
Jia Chaofeng (21)	China		2:40:33, Boston, 2010	History
Diane Nukuri-Johnson (25)	Burundi		Debut	History
Molly Pritz ()	USA		Debut	History

Past Head-To-Head Women’s Athlete Meetings

Women
Boston – Oct 11, 2021
8	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:28:04
23	Andrea Pomaranski (USA)	2:37:27
26	Dot Mcmahan (USA)	2:38:45
Boston – Apr 17, 2017
9	Diane Nukuri (BDI)	2:32:24
14	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:36:28
22	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:40:07
New York City – Nov 6, 2016
5	DIANE NUKURI (BDI)	2:33:04
12	DOT MCMAHAN (USA)	2:38:46
Saitama – Nov 15, 2015
1	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:25:44
2	Kaori Yoshida (JPN)	2:28:43
Chicago – Oct 11, 2015
8	Diane Nukuri (BDI)	2:29:13
16	Tera Moody (USA)	2:39:32
19	Erin Moeller (USA)	2:42:27
Chicago – Oct 13, 2013
3	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:26:42
3	Maria Konovalova (RUS)	2:22:46
5	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:26:42
10	Melissa White (USA)	2:32:37
Chicago – Oct 7, 2012
1	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:22:03
4	Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)	2:22:59
9	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:32:11
London Olympics – Aug 5, 2012
13	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:26:44
31	Diane NUKURI (BDI)	2:30:13
London – Apr 22, 2012
7	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:24:53
9	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:25:59
16	Maria Konovalova (RUS)	2:30:29
27	Liz Yelling (GBR)	2:40:08
Houston Trials – Jan 14, 2012
9	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:32:16
13	Melissa White (USA)	2:34:33
33	Zoila Gomez (USA)	2:38:37
35	Colleen De Reuck (USA)	2:38:52
47	Jennifer Houck (USA)	2:40:51
New York City – Nov 6, 2011
12	MOLLY PRITZ (USA)	2:31:52
19	JENNIFER HOUCK (USA)	2:41:00
20	Diane Nukuri (BDI)	2:41:21
Daegu World Championships – Aug 27, 2011
14	Atsede Bayisa (Ethiopia)	2:31:37
17	Tera Moody (USA)	2:32:04
Duluth – Jun 18, 2011
3	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:31:48
5	Jennifer Houck (USA)	2:33:00
London – Apr 17, 2011
2	Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)	2:20:15
5	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:23:50
7	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:24:24
9	Askale Tafa Magarsa (ETH)	2:25:24
10	Maria Konovalova (RUS)	2:25:18
34	Liz Yelling (GBR)	2:41:34
Chicago – Oct 10, 2010
1	Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)	2:20:25
1	Atsede Bayisa (ETH)	2:23:40
3	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:26:40
6	Kaori Yoshida (JPN)	2:29:45
9	Jia Chaofeng (CHN)	2:30:35
10	Tera Moody (USA)	2:30:53
11	Fiona Docherty (NZL)	2:32:17
12	Askale Tafa Magarsa (ETH)	2:32:24
13	Zoila Gomez (USA)	2:32:51
15	Colleen De Reuck (USA)	2:34:12
16	Melissa White (USA)	2:35:02
17	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:36:01
18	Liz Yelling (GBR)	2:37:14
19	Jennifer Houck (USA)	2:37:16
20	Erin Moeller (USA)	2:37:28
23	Diane Nukuri (BDI)	2:39:08
London – Apr 25, 2010
1	Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)	2:22:00
4	Askale Tafa Magarsa (ETH)	2:24:39
16	Maria Konovalova (RUS)	2:35:21
22	Fiona Docherty (NZL)	2:37:55
Boston – Apr 19, 2010
6	Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS)	2:30:31
17	Jennifer Houck (USA)	2:39:02
Chicago – Oct 11, 2009
1	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:26:31
1	Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)	2:25:56
8	Melissa White (USA)	2:32:55
9	Tera Moody (USA)	2:32:59
Minneapolis-St. Paul – Oct 4, 2009
2	Colleen De Reuck (USA)	2:32:36
17	Andrea Pomaranski (USA)	2:41:28
Berlin World Championships – Aug 23, 2009
27	Atsede Bayisa (Ethiopia)	2:36:04
28	Tera Moody (USA)	2:36:39
41	Fiona Docherty (NZL)	2:40:18
51	Zoila Gomez (USA)	2:42:49
London – Apr 26, 2009
1	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:22:11
3	Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)	2:24:24
Chicago – Oct 12, 2008
1	Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS)	2:27:17
6	Colleen De Reuck (USA)	2:32:25
13	Zoila Gomez (USA)	2:35:41
Berlin – Sep 28, 2008
1	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:19:19
2	Askale Tafa Magarsa (ETH)	2:21:31
Boston – Apr 21, 2008
5	Askale Tafa Magarsa (ETH)	2:29:48
9	Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS)	2:35:37
Boston Trials – Apr 20, 2008
4	Zoila Gomez (USA)	2:33:53
5	Tera Moody (USA)	2:33:54
8	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:35:02
10	Erin Moeller (USA)	2:36:51
14	Melissa White (USA)	2:37:53
London – Apr 13, 2008
1	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:24:14
9	Liz Yelling (GBR)	2:28:33
New York City – Nov 4, 2007
4	Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS)	2:28:37
14	ERIN MOELLER (USA)	2:43:57
Berlin – Sep 30, 2007
2	Irina Mikitenko (GER)	2:24:51
5	Naoko Sakamoto (JPN)	2:28:33
Boston – Apr 16, 2007
1	Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS)	2:29:18
14	Zoila Gomez (USA)	2:41:36
17	Dot McMahan (USA)	2:43:56
Chicago – Oct 22, 2006
13	Colleen De Reuck (USA)	2:33:18
16	Melissa White (USA)	2:39:21
23	Dot Mcmahan (USA)	2:43:27