2011 Elite Athlete Field – Men’s Open Field
| Men’s Open Field* | Personal Best |
| Abreham Cherkos, Ethiopia | 2:07:29 (Amsterdam, 2010) |
| Evans Cheruiyot, Kenya | 2:06:25 (Chicago, 2008) |
| Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Kenya | 2:05:52 (Boston, 2010) CR |
| Deressa Chimsa, Ethiopia | 2:07:54 (Dubai, 2009) |
| Alistair Cragg, Ireland | Debut |
| Bekana Daba, Ethiopia | 2:07:04 (Houston, 2011) CR |
| Gebregziabher Gebremariam, Ethiopia | 2:08:14 (New York City, 2010) |
| Ryan Hall, USA | 2:06:17 (London, 2008) |
| Peter Kamais, Kenya | 2:14:58 (New York City, 2010) |
| Stephen Kibiwot, Kenya | 2:07:54 (Praha, 2009) |
| Moses Kigen Kipkosgei, Kenya | 2:10:12 (Nairobi, 2009) CR |
| Robert Kipchumba, Kenya | 2:08:07 (Xiamen, 2011) CR |
| Moses Mosop, Kenya | Debut |
| Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya | 2:04:55 (Rotterdam, 2010) |
| Philip Kimutai Sanga, Kenya | 2:07:11 (Frankfurt, 2010) |
| Tadese Tola, Ethiopia | 2:06:31 (Frankfurt, 2010) |
| Gilbert Yegon, Kenya | 2:06:18 (Amsterdam, 2009) |
NR = National Record
CR = Course Record
*As of April 13, 2011
Abreham Cherkos
Home: Arsi, Ethiopia
Bib: #12
PRONUNCIATION: Abe-re-ham Cheer-cos
AGE: 21 (9/23/89)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:07:29 (Amsterdam, 2010)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 17 Oct10 | Amsterdam Marathon | 4th | 2:07:29 |
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 24Aug08 | Olympic G ames 5,000m, Beijing | 5th | 13:16:46 |
CAREER NOTES:
Abreham Cherkos made his marathon debut in Amsterdam last year, just missing the podium but running
a fast 2:07:29. An exceptional junior runner, Cherkos won the gold medal in the 3,000m at the 2005
World Youth Championships, a silver medal in the 5,000m at the 2006 World Junior Championships,
and a gold medal in the 5,000m at the 2008 World Junior Championships. He made the competitive
2008 Ethiopian Olympic Team when he was only 19 years old and finished 5th in Beijing in the
5,000m.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Cherkos is from Arsi and is affiliated with Dr. G abriele Rosa’s training group. This is his first World
Marathon Majors event.
Evans Cheruiyot
Home: Keiyo, Kenya
Bib: #5
PRONUNCIATION: EH-vuhnz Cheh-ree-yot
AGE: 28 (5/10/82)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:06:25 (Chicago, 2008)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 21Jan11 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 2nd | 2:08:17 |
| 06Dec09 | Fukuoka Marathon | 5th | 2:09:46 |
| 20Apr09 | Boston Marathon | 8th | 2:12:45 |
| 12Oct08 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 1st | 2:06:25 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 02Dec07 | Milan City Marathon | 1st | 2:09:16 |
CAREER NOTES:
Evans Cheruiyot had a brilliant start to his marathon career winning both Milan and Chicago in his first
two outings. In 2009 he came to Boston with high expectations, but finished eighth. He finished the
year with a fifth in Fukuoka. Last year he was scheduled to run Boston, but was injured for most of the
year. Upon returning to competition he finished runner-up in Dubai in January, showing fitness with a
solid 2:08:17.
Cheruiyot is a strong half marathoner, with a 59:05 best from a bronze medal performance at the 2007
IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Additional half marathon highlights include wins in
Rotterdam, San Blas, Udine, Coban, Nairobi and Eldoret, and runner up slots in Rotterdam, Virginia
Beach, Reims, Vattenfall Berlin and Rome-Ostia.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Cheruiyot grew up in the Keiyo District the seventh child in a family of nine. He attended the Kapkoi
Primary School and after graduating enrolled in the National Youth Service to take a course in mechanics.
There he started competing in intramurals and found success in running events. In 2004, Cheruiyot
ran his first 10K race in Eldoret and finished third. A month later he won the Standard Chartered Nairobi
Half Marathon. His mentor is Paul Tergat and he trains with Dr. Gabriel Rosa's group, including his teammate
and four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot. The two men are not related,
but train together with the same group in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Evans Cheruiyot is also not related to
2010 Boston Marathon champion Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot.
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot
Home: Bomet, Kenya
Bib: #1
PRONUNCIATION: Rob-ert Kip-row-no Cheh-ree-yot
AGE: 22 (08/10/88)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:05:52 (Boston, 2010) CR
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 10Oct10 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 6th | 2:09:28 |
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:05:52 CR |
| 20Apr09 | Boston Marathon | 5th | 2:10:06 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 25Oct09 | Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon | 2nd | 2:06:23 |
| 26Oct08 | Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon | 1st | 2:07:21 |
CAREER NOTES:
Reigning champion Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot ran a stunning 2:05:52 course record last year beating a
talented field that included 2009 Boston champion Deriba Merga. No one in the lead pack could
respond to the punishing pace imposed by this young talent over the second half of the course. With the
win, Cheruiyot bettered the previous course record (2:07:41, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot) by nearly two
minutes. His performance was also the fourth fastest marathon ever run on American soil.
Cheruiyot has found much success in the Frankfurt-Boston double. In his 2008 debut in Frankfurt,
Cheruiyot edged away from experienced marathoners Stephen Kiogora and Wilson Kigen just after 35K
to improve the course record by over half a minute. At Boston the following spring, he gained valuable
experience on the course by finishing a solid fifth. Back to Frankfurt in the fall of 2009, Cheruiyot finished
runner-up, but improved his time. And on his return to Boston he achieved his second career win.
PERSONAL NOTES:
“I have competed two times in Boston,” said Cheruiyot. “The first year was a little bit hard for me since
the course was new to me, but last year it was fine. After my victory in Boston, I want to defend my title.”
Born in Bomet, Cheruiyot is not related to four-time Boston champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot or Evans
Cheruiyot. William Kiplagat, the former Rotterdam and Seoul champion, has mentored and coached
Cheruiyot for the past four years in a training camp in Kapgetony.
Deressa Chimsa
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #14
PRONUNCIATION:De-res-sa Chim-sa
AGE: 34 (11/21/76)
PERSONAL BEST:2:07:54 (Dubai, 2009)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 22Aug09 | IAAF World Championships, Berlin | DNF |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 21Jan11 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 4th | 2:09:08 |
| 11Apr10 | Daegu International Marathon | 1st | 2:08:45 |
| 16Jan09 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 2nd | 2:07:54 |
| 12Oct08 | Eindhoven Marathon | 12th | 2:13:04 |
| 18Jan08 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 7th | 2:10:16 |
CAREER NOTES:
After setting a personal best with a runner-up spot in Dubai in 2009, Deressa Chimsa won the Ethiopian
National Half Marathon Championships at altitude in 62:16. At the World Marathon Championships, he
was unable to finish for the Ethiopian team. Rebounding in 2010, he won in Daegu, the city hosting the
World Marathon Championships this year. Chimsa said, “I have chosen to run in Boston because this is
a Major Marathon with a lot of history involved. For me it is a great chance to show what I can achieve
as a professional athlete. I expect good results, and because I will compete against very strong athletes, I
do hope I will show everybody my potential.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
Chimsa started running as a boy and said, “I always felt that running was what I really wanted to do in
my life. This kind of activity was appealing, so I decided to train always harder and harder and make
running my job.” Chimsa trains in Addis Ababa and in Sebeta, Sululta, Sendafa, and Holeta.
Alistair Cragg
Home: Ireland / Mammoth Lakes, California, USA
Bib: #21
PRONUNCIATION:Al-is-tair Cragg
AGE:30 (6/13/80)
PERSONAL BEST:Debut
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 16Jan11 | P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon | 2nd | 1:03:22 |
| 19Sep10 | ING Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon | 6th | 1:02:15 |
| 21Mar10 | New York City Half Marathon | 7th | 1:01:58 |
| 20Aug08 | Olympic Games 5,000m, Beijing | 6thheat | 13:38.57 |
| 15Aug08 | Olympic Games 1,500m, Beijing | 8thheat | 3:44.90 |
| 29Apr07 | Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational 10,000m | 4th | 27:39.55 NR |
| 12Mar06 | World Indoor Championships 3,000m, Moscow | 4th | 7:46.43 |
| 05Mar05 | European Indoor Athletics Championships | 1st | 7:46.32 |
| 28Aug04 | Olympic Games 5,000m, Athens | 12th | 13:43.06 |
| 14Feb04 | Tyson Invitational Fayetteville 3,000m indoors | 2nd | 7:38.59 NR |
| 14Mar03 | NCAA Championships, Fayetteville 5,000m indoors | 1st | 13:28.93 NR |
CAREER NOTES:
Alistair Cragg holds three Irish national records on the track: 3,000m indoors, 5,000m indoors and
10,000m outdoors. He has competed on the Irish team for the past two Olympics, placing a high of
12th in 2004 in the 5,000m. His best time in the 5,000m outdoors is 13:07.10. Newly transitioned to
the roads, Cragg set his half marathon best of 1:01:58 in his debut at the distance last year in New York
City.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Cragg began running as a youth in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his father coached and his older
brothers ran. He was a six-time national champion during his career at Greenside High School. He
decided to come to the United States for college, but the transition and the tragic death of a brother interrupted
his focus. Upon returning to the sport, he accepted a scholarship at the University of Arkansas
and became one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the school. There he earned 13 All-
American titles and seven NCAA championships on the track. Having dual Irish-South African citizenship,
Cragg decided to race for Ireland internationally. He now trains in Mammoth Lakes, California, with the
Mammoth Track Club and his coach Terrence Mahon.
Bekana Daba
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #8
PRONUNCIATION:Bee-can-na Daa-Bay
AGE: 22 (7/29/88)
PERSONAL BEST:2:07:04 (Houston, 2011) CR
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 17Jan11 | Chevron Houston Marathon | 1st | 2:07:04 CR |
| 17Oct10 | Amsterdam Marathon | 12th | 2:14:40 |
CAREER NOTES:
In 2007 and 2009 Bekana Daba represented Ethiopia at the World Championships in the 5,000m.
Although his results were disappointing, he persevered in the distance and set a 12:58.51 best at the
Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo in 2010. On the roads in 2009, Daba won the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’
Roll Half Marathon in 1:01:40 and won the Carlsbad 5K in 13:19. Last year he finished fourth at the
New York City Half Marathon, running a personal best 1:01:23. Daba made his marathon debut in
2010 in Amsterdam where he finished 12th in 2:14:40. This January he trimmed more than seven minutes
off that time (even with a bathroom stop) to break the Houston course record in rainy conditions.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Daba started running as a youth and entered a qualifying race in 2005 to join the Banks club. His talent
was soon recognized at national events and he found positions on World Championship teams in 2007
and 2009 competing in the 5,000m. His coach is Haji Adillo, and he trains with teammates in Addis
Ababa.
Gebregziabher Gebremariam
Home: Tigray, Ethiopia
Bib: #17
PRONUNCIATION:Geb-reg-zee-ab-er Geb-re-mare-ee-am
AGE:26 (9/10/84)
PERSONAL BEST:2:08:14 (New York, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 1st | 2:08:14 |
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 19Sep10 | ING Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon | 2nd | 1:00:25 |
| 15Aug10 | CIGNA Falmouth Road Race | 1st | 32:20 |
| 07Aug10 | TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K | 1st | 27:40 |
| 04Jul10 | Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race 10K | 1st | 27:56 |
| 15May10 | UAE Healthy Kidney 10K | 1st | 27:42 |
| 28Mar10 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 10th | 33:35 |
| 28Mar09 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 1st | 35:02 |
| 17Aug09 | IAAF World Championships 10,000m | 10th | 27:44.04 |
| 28Aug04 | Olympic Games 5,000m, Athens | 4th | 13:15.35 |
CAREER NOTES:
The surprise winner in his marathon debut in New York City last year, Gebregziabher Gebremariam
began competing internationally as a junior. In 2002 he won the World Junior Cross Country
Championships and the World Junior Championships 10,000m and earned a bronze in the 5,000m. In
2004 he finished second at the World Junior Cross Country Championships in both the short and long
races. Also in 2004 he made the Olympic Team and finished fourth in the 5,000m in Athens.
After that early success, he did not medal at an international event until 2009 when he won the World
Cross Country Championships. In 2010 he came to the United States to enjoy a string of wins on the
roads, culminating with his win in New York City.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Gebremariam grew up on a farm in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and began running in high school. He
moved to the capital and started training with Werknesh Kidane and her running club. Gebremariam
and Kidane married in 2006 and the couple now has two young sons named Nathaniel and Muse.
Boston will be the second marathon for both Gebremariam and Kidane.
Ryan Hall
Home: Mammoth Lakes, California, USA
Bib: #3
PRONUNCIATION: RY-uhn Hall
AGE: 27 (10/14/82)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:06:17 (London, 2008)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | 4th | 2:08:41 |
| 01Nov09 | ING New York City Marathon | 4th | 2:10:36 |
| 20Apr09 | Boston Marathon | 3rd | 2:09:40 |
| 24Aug08 | Olympic Marathon (Beijing) | 10th | 2:12:33 |
| 13Apr08 | Flora London Marathon | 5th | 2:06:17 |
| 22Apr07 | Flora London Marathon | 7th | 2:08:24 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 03Nov07 | U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials | 1st | 2:09:02 CR |
CAREER NOTES:
Ryan Hall has proven himself as one of the best American distance runners of all time. He carries impressive
qualifications as the second fastest American marathoner in history with a 2:06:17 personal best.
Only former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi has posted a better U.S. mark. Hall's 2007 debut in
London of 2:08:24 was the fastest debut ever by an American. He was first at the 2007 U.S. Olympic
Marathon Trials, shattering the event record by more than a minute, and went on to place 10th at the
2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon. Hall is also the American record holder in the half marathon, and his
59:43 marked the first time an American had ever broken the one-hour barrier.
After finishing third in Boston in 2009, Hall returned this past April and set a new U.S. course record with
his 2:08:41 fourth-place. He dramatically set the pace through the first half, which provided eventual
champion Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot the groundwork to break the course record. Hall’s strong closing
miles put him within two seconds of a podium position as he led the U.S. men to three spots in the top
ten. In 2009 Hall ran aggressively, taking the lead pack through the 5K in 14:33 (one second ahead of
world record pace). Despite falling back from eventual winner Deriba Merga in the Newton hills, Hall
never gave up and fought his way to third. Hall says, “I love the Boston Marathon and this year I hope
that both my experience training on the course and racing here will lead to something very special.
Regardless of what the day holds, all of us who take on the unique journey of covering the 26.2 trying
miles to Boylston Street can say we partook in history. I am training with eager anticipation of the opportunity
that the Boston Marathon holds believing that all things are possible.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
A 2005 Stanford graduate and three-time All American in cross-country, Hall is married to professional
runner Sara Bei Hall. He has three brothers, Steve, Craig and Chad and a sister, Kasey. “I became a
runner, because I felt like God gave me a vision to run to help other people when I was in eighth grade,”
said Hall. “I didn’t even like to run, but on my way to a basketball game, I got the vision to try and run
around the lake in my hometown.” Hall completed that first 15 miles in basketball shoes and has been
running ever since. The Halls founded The Hall Steps Foundation with a mission to end global poverty.
Peter Kamais
Home: Eldoret, Kenya
Bib: #20
PRONUNCIATION: Pee-ter Ka-mais
AGE: 34 (11/7/76)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:14:58 (New York, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 12th | 2:14:58 |
CAREER NOTES:
Kamais made his marathon debut in New York City this past fall and finished 12th. Earlier in the year he
won the New York City Half Marathon and set his 15K, 20K and half marathon bests along the way. His
time of 59:53 was the second fastest ever recorded at the event. In 2009 Kamais made his debut in the
half marathon in Berlin where he placed 7th in 1:00:35. His 10K best of 27:09, set with a win at the
Brabants Dagblad 10K of Tilburg in 2009, is one of the best times ever run over that distance.
Kamais looks to improve both time and place in Boston.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kamais trains in Eldoret, Kenya, with Dr. Gabriele Rosa’s group.
Stephen Kibiwot
Home: Keiyo, Kenya
Bib: #15
PRONUNCIATION: Steve-en Kib-i-wot
AGE: 31 (4/3/80)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:07:54 (Prague, 2009)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 01Nov09 | JoongAng Seoul Marathon | 3rd | 2:09:24 |
| 10May09 | Volkswagen Prague Marathon | 2nd | 2:07:54 |
| 30Nov08 | Florence Marathon | 5th | 2:15:23 |
| 13Apr08 | Turin Marathon | 1st | 2:10:13 |
| 24Sep06 | Turin Marathon | 1st | 2:10:10 |
CAREER NOTES:
In career marathons, Stephen Kibiwot has found the podium four times: two wins in Turin, a second
place finish in Prague and third place finish in Seoul. Kibiwot’s half marathon highlights include a win at
the 2008 Paris Half Marathon in 1:01:04, fourth at the 2008 World Half Marathon Championships in
1:01:58, and a win at the 2009 Lille Half Marathon in 59:37.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kibiwot is part of Tom Ratcliffe's Kimbia group. He has a small farm in Keiyo and his wife’s name is Emily
Torotich. The couple has a ten-year-old boy named Cornelius Koech.
Robert Kipchumba
Home: Marakwet, Kenya
Bib: #16
PRONUNCIATION: Rob-ert Kip-CHOOM-bah
AGE: 27 (2/24/84)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:08:07 (Xiamen, 2011) CR
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 02Jan11 | Xiamen International Marathon | 1st | 2:08:07 CR |
| 05Apr09 | Rotterdam Marathon | 8th | 2:09:54 |
CAREER NOTES:
outstanding junior runner, Robert Kipchumba won both the World Junior Championships 10,000m
and the World Cross Country Championships in 2000. Continuing to develop his talent in longer distances,
he won the silver medal at the World Road Running 20K Championships in 2006. In 2009 he
ran his first marathon in Rotterdam finishing eighth in 2:09:56. This year, back in top form after recovering
from injuries in 2010, Kipchumba won the Xiamen International Marathon and improved the course
record by 40 seconds.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kipchumba trains with Dr. Gabriele Rosa in Kenya. He lives on a farm with his wife Rose Cherotich and
children Mercy and Victor. He began running in primary school and was discovered by World Half
Marathon champion Paul Kosgei in 2002.
Moses Kigen Kipkosgei
Home: Eldoret, Kenya
Bib: #18
PRONUNCIATION: MOE-ziss Kee-gen Kip-KAHS-kay
AGE: 28 (1/10/83)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:10:12 (Nairobi, 2009) CR
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 3rd | 2:10:39 |
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | 8th | 2:12:04 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 25Oct09 | Nairobi Marathon | 1st | 2:10:12 CR (at altitude) |
| 18Jan09 | P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon | 1st | 2:10:36 |
CAREER NOTES:
Moses Kigen Kipkosgei ran two World Marathon Majors in 2010, finishing eighth in Boston and third in
New York in a solid 2:10:39. Earlier in the year he finished runner up at the New York City Half
Marathon in 60:38, which was a personal best. Kigen said his proudest running accomplishment was
winning the Nairobi Marathon. He said the victory was a triumph not only because he ran a personal
best and set a course record, but also because it was a testimony to his determination to recover from
injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident the year before. In his marathon debut, he won in Arizona
in the closest ever men’s finish by edging out Tekeste Kebede at the line. Both men were credited with the
same time. Kigen won the Vattenfall 21K in 2007. He is also past winner of the 2010 and 2009
Eldoret 21K
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kigen trains in Kapkitony and started running in primary school. He is married to his wife Anita and the
couple has three children named Kelvin, Damaris and Viola. He likes to watch movies, play tennis and
read novels when not training.
Moses Mosop
Home: Iten, Kenya
Bib: #22
PRONUNCIATION: Mo-ses Mos-sop
AGE: 25 (7/7/85)
PERSONAL BEST: Debut
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 16Oct10 | IAAF/SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships | 10th | 1:01:31 |
| 21Mar10 | Stramilano Half Marathon | 1st | 59:20 |
| 28Mar09 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 11th | 35:17 |
| 24Mar07 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 2nd | 36:13 |
| 08Aug05 | IAAF World Championships 10,000m | 3rd | 27:08.96 |
| 20Aug04 | Olympic Games 10,000m, Athens | 7th | 27:46.61 |
CAREER NOTES:
As a junior runner, Moses Mosop place 10th at the World Cross Country Championships in 2002 and
seventh in 2003. In 2004 he competed at the Olympic Games 10,000m in Athens and finished seventh.
He earned a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2005 IAAF World Championships. At the 2007 World
Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, he ran in scorching heat without one shoe for 2km to earn
the silver medal. His half marathon best is 59:20 recorded in Milan in 2010.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Mosop began competing as a youth and then trained with the Army as a junior. He grew up the fourth
of nine children on a farm in Kamasia. He now trains in Iten with his coach Renato Canova. He has a
child with Florence Kiplagat, and the couple will make their marathon debut together in Boston.
Geoffrey Mutai
Home: Eldoret, Kenya
Bib: #2
PRONUNCIATION: Jo-fri Moe-tai
AGE: 29 (10/7/81)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:04:55 (Rotterdam, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 26Sep10 | real,-Berlin Marathon | 2nd | 2:05:10 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 11Apr10 | Fortis Rotterdam Marathon | 2nd | 2:04:55 |
| 11Oct09 | Marathon Eindhoven | 1st | 2:07:01 CR |
| 12Apr09 | Daegu Marathon | 8th | 2:10:45 |
| 12Oct08 | Marathon Eindhoven | 1st | 2:07:50 |
| 30Mar08 | Monte Carlo Marathon | 1st | 2:12:40 |
CAREER NOTES:
The second fastest marathoner in the world in 2010, Geoffrey Mutai finished second to Patrick Makau in
Rotterdam to solidify his place as one of the fastest marathoners of all time. In July he competed in
Nairobi at the African Championships in the 10,000m and earned the individual bronze medal by running
27:33:83 at altitude. Later in the year, at his first World Marathon Majors race in Berlin, Mutai
again finished second to Makau, this time by seven seconds. The course record holder in Eindhoven,
Mutai has won that marathon twice and has also won the Monte Carlo Marathon. His half marathon best
is 59:30, recorded in 2009 in Valencia. Running for the Kenyan Police team, Mutai won the Kenyan
Cross Country Championships in February.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Mutai is the oldest of nine children and was born in the Koibatek District in the Rift Valley Province. He
says that running came to him naturally as a youth. In 2007 Mutai made his marathon debut in Eldoret,
Kenya, and his performance caught the eye of manager Gerard van de Veen. Mutai is married with a
daughter, Ivy Chebet.
Philip Kimutai Sanga
Home: Kapsabet, Kenya
Bib: #9
PRONUNCIATION: Phil-ip Key-moe-tai SANG-ah
AGE: 27 (9/10/83)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:07:11 (Frankfurt, 2010)
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 31Oct10 | Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon | 4th | 2:07:11 |
| 04Nov10 | Daegu Marathon | 5th | 2:12:52 |
| 11Oct09 | Marathon Eindhoven | 2nd | 2:08:07 |
| 22Mar09 | Rome Marathon | 5th | 2:10:09 |
| 28Sep08 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | 8th | 2:15:22 |
| 16Mar08 | Rome Marathon | 2nd | 2:10:02 |
| 21Oct07 | Reims Marathon | 9th | 2:15:41 |
| 22Apr07 | Madrid Marathon | 2nd | 2:13:44 |
CAREER NOTES:
Philip Sanga had a breakthrough race last year in Frankfurt as he went under the 2:08 barrier for the first
time. “I now feel ready to run a Major Marathon,” said Sanga. “I have never been to the United States
in my life and this fact actually helped me in deciding to run in Boston. It is hard to state anything about
the results, since there are a number of very strong athletes, but I will definitely try to finish in the top
three.” Sanga has had three podium finishes in his career, with runner up spots in Madrid, Rome and
Eindhoven.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Sanga says of his background, “Since my childhood races I realized I had a lot of talent in this kind of
sport. I started training in a professional and serious way after finishing school when I was about 18
years old.” Sanga trains in the Nandi Hills and at the Kapsabet track with Gianni Demadonna’s group.
He says training keeps him busy all day, but when he has spare time he helps his family with their farm.
He is married to Isabella and they have a 1-year-old daughter named Patricia.
Tadese Tola
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #6
PRONUNCIATION: Ta-dess-ee Toll-la
AGE: 23 (10/31/87)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:06:31 (Frankfurt, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 11Oct09 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 9th | 2:15:48 |
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 31Oct10 | Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon | 2nd | 2:06:31 |
| 11Apr10 | Paris Marathon | 1st | 2:06:41 |
CAREER NOTES:
Tadese Tola is a young talent who has represented his country at World Championship events in cross
country, track and on the roads. He has also run stateside winning the New York City Half Marathon
twice (2008, 2009), the 2008 Falmouth Road Race, and the 2009 Healthy Kidney 10K. He made his
marathon debut in Chicago in 2009 and finished ninth. In 2010, Tola continued to improve at the
marathon distance: first by winning the Paris Marathon in 2:06:41, and then by improving his personal
best in Frankfurt to 2:06:31. His half marathon best is 59:49, which was recorded in 2010 in Ras Al
Khaimah.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Tola says of his early running days, “I started running when I was a child as runners are very famous athletes
in Ethiopia, and we all look up to them and want to be like them. I wanted to be a champion like
other great Ethiopian athletes before me.” Tola added that he wants to run Boston, “because it is the pinnacle
of my sport.”
Gilbert Yegon
Home: Eldoret, Kenya
Bib: #4
PRONUNCIATION: GIL-burt YAY-gon
AGE: 22 (8/6/88)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:06:18 (Amsterdam, 2009)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | 22nd | 2:21:12 |
| 26Sep10 | real,-Berlin Marathon | 8th | 2:10:34 |
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 18Oct09 | Amsterdam Marathon | 1st | 2:06:18 |
CAREER NOTES:
Gilbert Yegon said his work ethic was achieved early in his career. “As a junior athlete I was able to train
with experienced athletes and they gave me the motivation to work hard in athletics,” said Yegon. He
thought he would focus on the track after leaving secondary school, but his coach, Patrick Sang, saw distance
talent in Yegon and persuaded him to make his mark in the marathon. In 2009 Yegon did just that
and more, as he ran to a brilliant 2:06:18 debut win in Amsterdam. Yegon impressed even further as he
broke world record holder Haile Gebrselassie’s course-record at the event. At Boston last year Yegon
found difficulty over the second part of the course, but hopes that experience will help him improve in his
second showing. Yegon set his personal best half marathon (61:26) in Berlin in 2009.
PERSONAL NOTES: Of his return to Boston, Yegon says, “After experiencing the course of Boston last year I believe I can do well this year.” World Champion and two-time Olympic 5,000m medalist Eliud Kipchoge is Yegon’s mentor. Kipchoge welcomed Yegon into his family to help him make his start in professional running. The pair often trains together at the Global Sports camp in Kaptagat.