2011 Elite Athlete Field—Women’s Open Field
| Women’s Open Field* | Personal Best | Sharon Cherop, Kenya | 2:22:43 (Toronto, 2010) CR |
| Desiree Davila, USA | 2:26:20 (Chicago, 2010) |
| Misiker Mekonin Demissie, Ethiopia | 2:26:20 (Los Angeles, 2010) |
| Teyba Erkesso, Ethiopia | 2:23:53 (Houston, 2010) CR |
| Woynishet Girma, Ethiopia | 2:27:51 (Amsterdam, 2010) |
| Kara Goucher, USA | 2:25:52 (New York, 2008) |
| Werknesh Kidane, Ethiopia | 2:27:15 (Dubai, 2011) |
| Caroline Kilel, Kenya | 2:23:25 (Frankfurt, 2010) |
| Florence Kiplagat, Kenya | Debut |
| Merima Mohammed, Ethiopia | 2:23:06 (Toronto, 2010) |
| Hellen Mugo, Kenya | 2:27:16 (Carpi, 2010) |
| Catherine Ndereba, Kenya | 2:18:47 (Chicago, 2001) NR |
| Tatyana Pushkareva, Russia | 2:26:14 (Boston, 2010) |
| Caroline Rotich, Kenya | 2:29:46 (New York, 2010) |
| Yuliya Ruban, Ukraine | 2:27:44 (Frankfurt, 2010) |
| Blake Russell, USA | 2:29:10 (Chicago, 2005) |
| Silvia Skvortsova, Russia | 2:26:24 (Berlin, 2009) |
| Kim Smith, New Zealand | 2:25:21 (London, 2010) NR |
| Alice Timbilili, Kenya | 2:25:03 (Amsterdam, 2010) |
| Tirfi Tsegaye, Ethiopia | 2:22:44 (Toronto, 2010) |
| Dire Tune, Ethiopia | 2:23:44 (Frankfurt, 2010) |
NR = National Record
CR = Course Record
*As of April 13, 2011
Sharon Cherop
Home: Marakwet, Kenya
Bib: #F4
PRONUNCIATION: Sha-ron Che-rop
AGE: 27 (3/16/84)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:22:43 (Toronto, 2010)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 26Sep10 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | 1st | 2:22:43 |
| 25Apr10 | Hamburg Marathon | 1st | 2:28:38 |
| 25Oct09 | Nairobi Marathon | 3rd | 2:33:53 |
| 26Apr08 | Country Music Marathon | 4th | 2:39:52 |
| 07Oct07 | St. Paul Minneapolis | 3rd | 2:38:45 |
CAREER NOTES:
Listed as one of the top marathoners in the world in 2010, Sharon Cherop claimed her stature with a
huge win in Toronto this past fall. There she edged out Tirfi Tsegaye by one second to improve her personal
best by almost six minutes. Her Toronto win was the fastest ever run in Canada and beat the former
record established by Lidia Simon at the World Championships in Edmonton. Cherop says she has had
two pivotal moments in her career: finishing third in the 5,000m at the World Junior Championships and
then ten years later winning Toronto. “I realized after Toronto that running the marathon is the street I have
to follow,” says Cherop. Her half marathon best is 68:50, recorded in New Delhi in 2010. Cherop
trains in Marakwet where she was born and also in Iten. She wants to run Boston “to see first hand what
it is like to compete along with other top athletes.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
Cherop currently runs for the Kenyan Armed Forces and says she will work in the army after her professional
running career slows down. She is married to Matthew Bowen, who is a 2:10 marathoner, and the
couple has a 2-year old daughter named Natalia. Cherop said when she is not training she enjoys reading
novels and swimming.
Desiree Davila
Home: Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA
Bib: #F15
PRONUNCIATION: Dez-uh-rau Dah-V-la
AGE: 27 (7/26/83)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:26:20 (Chicago, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 10Oct10 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 4th | 2:26:20 |
| 23Aug09 | IAAF World Championships, Berlin | 11th | 2:27:53 |
| 12Oct08 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 5th | 2:31:33 |
| 16Apr07 | Boston Marathon | 18th | 2:44:56 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 20Apr08 | U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Boston | 13th | 2:37:50 |
CAREER NOTES:
Desiree Davila ran a formidable race in Chicago last year, which earned her the rank of fastest American
female marathoner of 2010. Her 2:26:20 also placed her fourth on the all-time U.S. list behind Deena
Kastor, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Kara Goucher. Davila has impressively improved her marathon time
with each marathon she has run. Prior to Chicago, she ran the World Championships and finished second
American one place behind Goucher. A pivotal moment for Davila was her 2008 Olympic Trials
Marathon experience in Boston. “This was my second marathon and I completely blew up around 20
miles. It was disheartening at the time, but it really made me want to figure out the event and find out
how good I could be at the marathon.”
Making her marathon debut in Boston during the Nor’easter of 2007, Davila says, “I fell in love with the
event. The history of Boston, the course, the crowds, it all just drew me in and made me want to be a
successful marathoner. That year the weather was miserable and my race was forgettable, but the experience
as a whole was incredible. As soon as I crossed the line I knew I would be back.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
Davila grew up in Chula Vista, California, and started running in middle school. She played soccer and
softball, but said softball was too slow for her so she tried out for track. “I joined the MLK Blasters and
ran distance events,” recalls Davila. “On occasion I would get to do the 4x100m and hand off to
Monique Henderson, now a 4x400m Olympic gold medalist.” She now trains with Keith and Kevin
Hanson and the Hansons-Brooks team in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Davila says, “Everything we are
doing is about progression. I’ve learned how to prepare for the marathon, how to race the distance. I’ve
gotten faster and more competitive up front each time out. The next logical step is putting it all together
and learning how to win. As an American marathoner what better place to take on that challenge than
Boston?” Davila was an All American on the track for Arizona State University where she graduated with
a BA in Religious Studies and a BS in Psychology. She works for retailer Moosejaw and says she enjoys
reading, drinking good coffee, and writing.
Misiker Mekonin Demissie
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #F16
PRONUNCIATION: Mis-i-ker Mee-con-in De-miss-ee
AGE: 24 (7/23/86)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:26:20 (Los Angeles, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 21st | 2:37:39 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 12Dec10 | Honolulu Marathon | 4th | 2:41:08 |
| 21Mar10 | Los Angeles Marathon | 2nd | 2:26:20 |
| 17Jan10 | P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Arizona | 1st | 2:30:39 CR |
CAREER NOTES:
isiker Mekonin Demissie ran four marathons in 2010, including her debut and course record win in
Arizona. Her personal best was recorded two months later in Los Angeles where she ran 2:26:20. In
November she ran her first World Marathon Majors race in New York City, but was disappointed with
her time and place. Demissie routinely runs road races in the United States, consistently placing in the
top-three spots.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Demissie formerly ran under the name of Teyba Naser. Demissie has since restored citizenship in Ethiopia.
She trains both in Ethiopia and the United States and has joined Mark Wetmore’s group.
Teyba Erkesso
Home: Arsi, Ethiopia
Bib: #F1
PRONUNCIATION: Tay-Ee-Bah Er-KESS-OH
AGE: 28 (10/30/82)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:23:53 (Houston, 2010) CR
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 12th | 2:31:06 |
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:26:11 |
| 11Oct09 | Bank of America Chicago Marathon | 4th | 2:26:56 |
| 07Oct07 | The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon | DNF |
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 17Jan10 | Chevron Houston Marathon | 1st | 2:23:53 CR |
| 18Jan09 | Chevron Houston Marathon | 1st | 2:24:18 |
CAREER NOTES:
In another thrilling Boston women’s finish, Teyba Erkesso held off a fast closing Tatyana Pushkareva in the
final meters to win the coveted Boston crown by three seconds. She ran strong from the beginning and
opened a gap on the front-runners of almost 80 seconds through the Newton hills. Erkesso soon slowed
however, due to stomach problems, and Pushkareva confidently began to close in on the leader. But with
great determination, Erkesso held on for the win. After the race, Erkesso said she had watched her teammate
Dire Tune lose the race by one second the year before and had determined in those closing strides
that she would not share that fate.
Before winning Boston, Erkesso defended her Houston title by trimming 25 seconds off her 2009 course
record. At New York City this past fall she finished a disappointing 12th, after staying with the leaders
for much of the race. Erkesso is a versatile talent with a deep and accomplished cross country and road
background. She contributed to four World Cross Country team gold medals for Ethiopia (2002, 2004
(2), 2006) and on the roads set an all-women’s race world record with her 51:44 win at the 2007
Cherry Blossom 10-Mile. Her half marathon best of 67:41 was run in 2010 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half
Marathon.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Erkesso is married to fellow marathoner Kasime Adillo and belongs to a training group coached by Haji
Adillo. She grew up in Arsi and completed high school. When Erkesso is not training she likes to dance.
Woynishet Girma
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #F21
PRONUNCIATION: Woy-nee-shet Ger-mah
AGE: 25 (1/1/86)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:27:51 (Amsterdam, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | 4th | 2:28:36 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 17Oct10 | Amsterdam Marathon | 4th | 2:27:51 |
| 22Jan10 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 9th | 2:32:07 |
| 18Oct09 | Amsterdam Marathon | 2nd | 2:29:50 |
| 27Apr09 | St. Anthony Padova Marathon | 1st | 2:31:03 |
| 20Apr08 | Alexander the Great Marathon | 3rd | 2:50:06 |
| 10Jun07 | Addis Ababa Marathon | 4th | 2:45:03 |
| 16Mar07 | City of Rome Marathon | 10th | 2:43:11 |
| 24Sep06 | Turin Marathon | 3rd | 2:38:30 |
| 03Jun06 | Stockholm Marathon | 5th | 2:46:50 |
| 12Mar06 | Treviso Marathon | 4th | 2:35:48 |
CAREER NOTES:
In her first World Marathon Major event last year in Boston, Woynishet Girma did not disappoint as she
ran a personal best time to place fourth. Later in the year she improved her best by almost a minute in
Amsterdam. In 2006, Girma began her marathon career by running three marathons. She finished top
five in all of them and that gave her confidence in her marathon abilities. She broke 2:30 for the first
time in 2009 in Amsterdam and at the same race a year later lowered her best to 2:27:51.
PERSONAL NOTES:
PERSONAL NOTES:
Girma grew up in Chancho, but now lives and trains in Addis Ababa and is part of Mark Wetmore’s
Global Athletics Group. She says she hopes to continue the tradition of strong Ethiopian women at this
year’s Boston Marathon. She has also raced under the name of Waynishet Girma.
Kara Goucher
Home: Portland, Oregon, USA
Bib: #F12
PRONUNCIATION: Ka-rah Gow-cher
AGE: 32 (7/9/78)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:25:53 (New York City, 2008)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 23Aug09 | IAAF World Championships, Berlin | 10th | 2:27:48 |
| 20Apr09 | Boston Marathon | 3rd | 2:32:25 |
| 02Nov08 | ING New York City Marathon | 3rd | 2:25:53 |
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 07Feb09 | Reebok Boston Indoor Games, 3,000m | 1st | 8:46.65 |
| 30Jan09 | Milrose Games, mile | 1st | 4:33.19 |
| 22Aug08 | Olympic Games 5,000m, Beijing | 9th | 15:49.03 |
| 15Aug08 | Olympic Games 10,000m, Beijing | 10th | 30:55.16 |
| 27Jun08 | US Olympic Trials 5,000m | 1st | 15:01.02 |
| 27Jun 08 | US Olympic Trials 10,000m | 2nd | 31:37.72 |
| 30Sep07 | BUPA Great North Run | 1st | 1:06.57 |
| 25Aug07 | IAAF World Championships 10,000m, Osaka | 3rd | 32:02.05 |
| 16Sep06 | IAAF World Cup 3,000 | 3rd | 8:41.42 |
CAREER NOTES:
Kara Goucher says her proudest running accomplishment was fighting for the win at the 2009 Boston
Marathon. At that race, Salina Kosgei outkicked both Goucher and 2008 Boston winner Dire Tune in the
final stretch. “I have been to the Olympics and I have won a medal at the World Championships,” said
Goucher. “But the 2009 Boston Marathon stands as the highlight of my career. I loved preparing for it
and loved racing it. I wish that I could have won, but nevertheless it is the greatest running experience I
have ever had. I did the best I could and Boston embraced me for that. The support in Boston was nothing
that I had ever experienced before. It was a thrill of a lifetime to have people cheering my name for
the full 26.2 mile race.” After Boston, Goucher competed in the World Championships, placing10th and
1st American. Her marathon debut in 2008 fulfilled all expectations as Goucher set several American
women’s marathon marks with her 2:25:53, third place performance: fastest debut ever, fastest time ever
run on the NYC course, and fastest American marathon time of 2008.
Internationally accomplished on the track, Goucher ran at the Beijing Olympic Games and in one of the
hardest doubles on the track, finished ninth in the 5,000m and 10th in the 10,000m (30:55.16). She
also earned the first American medal (bronze) in the 10,000m at the World Championships in 2007.
PERSONAL NOTES:
After the 2009 World Championships, Goucher took time off for pregnancy, and she and husband Adam
welcomed their son Colt into the family on September 25, 2010. A 2001 University of Colorado graduate
with a degree in psychology and a seven-time Division I All American, Goucher was born in Queens,
New York, but grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. Goucher trains with the Nike Oregon Project and 1982
Boston champion Alberto Salazar is her coach. Goucher’s hobbies include cooking, reading, and making
cards and scrapbooks.
Werknesh Kidane
Home: Axum, Ethiopia
Bib: #F18
PRONUNCIATION: WWork-nesh Ki-dane
AGE: 29 (11/21/81)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:27:15 (Dubai, 2011)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 21Jan11 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 8th | 2:27:15 |
CAREER NOTES:
As the most decorated female World Cross Country medalist of all time, Werknesh Kidane has won eight
individual medals in the event: gold in 1999 and 2003, silver in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and bronze in
1998, 2004 and 2005. A two time Olympian for Ethiopia on the track, Kidane finished 7th in the
5,000m in 2000 at the Athens Olympics and 4th in the 10,000m in 2004 at the Sydney Olympics.
Additional track honors include the silver medal in the 10,000m at the 2003 World Championships,
where Kidane ran one of the fastest times ever in the event (30:07.15). After a multiyear break for maternity
leave, Kidane made her transition to the roads and this past year ran on the U.S. road racing circuit.
She made her marathon debut in Dubai in January and is anticipating much improvement at her first
Boston Marathon.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kidane is married to 2010 ING New York City Marathon winner Gebregziabher Gebremariam, who is also in the
John Hancock elite field. They train together in Addis Ababa. The couple has two sons, Nathaniel and Muse.
Caroline Kilel
Home: Bomet, Kenya
Bib: #F8
PRONUNCIATION: Ca-row-line Kee-lel
AGE: 30 (3/21/81)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:23:25 (Frankfut, 2010) CR
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 31Oct10 | Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon | 1st | 2:23:25 CR |
| 21Mar10 | Seoul International Marathon | 3rd | 2:26:58 |
| 25Oct09 | Ljubljana Marathon | 1st | 2:25:24 CR |
| 08Mar09 | Nagoya Women’s Marathon | 9th | 2:31:42 |
| 21Dec08 | ING Taipei International Marathon | 1st | 2:30:44 |
| 28Sept08 | Scotiabank Toronto Marathon | 4th | 2:34:27 |
| 18Mar07 | Seoul International Marathon | 7th | 2:35:01 |
| 30Oct06 | adidas Dublin Marathon | 4h | 2:33:34 |
| 14May06 | Prague International Marathon | 3rd | 2:31:10 |
| 21Oct05 | Nairobi Marathon | 1st | 2:36:08 |
| 21Nov04 | Palermo Marathon | 1st | 2:31:15 |
| 22May04 | Prague International Marathon | 2nd | 2:32:52 |
| 26Oct03 | Venice Marathon | 2nd | 2:30:22 |
CAREER NOTES:
Caroline Kilel ran an impressive race in Frankfurt last year to improve the course record to 2:23:25, also
a new personal best for this experienced marathoner. Earlier in the year in Seoul, on her birthday, Kilel
finished third. She has four additional career marathon wins: the 2009 Ljubljana Marathon in a course
record 2:25:24, the 2008 Taipei Marathon., the 2005 Nairobi Marathon and the 2004 Palermo
Marathon.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kilel has been competing at the marathon distance for nine years and has also represented Kenya at the
World Cross Country Championships in 2003 and the World Half Marathon Championships in 2005 and
2009. She trains in Kericho where she now lives and says of her first Boston, “I choose Boston because
for me it is time to run a Major Marathon after my win in Frankfurt last year.”
Florence Kiplagat
Home: Iten, Kenya
Bib: #F23
PRONUNCIATION: Flor-ence Kip-la-gat
AGE: 24 (2/27/87)
PERSONAL BEST: Debut
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 16Oct10 | IAAF / SINOPEC World Half Marathon Championships | 1st | 1:08:24 |
| 04Sep10 | Lille Half Marathon | 1st | 1:07:40 |
| 15Aug09 | IAAF World Championships 10,000m, Berlin | 12th | 31:30.85 |
| 28Mar09 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Amman | 1st | 26:13 |
| 24Mar07 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Mombasa | 5th | 27:26 |
| 15Aug06 | IAAF World Junior Championships 5,000m, Beijing | 2nd | 15:32.34 |
CAREER NOTES:
Making her half marathon debut in September of 2010, Florence Kiplagat stunned the competition at the
Lille Half Marathon with an impressive 1:07:40 win. Based on that performance, Kiplagat was named to
the Kenyan World Championship Half Marathon team. At that championship she was challenged in the
final stages by 2008 Boston champion Dire Tune, but prevailed for the gold medal and the team win. In
2009 she won the gold medal at the World Cross Country Championships and followed with 12th at the
World Championships in the 10,000m. Before becoming a mother in 2008, she won the silver medal in
the 5,000m at the World Junior Championships and placed fifth at the World Cross Country
Championships in 2007. She has chosen Boston for her marathon debut.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Kiplagat was born near Markwet and is married to Moses Mosop, who will also make his marathon
debut in Boston. Renato Canova coaches Kiplagat, who also runs for the Kenyan Police team. Marathon
runner William Kiplagat is her uncle.
Merima Mohammed
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #F6
PRONUNCIATION: Meh-ree-ma Mo-hah-med
AGE: 18 (6/10/92)
PERSONAL BEST: :23:06 (Toronto, 2010)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 16Jan11 | Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon | 2nd | 2:26:57 |
| 26Sep10 | ScotiaBank Toronto Marathon | 3rd | 2:23:06 |
| 30May10 | ING Ottowa Marathon | 1st | 2:28:18 |
| 08Nov09 | Des Alps-Maritimes Marathon | 1st | 2:33:56 |
CAREER NOTES:
A young Ethiopian talent, Merima Mohammed set the fastest world half marathon time ever run by an 18-
year-old at the New Delhi Half Marathon in 2010 with her 1:08:36 second place finish. At the Ethiopian
30K Championships she finished first in 1:45:14. A year earlier she made her marathon debut by winning
the Des Alps-Maritimes Marathon in Cannes. Also in 2010 Mohammed won the Ottowa Marathon
and returned to Canada to set her personal best time at the competitive ScotiaBank Toronto Marathon. In
Toronto she finished third behind Sharon Cerop and Tirfi Tsegaye. All three women are in the Boston elite
field.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Mohammed is gaining experience and strength in every performance. She trains with her coach Haji
Adillo in Addis Ababa.
Hellen Mugo
Home: Nyeri, Kenya
Bib: #F19
PRONUNCIATION: Hel-en Mu-go
AGE: 25 (12/12/85)
PERSONAL BEST: :27:16 (Carpi, 2010)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 21Jan11 | Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon | 12th | 2:36:38 |
| 10Oct10 | Maratona d'Italia | 1st | 2:27:16 |
| 18Apr10 | Belgrade Time Force Marathon | 1st | 2:41:19 |
CAREER NOTES:
Hellen Mugo started running road races in Italy with solid results in 2009 and moved up to the half
marathon distance the same year. She made her marathon debut in Belgrade with a win and followed
with another win and personal best time in Carpi at the Maratona d'Italia Memorial Enzo Ferrari. As a
Boston tune-up she raced in Dubai earlier this year.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Mugo’s full name is Hellen Wanjiku Mugo. She trains with Dr. Gabriel Rosa in Kenya and in Italy.
Catherine Ndereba
Home: Nairobi, Kenya
Bib: #F2
PRONUNCIATION: Cath-er-in Duh-REH-bah
AGE: 38 (7/21/72)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:18:47 (Chicago, 2001) NR
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 26Apr09 | Flora London Marathon | 7th | 2:26:22 |
| 02Nov08 | ING New York City Marathon | 5th | 2:29:14 |
| 17Aug08 | Olympic Marathon, Beijing | 2nd | 2:27:06 |
| 04Nov07 | ING New York City Marathon | 5th | 2:29:08 |
| 02Sep07 | IAAF World Championships Marathon, Osaka | 1st | 2:30:37 |
| 05Nov06 | ING New York City Marathon | 3rd | 2:26:58 |
| 14Aug05 | IAAF World Championships Marathon, Helsinki | 2nd | 2:22:01 |
| 18Apr05 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:25:13 |
| 22Aug04 | Olympic Marathon, Athens | 2nd | 2:26:32 |
| 19Apr04 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:24:27 |
| 02Nov03 | ING New York City Marathon | 2nd | 2:23:03 |
| 31Aug03 | World Championships Marathon, Paris | 1st | 2:23:55 |
| 13Apr03 | Flora London Marathon | 2nd | 2:19:55 |
| 13Oct02 | The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon | 2nd | 2:19:26 |
| 15Apr02 | Boston Marathon | 2nd | 2:21:12 |
| 07Oct01 | The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon | 1st | 2:18:47 |
| 16Apr01 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:23:53 |
| 22Oct00 | The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon | 1st | 2:21:33 |
| 17Apr00 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:26:11 |
| 07Nov99 | New York City Marathon | 2nd | 2:27:35 |
| 19Apr99 | Boston Marathon | 6th | 2:28:27 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 15Nov09 | Yokohama Women’s Marathon | 3rd | 2:29:13 |
| 29Jan06 | Osaka International Ladies Marathon | 1st | 2:25:05 |
CAREER NOTES:
Catherine Ndereba has rewritten many record books during her prolific career. In Boston she is the only woman to win
four times. As the second fastest female marathoner of all time, Ndereba has earned two Olympic silver medals and two
World Marathon Championship gold medals. She is the Kenyan national record holder in the marathon and has been in
the top three at 17 World Marathon Majors events during her career.
After a prolific road racing career, Ndereba made her marathon debut in Boston in 1999, with a 6th place finish. The
following year in Boston she denied Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia a fourth consecutive win and became the first Kenyan
woman to win the event. In 2001 she defended her crown by trimming more than two minutes off her previous mark. In
2002, countrywoman Margaret Okayo beat Ndereba in the closing mile, but both women broke Uta Pippig’s long-standing
1994 course record. In 2004 and 2005, Ndereba outraced runner-up Elfenesh Alemu and permanently stamped her
legacy here.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Born in Nyeri, Ndereba is married to Anthony Maina and has a daughter, Jane, born in 1997. Ndereba is affectionately
known as “Catherine the Great” and is acknowledged as one of the most gracious athletes in the sport. Ndereba said
she started running in school at age 12 to win pencils and books. “I got motivated because I found I was good at it, and
I liked it,” said Ndereba. “My father had been a runner, so he encouraged me a lot. This was important, because at that
time, it was not common for girls to run and many people thought I was silly.” Ndereba trains in Nairobi and also in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is active in her church.
Tatyana Pushkareva
Home: Perm, Russia
Bib: #17
PRONUNCIATION: Ta-tee-Ah-nah Poosh-kar-rYO-vah
AGE: 25 (9/26/85)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:26:14 (Boston, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 15Nov09 | Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon | 1st | 2:30:30 |
| 10Oct09 | Under Amour Baltimore Marathon | 2nd | 2:35:45 |
| 25Apr09 | Country Music Marathon | 1st | 2:36:44 |
| 16Nov08 | Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon | 4th | 2:40:01 |
| 02Aug08 | Siberian Marathon | 2nd | 2:34:55 |
CAREER NOTES:
In one of the closest women’s finishes at Boston, Tatyana Pushkareva came within three seconds of the
Boston win last year. After Teyba Erkesso opened a gap of 80 seconds in the Newton hills, only
Pushkareva was able to respond by steadily closing. Although she did not win, Pushkareva improved her
personal best by more that four minutes. In 2009 Pushkareva ran three marathons and won two of them.
At 25 years of age, she is still gaining experience. Pushkareva said her runner-up finish in Omsk at the
Siberian Marathon was a pivotal point for her. She realized then the tactics and difficulties of marathon
running. “I became a runner because it’s a very interesting profession,” said Pushkareva. “It’s a big job
when you overcome yourself in order to achieve the heights. Running is a struggle with yourself, with
your reserves, with the nature of the human body and it’s a great battle with your mind.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
Pushkareva is a graduate of the Permsk State Pedagogical University and is a teacher and coach of physical
culture. Before becoming a professional runner, Pushkareva was a competitive ballroom dancer and
she still enjoys dancing. Additional hobbies include hairstyling, cooking and collecting ballroom dancing
shoes. Her husband, Alexander Pushkarev, is former professional runner. Pushkareva is part of Andre
Baranov”s group and trains in Kislovodsk, Russia, and Portugal.
John Hancock”s 2011 El i te Athlete Field
Caroline Rotich
Home: Nyahururu, Kenya
Bib: #24
PRONUNCIATION: Ka-row-line Row-tish
AGE: 26 (5/13/84)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:29:46 (New York City, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 8th | 2:29:46 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 06Dec09 | Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon | 1st | 2:29:47 |
CAREER NOTES:
Caroline Rotich won the 2011 New York City Half Marathon by out-distancing New York City Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and top American Kara Goucher in the final meters. Her time of 1:08:62 was a course record and personal best. In 2010 Rotich competed in a number of American road races, finishing first at the B.A.A. Half Marathon in 1:10:52, second at the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in 1:12:40, second at the Crim Festival of Races 10-Mile in 53:54, and fifth at the ING Bay to Breakers 12K in 40:37. At the marathon distance, Rotich won her debut at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon in 2009 and followed with an eighth place finish in New York City this past fall. Boston will be her third career marathon.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Although she was born in Nyahururu, Kenya, Rotich attended high school in Sendai, Japan. She earned a scholarship to Sendai Ikuei Gakuen, which is the same school World Marathon Majors champion Sammy Wanjiru attended. Rotich has also spent time in the United States and regularly trains with her coach Ryan Bolton in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is fluent in English, Japanese and Kiswahili.
Yuliya Ruban
Home: Kiev, Ukraine
Bib: #F20
PRONUNCIATION: YU-lee-uh ROO-bun
AGE: 27 (10/6/83)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:27:44 (Frankfurt, 2010)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 31Oct10 | Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon | 7th | 2:27:44 |
| 09May10 | Volkswagen Prague International Marathon | 4th | 2:31:13 |
| 25Oct09 | Ljubljana Marathon | 7th | 2:39:07 |
| 26Oct08 | Casablanca Marathon | 5th | 2:40:21 |
| 16Sep07 | Karlsruhe Marathon | 2nd | 2:40:26 |
CAREER NOTES:
The Ukrainian National Cross Country Champion from 2005–2007, Yuliya Ruban transitioned to the
marathon in 2007 and is now at the top of the selection list for her country’s 2011 World Championship
and 2012 Olympic Games. In 2009 Ruban started training with Igor Osmak, a former coach of World
Marathon Majors winner Irina Mikitenko. The result was a steady improvement in her marathon times culminating
in Frankfurt last year with a 2:27:44. “After Frankfurt I realized that I have a lot of strength and
potential to go faster and that was very emotional for me,” said Ruban. “That performance brought me
more confidence.” Ruban expects to place in the top five positions in Boston, and said, “I have always
dreamt to compete in Boston. I’ll carry this experience to the World Championships and the Olympic
Games.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
Both of Ruban’s parents, Irina and Igor, were elite runners and they coached Ruban as a youth. “My parents
are my biggest fans,” said Ruban. “My mother, a former professional marathon runner, still runs for
her own pleasure, but of course she can’t catch up with me nowadays, but still stays in shape.” Ruban
trains in her native town of Belaya Tzerkov (White Church), Kiev and Kislovodsk. She graduated from
Kievskiy State University of Physical Culture and Sports and is currently working on an advanced degree.
She is a lieutenant in the Ukrainian military forces and competes in some of the armed forces races.
Hobbies include learning English and collecting photographs and mementos from her trips around the
world.
Blake Russell
Home: Pacific Grove, California, USA
Bib: #F22
PRONUNCIATION: Blake Rus-el
AGE: 35 (7/24/75)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:29:10 (Chicago, 2005)2:29:10 (Chicago, 2005)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 17Aug08 | Olympic Marathon, Beijing | 27th | 2:33:13 |
| 26Apr07 London Marathon DNF | London Marathon | DNF | |
| 09Oct05 | LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon | 6th | 2:29:10 |
| 10Oct04 | LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon | 9th | 2:32:04 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 20Apr08 | U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Boston | 3rd | 2:32:40 |
| 03Apr04 | U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, St. Louis | 4th | 2:30:32 |
| 05Oct03 | Twin Cities Marathon | 1st | 2:30:41 |
CAREER NOTES:
Blake Russell has earned her place as one of America’s best long distance runners having competed at the
Olympics and World Championships for the United States. A 2008 Olympian at the marathon distance,
Russell was the only American to finish the race, placing 27th. Earlier in the year at the U.S. Olympic Trials
held in Boston, Russell finished a strong third. Russell made one of the fastest American marathon debuts with
a win at the 2003 Twin Cities Marathon. She then ran the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and finished
fourth and first alternate to the Athens’ Olympic team. She has run the Chicago Marathon twice, finishing ninth
in 2004 and sixth in 2005. Her national titles include the USATF 15K in 2005 and 2006 and the USATF 8K
Cross Country Championships in 2006. In 2010 Russell returned to competition after maternity leave and won
the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon in 1:11:55.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Russell is coached by Bob Sevene and was an All-American at the University of North Carolina where she
earned her BS in psychology and exercise science. She also holds a MS in physical therapy from Elon
University. Russell and her husband Jonathan have a son, Quin, who was born in April of 2009. Jonathan
was an All-American runner at Wake Forest.University.
Silvia Skvortsova
Home: Cheboksary, Russia
Bib: #F17
PRONUNCIATION: Sil-vee-ah Skvor-tsO-vah
AGE: 36 (11/16/74)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:26:24 (Berlin, 2009)
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
| 20Sep09 | real,- Berlin Marathon | 2nd | 2:26:24 |
| 13Apr08 | Flora London Marathon | 11th | 2:29:11 |
| 05Nov06 | ING New York City Marathon | 11th | 2:33:17 |
| 02Nov03 | ING New York City Marathon | 23rd | 2:47:52 |
| 14Apr02 | Flora London Marathon | 7th | 2:27:07 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 31Jul10 | European Marathon Championship | 11th | 2:36:31 |
| 21Mar10 | Los Angeles Marathon | 3rd | 2:27:20 |
| 25May09 | Los Angeles Marathon | 3rd | 2:28:35 |
| 07Dec08 | Singapore Marathon | 2nd | 2:37:10 |
| 27Oct08 | Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon | 2nd | 2:32:39 |
| 02Dec07 | Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon | 1st | 2:29:01 |
| 16Apr06 | Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon | 2nd | 2:29:28 |
| 04Dec05 | Singapore Marathon | 3rd | 2:36:49 |
| 13Mar05 | Rome Marathon | 1st | 2:28:00 |
| 03Oct04 | Twin Cities Marathon | 2nd | 2:27:28 |
| 07Mar04 | City of Los Angeles Marathon | 7th | 2:40:39 |
| 01Jun03 | Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, San Diego | 6th | 2:33:40 |
| 16Feb03 | Motorola Austin Marathon | 1st | 2:37:23 |
| 08Dec02 | Honolulu Marathon | 9th | 2:42:49 |
| 07Oct01 | Twin Cities Marathon | 3rd | 2:28:22 |
| 03Jun01 | Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, San Diego | 5th | 2:33:37 |
| 03Dec00 | California International Marathon | 2nd | 2:38:52 |
CAREER NOTES:
Silvia Skvortsova is a prolific marathon runner earning 13 podium positions during her career. Her most important
achievement was her runner-up finish in Berlin in 2009. There she broke 2:27 for the first time and set a
personal best of 2:26:24. Career marathon wins include Las Vegas in 2007, Rome in 2005, and Austin in
2003, where she won in a photo finish. She has represented Russia on three World Half Marathon
Championship teams and her half marathon best is 69:17, recorded in San Jose in 2006.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Skvortsova is married to husband Alexsander, also an elite runner, and the couple has a daughter. Skvortsova
trains in Cheboksary where many of the top Russian distance runners live and train. Elena and Sergey Popov
are Skvortsova’s coaches.
Kim Smith
Home: New Zealand / Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Bib: #F11
PRONUNCIATION: Kim Smith
AGE: 29 (11/19/81)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:25:21 (London, 2010) NR
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
| 07Nov10 | ING New York City Marathon | 5th | 2:29:28 |
| 25Apr10 | Virgin London Marathon | 8th | 2:25:21 |
| 02Nov08 | ING New York City Marathon | DNF |
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 11Oct09 | IAAF/EDF Energy World Half Marathon Championships | 7th | 1:09:35 |
| 15Aug09 | IAAF World Championships 10,000m, Berlin | 8th | 31:21.42 |
| 15Aug08 | Olympic Games 10,000m, Beijing | 9th | 30:51.00 |
| 08Mar08 | IAAF World Indoor Championships, 3,000m | 6th | 8:48:48 |
| 25Aug07 | IAAF World Championships 10,000m, Osaka | 5th | 32:06.89 |
| 17Sep06 | IAAF World Cup, 5,000m | 4th | 15:12.15 |
CAREER NOTES:
Relatively new to the marathon distance, Kim Smith is translating her track prowess to the roads with much success.
Already a national record holder on the track in distances from the mile to 10,000m, Smith added the
marathon record last year with her 2:25:21 London finish. This year she ran the fastest half marathon
(1:07:36) ever run on U.S. soil at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in New Orleans. A two-time
Olympian, Smith competed in the 5,000m in 2004 and in the 10,000m in 2008, where she finished 9th. She
has also competed at World Championships for New Zealand on the track, cross country and roads.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Smith grew up running in Papakura and Aukland, and then came stateside to run for coach Ray Treacy at
Providence College in Rhode Island. There she won four NCAA titles and graduated with a degree in education.
Smith now trains and resides in Providence. “Having lived in New England the last nine years, it means
a lot to run Boston,” says Smith. “t will be like running on my ‘home course.’ I don’t think you are seen as a
real runner around here if you haven’t done Boston!”
Alice Timbilili
Home: Moiben, Kenya
Bib: #F10
PRONUNCIATION: Al-iss- Tim-be-lee-lee
AGE: 28 (2/1/83)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:25:03 (Amsterdam, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 20Apr09 | Boston Marathon | 9th | 2:36:25 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 17Oct10 | Amsterdam Marathon | 1st | 2:25:03 |
| 18Oct09 | Beijing Marathon | 5th | 2:35:38 |
| 14Dec08 | Honolulu Marathon | 3rd | 2:37:31 |
| 06Apr08 | Paris Marathon | 5th | 2:26:45 |
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
| 19Mar05 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 2nd | 26:37 |
| 27Aug04 | Olympic Games 10,000m, Athens | 16th | 32:12.57 |
| 20Mar04 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | 4th | 27:34 |
| 30Sep00 | Olympic Games 10,000m, Sydney | 14th | 31:50.22 |
| 18Mar00 | IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships | 2nd | 20:35 |
| 17July99 | IAAF World Youth 3,000m Championships | 1st | 9:01.99 |
CAREER NOTES:
In her first Boston, Alice Timbilili finished a disappointing 9th. She is back this year on the heels of a breakthrough
win in Amsterdam, where she improved her personal best to 2:25:03. A two-time Olympian and
World Cross Country silver medalist, Timbilili was an extremely talented youth runner. At the age of 16, she
won the 10,000m at the 1999 National Kenyan Championships. She followed that by winning the 3,000m at
the World Youth Championships. Still a junior, she earned a silver medal at the World Cross County
Championships and made the Kenyan Olympic team in the 10,000. In Sydney she finished 14th in the finals.
In 2004 she made her second Olympic team and finished 16th in the 10,000m. One of Timbilili’s most exciting
races was the 2005 World Cross Country Championships. At that race, Tirunesh Dibaba edged her out of
the top spot by a slim .03 seconds. Timbilili set a debut 68:56 mark in the half marathon in Philadelphia in
2007, before making her marathon debut in Paris.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Timbilili is the youngest of seven children and comes from an athletic family. Her Aunt, Nancy Lagat, was the
2004 African 800m champion and mentored Timbilili as she was developing her running talents. She began
running at the Kemeliet Primary School in local track meets and then attended the Kapkenda Secondary School.
She is married to Mark Sinyei and in March of 2006, gave birth to her son, Collins Kimutai. When her husband
is not farming he helps pace Timbilili in her training. Timbilili trains with Dr. Gabriele Rosa’s group in
Kenya.
Tirfi Tsegaye
Home: Bokoji, Ethiopia
Bib: #F5
PRONUNCIATION: Tear-fee Sa-gay
AGE: 26 (11/25/84)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:22:44 (Toronto, 2010)
MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 26Sep10 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | 2nd | 2:22:44 |
| 11Apr10 | Paris Marathon | 3rd | 2:24:51 |
| 29Nov09 | Shanghai Marathon | 2nd | 2:28:16 |
| 19Apr09 | Turin Marathon | 2nd | 2:29:04 |
| 26Oct08 | Porto Marathon | 1st | 2:35:3 |
CAREER NOTES:
In a fierce battle with Sharon Cherop at last year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Tirfi Tsegaye
was edged by one second at the tape. Although she was runner up, she improved her personal best to
2:22:44 and preserved a strong string of podium finishes. Tsegaye set her half marathon best of 69:24 at
the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2009.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Tsegaye said she looks forward to her Boston debut. “Throughout Boston’s streets a number of major athletes
have made history in athletics. I also have a secret wish, that is to try and repeat the fantastic victories
of Fatuma Roba, who won three straight Boston Marathons from 1997 to 1999.” Tsegaye trains in
Addis Ababa and in Sululta, Sendafa, Sebeta and Entoto. She has two sisters, Belaynesh and Melesech.
Dire Tune
Home: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bib: #F9
PRONUNCIATION: Deer-ay Too-nay
AGE: 25 (6/19/85)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:23:44 (Frankfurt, 2010)
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS:
| 19Apr10 | Boston Marathon | DNF | |
| 23Aug09 | IAAF World Championships, Berlin | 23rd | 2:32:42 |
| 20Apr09 | Boston Marathon | 2nd | 2:32:17 |
| 02Nov08 | ING New York City Marathon | 7th | 2:29:28 |
| 24Aug08 | Olympic Marathon (Beijing) | 15th | 2:31:16 |
| 21Apr08 | Boston Marathon | 1st | 2:25:25 |
| 14Aug05 | IAAF World Championships, Helsinki | 37th | 2:39:13 |
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
| 31Oct10 | Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon | 2nd | 2:23:44 |
| 13Jan08 | Chevron Houston Marathon | 1st | 2:24:40 |
| 15Apr07 | Nagano Maratho | 2nd | 2:28:59 |
| 14Jan07 | Chevron Houston Marathon | 1st | 2:26:52 |
| 29Apr06 | Country Music Marathon Nashville | 3rd | 2:39:10 |
| 12Feb06 | Hong Kong Standard Chartered Mar. | 1st | 2:35:15 |
| 06Mar05 | Los Angeles Marathon | 4th | 2:30:48 |
CAREER NOTES:
Dire Tune’s finishes at the Boston Marathon have been the closest in the history of the race, and in her
words, “Boston has become a special place for me.” In 2008, Tune was on the winning end of the
closing sprint as she dueled to the wire with Russian Alevtina Biktimirova, prevailing by two seconds.
Defending her title last year, Tune challenged Salina Kosgei every step of the way only to be edged at
the tape by one second. Exhausted, Tune collapsed at the finish line and only learned on her way to the
hospital that she had not secured the win.
Tune competed at the World Championships in Berlin last summer and after falling in the race, recovered to finish 23rd. Earlier this year she placed third at the Zayed International Half Marathon in 69:19. She has four career marathon wins, set course records in Houston in her two showings, and placed 15th at the Beijing Olympic Marathon. In addition, she established the world record for the One Hour Run (18.517km) in Ostrava in 2008, and set a national record in the 2009 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (1:07:18).
PERSONAL NOTES:
Tune grew up in Kulemsa, a small village in the Arsi region. She said her family lived about a kilometer
away from world record holder Haile Gebrselassie and his family and said that he is one of her mentors.
She first joined a running club that Gebrselassie organized and later ran for the Omedla Police Club.
She now trains in Addis Ababa under the direction of Hadji Adillo. Tune is married to Kelil Tola and
when not training enjoys housework and cooking.