FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Robin Monsky
312/337-3790
Cell: 312/933-3790


Chicago - THE LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON SIGNS THREE SPEEDSTERS INCLUDING ONE OF WORLD'S ALL-TIME BEST MARATHONERS

In keeping with its yearly tradition of building some of the fastest marathon fields in the world, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon announced that Gert Thys, Joseph Kimani and Samuel Otieno have committed to run the Race on October 22, 2000. Thys owns history's fourth fastest marathon while Kimani has been one of the hottest road runners in America this year.

The South African Thys, 28 years old, made his name with an incredible string of three world-class marathon efforts in a ten month period from April 1998 through February 1999. He started off with a 2:07:52 third place finish in Boston, ran a 2:07:45 third place in Chicago in October, and then wrapped it all up with a 2:06:33 win in Tokyo - a time that was second best in the world at that point (falling to fourth after Khalid Khannouchi and Moses Tanui turned in stellar performances in Chicago last fall to claim the first and second spots on the list). Thys has posted five sub-2:10 marathons in his 16 marathon efforts and finished all but one of those 26.2-milers. He is the current South African record holder at both the 10K and marathon distances and earned his country's Half-Marathon National Championship in 1998. Thys won his most recent race, a 1:03:06 at the difficult Phosphate Half-Marathon in South Africa in July.

"Thys is arguably the most consistent marathoner over the last three years based on his ability to run fast on many different courses," stated Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. "He always performs well when faced with tough competition which we will certainly provide in Chicago."

Joining Thys in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon field will be Kimani and Otieno, two Kenyan speedsters who have been notching impressive times on the roads this year but are relatively inexperienced at the marathon distance. The 27-year old Kimani, a track runner early in his career, has competed 14 times in 2000 and has six victories, four 2nds and two 3rds to show for it, including a victory at The Beach To Beacon last Sunday over Khalid Khannouchi. He also won the Andersen Consulting Bastille Day 5K in 13:24 here in Chicago on July 14 - just missing out on a course record. He has not finished lower than 8th in 28 races dating back to September 1998. He is the World and Kenyan Record Holder at 10K (27:20), 10K pt/pt (27.04) and 12K pt/pt (33.31). During one stretch from April 1996 until July 1997, Kimani won 19 of the 26 races he ran. Kimani has attempted the marathon distance once before, recording a 2:25:32 in Boston in 1998 while battling back problems.

-more- "Kimani has the athletic ability that fits the winning equation in Chicago. His profile of recent positive performances and impressive track credentials at shorter distances bodes well for success here and follows the pattern previously established by Chicago champions like Khannouchi, Ondoro Osoro and even back to Steve Jones."

The 27-year old Otieno spent much of his career as a cross country runner and has been a long time training partner of 1998 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Champion Ondoro Osoro. Otieno has completed three marathons since 1999, highlighted by a 2:09:12 second place finish in this year's Paris Marathon in April. He turned in a 2:10:41 debut at the Shell Hanse-Hamburg Marathon in Germany in April 1999, then completed the New York Marathon last fall in 2:14:48 despite coming into the race with a slightly pulled right hamstring. His biggest win to date came at the Hastings International Half Marathon in March, 1999 where he won a final sprint against Hendrik Ramaala to set a new course record of 1:01:37 and earn a 10,000-pound bonus.

Elite athletes will be vying for a total purse of $450,000 at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October, with $75,000, plus possible time bonuses, going to the two winners. The 2000 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon begins Sunday, October 22, 2000, at 7:30 a.m., starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. For more information or to register online visit www.chicagomarathon.com or call 312/904-9800 or 888/243-3344 toll-free. Marathon runners will not be allowed to sign up for the event on Race Weekend, a notable change from previous years.

# # # The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Elite List As of 8/10/00

MEN

Jeff Campbell
Mark Coogan
Peter De La Cerda
Eddie Hellebuyck
Joseph Kimani*
Scott Larson
Samuel Otieno*
Teddy Mitchell
David Morris
Gary Stolz
Gert Thys*


* New Additions to Roster W - withdrawn due to injury

WOMEN

Susannah Beck
Gwyn Coogan
Libbie Hickman
Kristy Johnstonv Ann Schaefers-Coles
Linda Somers-Smith
Liz Wilson - W


Robin A. Monsky
Round Robin Sports
(312) 337-3790
[email protected]

-- end --