"The FAN590 Pick the Champions Contest"
at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2009
Athlete Bios and Form Sheet
Voting closed as of 7:00am September 27, 2009.
Here are the running bios of all the STWM09 Starters. Odds are supplied by our expert, Ian Ladbrooke. Ian is an Athlete Coach and Manager, based in Edinburgh. He works with STWM Race Director Alan Brookes to put together the Elite field for Toronto Waterfront — something he also does for a number of other prestigious races around the world including the Delhi and Ras Al Khaimah half marathons and the Mumbai Marathon.
Women
RETURNING CHAMPION:
ETHMulu Seboka
Odds: 9-2
2:29:06 at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon '08 — a PR and a new women's course record. Her only sub-2:30 marathon. Mulu has since been very consistent, with a 2:30:10 run in Dubai in January, and a 2:30:39 in Prague in May, good for second place. An aggressive front-runner.
THE CONTENDERS:
KENLydia Cheromei
Odds: 7-2
A proven veteran who has recently moved up to the marathon. A winner of the World Junior Cross Country back in 1991, the 32 year old Cheromei made her marathon debut in Amsterdam last October, where she won in 2:25:57. She followed that up with a sizzling 68:14 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half in February, a 2nd place finish in the prestigious Rotterdam Marathon in April [2:28:09], and another victory at the Bogota Half [72:29] at altitude on August 2nd. Arguably THE woman to beat at STWM09.
ETHAmane Gobena
Odds: 4-1
Gobena is a great example of the exciting, young, new talent that Toronto Waterfront has built a reputation for attracting. The 23 year-old began 2009 with a learning experience in Houston in January. After sticking with eventual winner Teyba Erkesso until almost 30k she faded to finish 5th in 2:32:07, while Erkesso raced onto victory in 2:24:18. Amane then came back with a cracking 68:16 half in Ras Al Khaimah in February [2 seconds back of Cheromei], followed by a strong, 2nd place marathon finish in Los Angeles in late May in 2:26:53, where she held onto winner Tatiana Petrova until the closing stages. Will this be third time lucky for Amane?
ETHHaile Kebebush
Odds: 6-1
Another exciting Ethiopian up-and-comer. Age 23. Haile ran 2:30:03 to win Dublin last October, won Mumbai in January, then followed that up with a 2:28:08 for 3rd in Rome in March.
UKROlena Shurkhno
Odds: 10-1
From Donetsk, Ukraine. A favourite in T.O. after her smart, come-from-behind run for second at STWM08 in a PR of 2:30:08. Subsequently won Rock 'n' Roll Arizona in January in 2:31:22.
CANLioudmila Kortchaguina
Odds: 15-1
Of Thornhill, Ontario. A Canadian contender! After 2 years of injuries folks were writing her off, but she stormed back with a sparkling 2:30:43 in Houston in January, then won the Canadian Championships in Ottawa in May with a 2:32:10. With a PR of 2:29:42 [2006] Lioudmila can be in the thick of things with the Africans if YOU can cheer her on and give her that hometown advantage!
RUSNataliya Volgina
Odds: 15-1
Returning to competition after a frustrating year out with injury in 2008, Nataliya provides some great experience to the STWM09 women's field. The 32 year old made her marathon debut in Paris in 2000, and ran her PR of 2:27:32 there in 2006 when she placed 2nd.
KENEmma Muthoni
Odds: 50-1
After 3 years of running very ordinary times in the 2:38/2:39 range, the 28-year old from Ngong had a big breakthrough in Prague in May when she placed 4th with a huge PR of 2:33:02, "finishing like a train"!
KENLucy Njeri
Odds: 50-1
A familiar face on the Toronto area racing scene, Lucy won both the Sporting Life 10K and Harry's Spring Run Off 8K this Spring. While she has done most of her marathon racing in Mexico where she set her PR of 2:37:07 in 2007, her husband Nelson Ndereba now lives in Scarborough — so Lucy is definitely looking for some hometown cheers on September 27th!
KENJoyce Kandie
Odds: 50-1
A rank outsider with only two 2:47 marathons to her name. But a victory in the Bath Half in the UK this Spring in 71:48 gives promise of a major improvement on Toronto Waterfront's flat, fast course.
ENGHelen Decker
Odds: 150-1
A 30-year old from the JAFFA Club in Ipswich, East Anglia, Helen was a member of Team England at STWM08 as well, where she ran a PR of 2:45:17. She has since lowered that to a 2:42:08 in London in April.
ENGSarah Stradling
Odds: 250-1
A 34 year old from Colchester in Essex, Sarah ran a 77:34 half at Wilmslow in March, then followed that up with a marathon PR of 2:49:54 in London in April.
CANKrista DuChene
Odds: 250-1
The 32 year old from Brantford has returned to road racing with a vengeance this year after taking time off to have 2 children. She was the surprise winner of the Mississauga Marathon in May in a new course record of 2:51:40, and has followed that up with strong performances at the Acura Toronto Ten Miler in July [60:06] and the Quebec City Half Marathon on August 30th [79:15].
CANNatalie Goyer
Odds: 250-1
This veteran, Masters runner from St-Bruno, QC narrowly lost out to Krista DuChene in a thrilling race in Mississauga this Spring. Natalie had previously won in Mississauga in 2006, '07, and '08. She is also a 3-time Champion at Marathon Des Deux Rives in Quebec City, and a two-time winner at the Wineglass Marathon in upstate New York where she ran a PR of 2:50:31 last Fall.
Men
RETURNING CHAMPION:
KENKenneth Mungara
Odds: 8-1
2:11:01 at STWM'08 — Men's Champion. Ran PR of 2:10:29 at Prague this Spring. Is Kenneth a talent ready for a big breakthrough, or is he just a
one-speed 2:10 guy? He has a relaxed, easy style.
THE CONTENDERS:
ETHGashaw Melese Asfaw
Odds: 5-2
The real deal! Asfaw, who turns 31 years old on the Friday of Race Weekend, was 6th at Boston this year and 4th last year. Inbetween, he placed 7th in the Beijing Olympic Marathon, won Shanghai in a Course Record 2:09:28, and was 4th in Dubai in 2:10:59 in January. His best is a 2:08:03 that he recorded in winning Paris in 2006. Can Gashaw's experience guide the pack to a bunch of 2:08 and 2:09 performances?
KENDaniel Kiprugut Too
Odds: 4-1
After several seasons of running in the 2:13/2:15 range, the 31-year-old Too took his PR down to 2:10 last Fall in Koln, and then to an impressive 2:08:38 in Paris in April. Experienced, and confident after his huge breakthrough performance in Paris.
KENJoseph Maregu
Odds: 5-1
A terrific example of the best "up-and-comers" attracted to Toronto Waterfront, chasing fast times. Has run 6 x sub-61 minute half-marathons, including a 60:02 in Ras Al Khaimah in February, and a PR of 59:45 [Lille 2007]. Ran his marathon debut in April in Vienna in 2:09:25, good for third. Maybe Joseph can run a lot faster, once he gets the hang of the marathon distance?
ETHChala Lemi
Odds: 11-2
Another fine young talent from the famous Arsi highlands region of Ethiopia. Only 22 years old, he was 4th in Seoul last November in 2:09:36, then ran 2:10:01 in Daegu, Korea, in April. Should be a great partner to Asfaw, against the arch-rival Kenyan pack.
KENLuka Chelimo
Odds: 15-2
Has run in the Beijing City Marathon the last two Octobers, notching a 2:10:47 in 2007, then taking that down to 2:10:30 last Fall, where he was 2nd to Benjamin Kiptoo [2:10:14] — the same Benjamin Kiptoo that hammered Manyim and the field in Rome this Spring with his 2:07! Third place in that Beijing '08 race went to Simon Wangai [2:10:52] who was 4th in our STWM 2007 race in an identical time.
KENPhilip Manyim
Odds: 10-1
At 31 years, another strong, experienced athlete. Manyim knows what it's like to run in and win big races. His PR of 2:07:41 comes from his Berlin victory in 2005. More recently, Philip was 2nd in Eindhoven last Fall in 2:09:31 and 9th in Rome in 2:11 this Spring, after sticking with the 2:07 winner, Benjamin Kiptoo, until 35km.
KENSammy Mwangi
Odds: 15-1
An outstanding debut marathoner, who has chosen STWM for his first outing over the 42km. Just 26, Sammy won both the Pardubice and Bucharest Half-marathons last year, and was 3rd at the Portugal Half in 61:41. This Spring he smoked a 59:55 Half in Berlin. He could run 2:08, or he could run 2:18 as a "first-timer"!
KENElijah Sang
Odds: 15-1
Just 25 years old, Elijah has raced in Frankfurt the past 3 autumns, where he has taken his times down from 2:15:33 to 2:10:13. Has also run several 61 and 62 minute half marathons over the past few seasons in Europe.
KENPhilomen Rotich
Odds: 15-1
A 25 year old who trains with Daniel Rono in Iten. Daniel, you may remember, won STWM06 in 2:10:15, then placed 2nd in STWM07 in 2:09:36 [behind John Kela's fastest-time-ever on Canadian soil of 2:09:30]. Daniel then went onto run a stunning 2:06:58 in Rotterdam Spring '08, placed 3rd in New York City in Fall '08, and 2nd in Boston this Spring! When STWM Race Director, Alan Brookes, visited with Daniel in Boston in April he asked him "who are the new, young talents training with you now?"… and Daniel's recommendation was "Philomen Rotich." Philomen went out with Benjamin Kiptoo, Philip Manyim and the pack on the 2:07 pace in Rome in his marathon debut this Spring, and stayed with them into the second half of the race before fading to 6th, with a still-excellent debut-time of 2:10:26.
QATMohammed Abduh
Odds: 25-1
Another talented athlete on Debut at STWM this year. An Ethiopian now running for Qatar, Mohammed is only 21 years old, but already has a half PR of 61:38, run at the IAAF World Championships in Udine in 2007.
ETHSiyoum Lemma
Odds: 25-1
A 34-year old Ethiopian who ran a strong 2:10:48 to win the Marrakesh Marathon last year, and a 2:14:29 in the heat of Mumbai this January — good for 5th, but 2.5 minutes behind winner and STWM Defending Champ Kenneth Mungara.
UKRMykola Antonenko
Odds: 30-1
A 37 year old Ukrainian veteran from Donetsk who comes off a PR and strong performance in Prague in May, where he ran 2:10:54 for 4th place.
ETHDagim Getnet
Odds: 100-1
A 57:50 in the Paris 20km and a 62:22 in the Reims Half in France last Fall, then a 2:11:36 cautious debut marathon in Zurich this Spring. Coach Haji Adilo says to watch for a lot more from Dagim in Toronto.
ETHSiraj Gena
Odds: 100-1
Another debut athlete who comes from Coach Haji Adilo's team in Addis, where he trains with the likes of Deriba Merga [2009 Boston winner], and has reportedly been putting in some tremendous workouts. Will it translate from the training trails of Sululta to the roads of Toronto's Waterfront?
KENFrancis Muendo
Odds: 250-1
The "player to be named later" in the deal to get Maregu and Mwangi! Francis' Coach and Manager both think highly of him and expect much better things of him than his 2:15:48 win in Bucharest last Fall and his 2:15:50 third-place finish in an obscure Chinese marathon this Spring would suggest. Clearly, our odds-maker is still skeptical…
ENGBen Fish
Odds: 500-1
A promising 27-year old from Darwen, Lancashire, who runs for Blackburn Harriers. Ben won his place on this year's Team England at STWM with a 2:22:22 in Paris in April.
ENGMatt Pierson
Odds: 500-1
Matt earned his spot on Team England with a 2:22:15 at this April's Flora London Marathon, where he was 23rd overall. Matt runs for Holmfirth club in West Yorkshire, and when he's not out training he's working at "Up and Running" shop in Huddersfield town centre.
CANDavid Jackson
Odds: 500-1
A member of Prairie Inn Harriers, Dave trains under Jon Brown in Victoria [Jon now runs for Canada but was 4th in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Marathons while competing for GB]. A member of this year's Team Canada, Jackson has a marathon PR of 2:24 run in 2005, and is hoping to take that down closer to 2:20 on Waterfront's flat, fast course. He also ran 68:13, good for 7th in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half in June.
CANJason Loutitt
Odds: 500-1
A member of Team Canada at STWM09. Jason is a Metis mountain and marathon runner, now living in Calgary. He is a 4 time Team Canada representative in World Mountain Running. Leading up to STWM09 he will be representing Canada at the 2009 World and Commonwealth Mountain Running Championship races this month in Italy and the UK. He has a marathon PR of 2:24:37, is a 2 time Calgary marathon winner, has finished 2nd,3rd, and 4th at the Royal Victoria Marathon, was the 2006 Canadian Marathon Championships Silver Medalist and has a 1:06 half marathon PR. Jason also ran around the entire world with the 2007 Blue Planet Run team.