Getting ready for Sunday (Part 2)

Just found some info on the elite fields for the marathon on Sunday. The men's field is pretty deep and strong whereas I think the women's is a bit weak. Seems like not much effort has gone into attracting class females and the prize money hasn't been the lure that it seems to have been for the men.

THE ELITE FIELD

MARATHON – MENS

GEMECHU WOYECHA
Marathon PB – 2:14:50
Gemechu was the winner of the 2008 City to Surf Half Marathon in Perth setting a new
course record. He came 8th in the 2008 Nagano Marathon and missed out on Olympic selection to Beijing by
1 second. Born in Ethiopia, Gemechu became an Australian citizen in 2003 and now lives in Canberra.
Gemechu is advised by Australian Marathon legend Robert deCastella.

YARRED TEMESGEN
Marathon PB – 2:14:16 Greece Thessaloniki – Alexander the Great
Yarred has yet to race a marathon distance in 2009. His personal best time was set in 2008
so he is expected to be in good form for this event.

WELLAY AMARE WELDEGIYORGIS
Marathon PB – 2:11:05 Moha International Marathon, Ethiopia
Wellay’s impressive personal best time was run last year in Ethiopia. In 2009 he has already
clocked at 2:12:45 at the Abebe Bikilia International Marathon Ethiopia. Wellay lives and trains in Ethiopia
and has traveled to Perth specifically for this event.

ZINTU MEAZA SIMA
Marathon PB – 2:12:30 Moha International Marathon, Ethiopia
Zintu’s impressive personal best time was run last year in Ethiopia. In 2009 he has already
clocked at 2:12:35 at the Suluta International Marathon Ethiopia. Zintu lives and trains in Ethiopia and has
traveled to Perth specifically for this event.

PHILLIP MAKAU MUIA Nationality: KENYAN
Marathon PB – 2:12:00
Phillip was the runner up in the 2008 Sydney Marathon. He won the Pune marathon in
December 2007 at the front of a 30,000 strong field. Phillip hopes to qualify for the 2010 Kenyan Olympic
Team. He is married and living in Nairobi Kenya.

JOSPHAT NZINGA Nationality: KENYAN
Marathon PB – 2:15:46
Josphat’s personal best time was set only last year in Kenya. His last race was a 26km in
Penang and Josphat hopes to run a PB to take out the inaugural City to Surf Marathon.

JEREMEY HORNE Nationality: AUSTRALIAN
Marathon PB – 2:24:46
Jeremey returns to Perth after a 4th place in the 2008 City to Surf Half Marathon. Jeremey’s
season best in 2008 was a 2:26:50 in Corning USA. Horne has yet to run a full 42.2km event in 2009.

SIMON KARIUKI NJOROGE Nationality: KENYAN
Marathon PB – 2:09:00
In excellent form, Simon ran close to his PB last year with a blistering 2:11 in Marrakech. He
has again hit this mark already in 2009 with a 2:11 this year in Tiberius. On form, Simon will challenge at the
front of the field. Simon lives and trains in Kenya.

JOEL KIPLIMO KEMBOI Nationality: KENYAN
Marathon PB – 2:12:00
Joel has been in Perth for the month of August training for the City to Surf Marathon. Before
he traveled to Perth, Joel and his training partner Gilbert Kiptoo were racing and training in Malaysia. With
the local knowledge after the training in Perth Joel will be a favourite to take out the inaugural event.

GILBERT KIPTOO Nationality: KENYAN
Marathon PB – 2:14:00
Gilbert has been in Perth for the month of August training for the City to Surf Marathon.
Before traveling to Perth, Gilbert and his training partner Joel Kiplimo Kemboi were racing and training in
Malaysia. A third training partner recently took out the Gold Coast Marathon in record time so these boys are
ones to watch.

TESFAYE JIRU Nationality: ETHIOPIAN
Marathon PB – 2:22:00 Samsung Melbourne Marathon – placed 4th
Tesfaye is a political refugee from Ethiopia now living and training in Melbourne. He has
been granted a protection Visa and is now undergoing intensive English language studies in an effort to
improve his employment prospects.

TODD INGRAM Nationality: AUSTRALIAN
Marathon PB – 2:43:19
A local runner, Todd has raced 20 marathons, many of them international events. In 2008 he
was the first Australian in the Berlin & Mumbai Marathons. He was the WA Marathon champion in 2006 and
2000 and has a host of other achievements on his running resume.

STEPHEN COURTNEY Nationality: SOUTH AFRICAN
Stephen is a local athlete living in Perth. The winner of the Perth Marathon in July,
Stephen is originally from South Africa. He has run 43 Marathons and loves the very long
races (e.g. Comrades Marathon in South Africa 89km).

MARATHON - LADIES

MAGDA KARIMALI-POULOS Nationality: AUSTRALIAN
Marathon PB – 2:43:19
Magda won the Canberra Marathon in April this year in a time of 2:43:19. In July she won
M7cities Marathon in 2:45:01. In 2008, Magda was the second female across the line in the Blackmores
Sydney Marathon and was also the NSW state and Australian Champion.

GENET TEKA KASHAY Nationality: ETHIOPIAN
Marathon PB – 2:33:52
Genet’s last race was at the ING Luxemburg Marathon. Her 2009 form has proved hot with a
personal best run earlier this year. In 2008 Genet ran her best time of 2:34:20 at the Diredawa Marathon.
Genet lives and trains in Ethiopia.

HELEN STANTON Nationality: AUSTRALIAN
Marathon PB – 2:41:51 – Samsung Melbourne Marathon 2007
Helen is a three time winner of the Great Ocean Road Marathon (2007, 2008, 2009). In 2006
she won Senshu Japan and Saranak Malaysia Marathons, and in 2007 took second place in the Samsung
Melbourne Marathon in a personal best time.

MAI TAGAMI Nationality: JAPANESE
Marathon PB – 2:29:43 – Hokkaido Japan 2004
Mai won the 2008 Melbourne Marathon and was invited to come to Australia to train and
race. She joined Box Hill Club in Melbourne and is staying with athlete friends and competing in Victorian
Cross Country & Road Races. Mai recently took second place in the Gold Coast Marathon.

SUSAN MICHELLSON Nationality: AUSTRALIAN
Marathon PB – 2:41:59
Susan was an Australian Representative at the world track & field championships in 2001,
and an Australian Representative at the world Cross Country Championships in 2003 & 2006 and the winner
of the inaugural City to Surf Half Marathon in 2007. Susan also finished 2nd in the Stockholm Marathon in
2005 in a time of 2:42:57. Susan has yet to run a marathon in 2009.

VERITY TOLHURST Nationality: AUSTRALIAN
Verity is a four time Australian Representative and has won multiple Queensland State
Marathon titles as well as being the Australian Marathon Champion in 2003 and holding the
Australian 50km title for 2009.