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NEW YORK -- Leading runners in Sunday's New York City
Marathon, with age, country and race bib number:
JAPHET KOSGEI, 33, Kenya, 2 -- Second in New York last year to
Abdelkhader El Mouaziz, who isn't defending his title. Kosgei has
won four of the seven marathons he's entered, though none of the
last three. Personal best of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 9 seconds at
Rotterdam in 1999. His last victory was at Tokyo (2:07:15) in
January 2000. Was fifth at London in April in 2:10:45, but just one
of the runners who finished ahead of him is entered Sunday. Won the
1999 Lisbon Half-Marathon in 1:00:01.
SHEM KORORIA, 29, Kenya, 3 -- Third each of the last two years in
New York, with personal-best 2:09:32 in 1999. Made breakthrough as
a distance runner in 1997, winning the World Half-Marathon
Championship in 59:56.
TESFAYE JIFAR, 25, Ethiopia, 4 -- Making New York debut. Has run
fastest marathon of anyone entered, 2:06:49 -- but that was two
years ago. Fourth at London in April, ahead of Kosgei. Only one
runner in the field -- David Morris, of Albuquerque, N.M., expected
to be a pacesetter -- has beaten Jifar in a marathon.
KEN CHERUIYOT, 27, Kenya, 5 -- Has two victories, one second
place in the three marathons he's finished. Top time, 2:07:08 in
finishing second at Rotterdam in April, is better than anyone in
Sunday's field has clocked over the past 21 months. Set world mark
of 1:13:58 for 25 kilometers at Berlin in 1997. Only previous NYC
Marathon participation, in 1997, was a pacesetter; didn't finish.
JOSEPH CHEBET, 31, Kenya, 7 -- Never worse than second in three
NYC Marathons (won in '99, runner-up in '97, '98). Victories at
Boston and New York in '99 made him the first man to win both in
the same year since Alberto Salazar in 1982. Personal best:
2:07:37, Boston '98. Didn't finish at Boston this year.
JOHN KAGWE, 32, Kenya, 8 -- The 1997 and 1998 New York champion,
he dropped to fifth place in '99 and 10th last year. Also had
top-five finishes in '95, '96. In 1997, Kagwe won in a personal
best of 2:08:12 -- the second-fastest time in NYC Marathon history --
despite stopping to tie his shoelaces twice and running the final
three miles with his laces untied. Won at San Diego in June
(2:10:07); was 31st at London. Lives in Norristown, Pa.
JON BROWN, 30, Britain, 9 -- Fourth in the Sydney Olympics
marathon (2:11:17); 1996 European cross-country champion. His top
time, 2:09:44, came in London in 1999. First entry in NYC Marathon.
Attended Iowa State University; lives in Canada.
SILVIO GUERRA, 33, Ecuador, 11 -- Second at Boston in April in
2:10:07; also runner-up in Boston in 1999. Personal best is
2:09:49, at Chicago in 1997. Only previous NYC Marathon: 10th in
1997, 2:13:34.
LUDMILA PETROVA, 33, Russia, F1 -- Won last year in 2 hours, 25
minutes, 45 seconds, her fastest marathon by more than 3 minutes.
Was seventh at Boston in 2:29:23, and sixth in the 10,000 meters at
the World Championships in August. Took 1988-94 off from the sport.
FRANCA FIACCONI, 36, Italy, F2 -- The only Italian woman to win
in New York, finishing in a personal-best 2:25:17 in 1998. Five
straight top-four finishes here, including second last year. Hasn't
run a marathon since June, a longer-than-usual break for her.
MARGARET OKAYO, 24, Kenya, F3 -- Won at San Diego each of the
past two years, breaking the course record each time, including a
personal-best 2:25:05 in '01. Was third in New York last year.
JOYCE CHEPCHUMBA, 30, Kenya, F5 -- Bronze medalist at Sydney
Olympics. Has run under 2:30 in 11 straight marathons. Led the 1996
NYC Marathon at the 24-mile mark before fading to third and hasn't
been back until now. Won at London in 1997 and '99 (personal-best
2:23:22), won at Chicago in 1998 and '99 (beat Okayo by one
second). Trains in Germany.
SUSAN CHEPKEMEI, 26, Kenya, F13 -- Set a personal best of 2
hours, 25 minutes, 45 seconds in winning at Rotterdam in April.
Earned a $150,000 bonus for setting the world half-marathon record
of 1:05:44 at Lisbon in April. First NYC Marathon.
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