MEN¹S WORLD RECORD SMASHED AT THE 1999 LASALLE BANKS CHICAGO MARATHON

CHICAGO (October 24, 1999) Khalid Khannouchi set a new men's world record at today's LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon’ with a time of 2 hours, five minutes and 42 seconds, beating the old mark set by Ronaldo da Costa at the 1998 Berlin Marathon by 23 seconds.

Under sunny skies and cool temperatures, Khannouchi, a Moroccan based in Ossining, N.Y., hoping to become an American citizen and run for the U.S. in the 2000 Olympics, caught leader Moses Tanui of Kenya with less than two miles to go, then surged to victory. Tanui finished second in 2:06:11 for the third fastest marathon ever, while 1998 winner Ondoro Osoro finished third in 2:08:00.

American David Morris finished fourth in an American record time of 2:09:32, eclipsing Jerry Lawson¹s 2:09:35 set in Chicago in 1997.

In the women's race, defending champion Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya recovered from tripping and falling at mile 10 to win in a photo finish with marathon debutante Margaret Okayo, winning in 2:25:59 to Okayo's 2:26:00. American Libbie Hickman ran 2:28:34 to become the ninth fastest American woman ever and the fastest American woman since Christine McNamara's 2:28:18 in April 1997.

Khannouchi earned $65,000 for first place, $100,000 for breaking the world record and a 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle. Chepchumba earned $65,000 for first and a $15,000 time bonus for coming in under 2:26. Overall, the Marathon awarded $699,000 in purse and time bonus money, the highest ever for any marathon. The $431,000 awarded to men is the highest men's purse ever anywhere, with the $268,000 going to women, the fourth best ever.

A record 29,256 people registered for the Marathon, with 24,621 finishers. The previous high was 20,063 registrants and 17,193 finishers set in 1998.

1999 TOP 10 MEN'S FINISHERS

1 Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) 2:05:42 (WR, NR, PR)

2 Moses Tanui (KEN) 2:06:16 (NR, PR)

3 Ondoro Osoro (KEN) 2:08:00

4 David Morris (USA) 2:05:42 (AR,PR)

5 Simon Bor (KEN) 2:09:35

6 Eder Moreno Fialho (BRA) 2:09:36 (PR)

7 Joseph Kahugu (KEN) 2:09:37

8 James Kariuki (KEN) 2:11:14 (PR)

9 Said Dogga (FRA) 2:11:18 (PR)

10 Simon Lopuyet (KEN) 2:11:44

WR - World Record, NR - National Record, PR - Personal Record

1999 TOP 10 WOMEN'S FINISHERS

1 Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 2:25:59

2 Margaret Okayo (KEN) 2:26:00 (PR*)

3 Elana Meyer (RSA) 2:27:17

4 Colleen De Reuck (RSA) 2:27:17

5 Irina Bogacheva (KYR) 2:27:46 (NR, PR)

6 Libbie Hickman (USA) 2:28:34 (PR)

7 Marian Sutton (GBR) 2:28:42 (PR)

8 Renata Paradowska (POL) 2:31:59

9 Albina Gallyamova (RUS) 2:32:24

10 Kristy Johnson (USA) 2:32:34(WR, NR, PR)

WR - World Record, NR - National Record, PR - Personal Record, * - Debut

Look here for more results

The 2000 LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon will be on Sunday, October 22, 2000 in Grant Park. For more information on the Marathon or the Bally Total Fitness B Fit 5K Run, please call 312/904-9800, or visit www.ChicagoMarathon.com on the Internet.

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