Jan. 14, 2008

HOUSTON - (January 13, 2008) - More than 20,000 participants, a race record, lined up on a 45-degree, weather-perfect morning for the 36th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon trio of races. Among the records set, Dire Tune obliterated her 2007 record by a staggering 2 minutes, 12 seconds for back-to-back victories in the marathon.

Tune, 22, of Ethiopia set a course and state record of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 40 seconds, besting her 2007 record of 2:26:52. Countrywoman Worknesh Tola, 30, finished second in 2:35:38.

In the men's race, David Cheruiyot, the 2005 and 2006 marathon winner, returned to Houston to claim his third victory in four years.

Cheruiyot, 37, of Kenya had a closer race, finishing in 2:12:32, just 21 seconds ahead of Kasime Adilo of Ethiopia. With his victory, Cheruiyot joins Stephen Ndungu as the second three-time winner of the Houston Marathon.

In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, which again served as the USA Half Marathon Championships, James Carney, in his debut at the distance, clocked a 1:02:21, twelve seconds ahead of Team USA Minnesota's Jason Lehmkuhle, while Team Running USA's Kate O'Neill, 27, broke the tape in 1:11:58, 14 seconds ahead of Desiree Davila of Hansons-Brooks. Both Carney and O'Neill won their first USA titles. In addition, 7 of the top 10 men and 9 of the top 10 women set personal records in the national championship race.

"We are proud the Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon continue to attract some of the finest athletes in the world, proven by yet another year of record-setting performances," said Brant Kotch, race director. "None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, our army of 5,000 volunteers and the quarter of a million spectators who line the streets of Houston on race day. They combine to provide a world-class experience for all participants."

Tune, who hopes to make the 2008 Ethiopian Olympic team, said she expected to run a record time, but was concerned about the breezy conditions on an otherwise ideal day. For her victory, Tune pocketed $25,000 and an additional $10,000 for the record. Men's champion Cheruiyot earned $27,000.

O'Neill of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. and Carney, 29, of Boulder, Colo., fresh off his 2:16:54 showing at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in November, took home $12,000 each in prize money.

The races are expected to raise a record $1 million for 44 charities associated with the Houston Marathon Committee's Run for a Reason charity program.

36th Chevron Houston Marathon 
Houston, TX, Sunday, January 13, 2008

MEN
1) David Cheruiyot (KEN), 2:12:32, $27,000
2) Kasime Adilo (ETH), 2:12:53, $12,000
3) Tomas Abyu (GBR), 2:13:46, $7000
4) Ridouane Harroufi (MAR), 2:14:36, $4000
5) Joseph Chirlee (KEN), 2:15:55, $2000 

WOMEN
1) Dire Tune (ETH), 2:24:40*, $35,000
2) Worknesh Tola (ETH), 2:35:38, $12,000
3) Yulia Vinokurova (RUS), 2:38:42, $7000
4) Zuzana Tomas (??? / UT), 2:39:27, $4000
5) Cynthia Fowler (USA / UT), 2:41:58, $2000
*course and state record (previous record, 2:26:52, Dire Tune (ETH), 2007)

6th Aramco Houston Half-Marathon: USA Championship
MEN 
1) James Carney (CO), 1:02:21, $12,000
2) Jason Lehkmuhle (MN), 1:02:33, $6500
3) Steve Sundell (CA), 1:03:21, $4000
4) Fernando Cabada (CA), 1:03:42, $2000
5) Patrick Gildea (TN), 1:03:43, $1500
6) Rod Koborsi (DC) 1:03:52, $1250
7) Ryan Kirkpatrick (CO), 1:03:53, $1000
8) Josh Simpson (WV), 1:03:54, $750
9) Dylan Wykes (CAN), 1:03:54
10) Matt Gabrielson (MN), 1:04:06, $500
11) Brett Gotcher (AZ), 1:04:07, $250

WOMEN 
1) Kate O'Neill (CA), 1:11:58, $12,000
2) Desiree Davila (MI), 1:12:12, $6500
3) Serena Burla (MO), 1:12:23, $4000
4) Nicole Aish (CO), 1:12:32, $2000
5) Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle (MN), 1:13:00, $1500
6) Kathy Newberry (VA), 1:13:01, $1250
7) Tera Moody (CO), 1:13:04, $1000
8) Dot McMahan (MI), 1:13:09, $750
9) Zoila Gomez (CO), 1:13:10, $500
10) Melissa White (MI), 1:13:12, $250
 

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Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director.
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
http://www.runningusa.org