MOLINE, IL – Philemon Kiplangat Terer’s (Kenya) two wins at the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon have been impressive. The efforts rank as the two fastest performances in race history. He won last year’s race in 2:14:25 and set the course record during the 2013 race in 2:14:04. He also placed second at the 2014 QCM in 2:17:37. Terer will look to add another memorable race this year at the 22nd annual event at 7-am, Sept. 22nd, with a start and finish at John Deere Commons.
Terer is no stranger to success at US marathons. At Cleveland he won in 2016 and placed second in 2018 and 2019. He also owns a third in Des Moines (2016), fifth in Philadelphia (2017), and a sixth at California International (2016).
Birhanu Dare Kemal (Ethiopia) will look to challenge for the win. Kemal ran 2:12:21 to place second at the 2018 Grandma’s Marathon and was third at the 2018 Twin Cities Marathon in 2:14:47. He also has finished fourth at Pittsburgh (2018) and ninth at New York City (2015). Julius Maisei (Kenya) is another top contender. Maisei was seventh at Hong Kong Standard Chartered in 2016 at 2:13:20. Maisei’s recent best is 2:18:41 from a second at Dakar Senegal Marathon in 2:18:41. Gezaghagn Girma Beyene (Ethiopia) has a 2:15:10 best from Zheng-Kai International Marathon in China.
William Mutai (Kenya) returns to the elite field following a 7th at QCM in 2018 (2:21:07). Teshome Etana Gelana (Ethiopia) has a recent best of 2:19:08 at the Tang-She Marathon. Abu Kebede Diriba (Ethiopia) ran 2:21:49 this year at Utah Valley. Diriba was third in 2015 and fourth in 2016 at the QCM. Philip Mburu (Kenya) is another top elite with a 2:20:16 effort at the 2018 Cleveland Marathon to place fourth.
Tim Hird (Rock Island, IL) is a local standout and making his full marathon debut at QCM. He is a former All-American at North Central College and former standout at Alleman High School. He ran a 1:11:50 half marathon this year. He owns a 35:36 effort from the Bix 7-Mile, a 14:58 5k best, and 31:26 10k best. Sammy Kipkosgei Rotich (Kenya) is also making his marathon debut. He ran 1:05:21 this year at the Dexter to Ann Arbor Half.
Three DUMA Team members are running as elites in the marathon field: Joel Rotich (Kenya), Ezra Mabosei (Kenya), and Antony Kimutai (Kenya).
The master’s field is solid in 2019. David Tuwei (Kenya) won the 2019 Sioux Falls master’s in 2:40:10. Edwin Korir (Kenya) was first master’s at the 2019 Cleveland Marathon. Brian Martin (Wheaton, IL) ran 2:40:29 at the 2018 QCM (ninth overall). Scott Mangum (Evanston, IL) ran 2:45:00 to placed third master’s at the 2018 Detroit Marathon. Julius Rotich (Des Moines, IA) and Chuck Engle (Lancaster, OH) round out the elite master’s field. LUSTGARTEN TO DEFEND 2018 MEL FOSTER CO. HALF MARATHON TITLE
Brett Lustgarten (Carol Stream, IL) will return to defend his title in the Mel Foster Co. Half Marathon. He ran an impressive 1:08:35 for a two-second win last fall. He has a half PR of 1:07:43 and a full marathon best at 2:17:17. Elisha Kipruto (Kenya) is back for the re-match at the Mel Foster half. Kipruto was second last year in 1:08:37. He ran a PR of 30:10 last year at the Minneapolis 10k. Zach Ripley (Rockford, MI) is another top contender with a 1:05:11 half best from 2018 Detroit. He also has a 2:18:26 marathon best from 2015 (Chicago).
Zach Hird (Rock Island, IL) is a top local standout and in the half elite field. He was an All-American at North Central College, following an impressive career at Alleman High School. He ran a 36:48 at this year’s Bix 7-Mile and has run an 8k, cross country, in 24:24. Former University of Illinois runner Colin Mickow (Naperville, IL) won the 2018 Healthy Driven Half in 1:07:50 and should be another top contender.
Luke Kibet (Kenya) ran 2:23:33 to place third in a hot 2017 QCM race and joins the elite half this year. Brandon Wilkerson (Milan, IL) is another top local, having earned All-American honors at Augustana College with a 9:12.72 in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Esau Ambakwa (Kenya) has recorded a 18:38 four mile, while Arturs Bareikis (Crestwood, IL) returns to the QC’s after running 1:07:14 at the 2018 Illinois Half Marathon. Zakayo Biwot (Kenya) was second at the 2014 QCM Half, while former Florida A&M University runner Dennis Kipkosgei (Kenya) are entered. Colin Lee (Urbana, IL) has run a 15:31 in the 5k and rounds out the open elites in the half.
The master’s elites in the half include: Pete Mathis (Tinley Park, IL) and Rick Torres (Elizabethtown, KY).
The course record for the Mel Foster Co. Half is 1:05:03, from 2012, by Robert Wambua (Kenya).
FULL MARATHON MEN (19) – with bib numbers:
3. Birhanu Dare Kemal, Ethiopia 39. Chuck Engle, Lancaster, OH * 11. Teshome Etana Gelana, Ethiopia 7. Gezahagn Girma Beyene, Ethiopia 19. Tim Hird, Rock Island, IL 15. Abu Kebede Diriba, Ethiopia 27. Anthony Kimutai, Kenya 31. Edwin Korir, Kenya * 25. Ezra Mabosei, Kenya 5. Julius Kiplimo Maisei, Kenya 35. Scott Mangum, Evanston, IL * 33. Brian Martin, Wheaton, IL * 17. Philip Mburu, Kenya 9. William Mutai, Kenya 23. Joel Rotich, Kenya 37. Julius Rotich, Des Moines, IA * 21. Sammy Kipkosgei Rotich, Kenya 1. Kiplangat Terer, Kenya 29. David Tuwei, Kenya *
HALF MARATHON MEN (14) – with bib numbers:
1008. Esau Ambakwa, Kenya 1009. Arturs Bareikis, Crestwood, IL 1010. Zakayo Biwot, Kenya 1004. Zach Hird, Rock Island, IL 1006. Luke Kibet, Kenya 1011. Dennis Kipkosgei, Kenya 1002. Elisha Kipruto, Kenya 1012. Colin Lee, Urbana, IL 1001. Brett Lustgarten, Carol Stream, IL 1013. Pete Mathis, Tinley Park, IL * 1005. Colin Mickow, Naperville, IL 1003. Zach Ripley, Rockford, MI 1014. Rick Torres, Elizabethtown, KY * 1007. Brandon Wilkerson, Milan, IL
- Master’s