by RBR Admin
Courtesy Photo Attached – Defending champion Elisha Barno and Zane Robertson.
I love the LA Marathon. I ran the first LA Marathon while I was still working at Runner’s World. The LAM is one of the most colorful and fun marathons on the globe. It has 25,000 runners this year. It could have 40,000. 92 percent of the actual marathoners drive to LAM. This year, LAM has a new presenting sponsor, ASICS, and a fine PR guy Dan Cruz, who sent us this release. Dan Cruz and Matt Turnbull, both class acts, are working on LAM this year!
Two-Time Champions Elisha Barno & Weldon Kirui, New Zealand’s Zane Robertson Headline 2020 Los Angeles Marathon
• Presented by ASICS, the milestone 35th anniversary event will take place on Sunday, March 8 and will be broadcast globally for the first time in 2020
• The world-renowned ‘Stadium to the Sea’ course tours iconic landmarks in Greater Los Angeles taking athletes from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier
LOS ANGELES – (March 7, 2020) – A world class field of elite athletes will compete in the 35th edition of the Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS on Sunday, March 8, led by two-time champions Elisha Barno and Weldon Kirui of Kenya, along with New Zealand’s marathon record holder Zane Robertson, event organizers announced today.
“It’s great to have the last two Champions in Elisha Barno (2017 & 2019) and Weldon Kirui (2016 & 2018), who have combined to win the last four Los Angeles Marathons, both returning here to battle it out on the famous ‘Stadium to the Sea’ course on Sunday,” said Matthew Turnbull, Elite Athlete Coordinator. “On paper it looks like a competitive field. Three-time Amsterdam champion Wilson Chebet had a recent podium finish in Honolulu. Zane Robertson is also a great addition and is in great form having set a National Record his last time out on the Gold Coast. Throw into the mix marathon debutant Bayelign Yegzaw of Ethiopia along with two-time L.A. runner up Lani Rutto and 2:07 man John Langat, and we should have an exciting contest this weekend.”
The men’s field features nine athletes with sub-2:10 personal bests. Previous Los Angeles champions Elisha Barno (2:09:32 PB) and Weldon Kirui (2:09:06 PB) of Kenya have exchanged victories each of the past four years. Kenya’s Wilson Chebet comes to Los Angeles with the fastest time in the field (2:05:27).
Other athletes from the Kenyan squad include two-time event runner-up Lani Rutto (2:06:34 PB), John Langat (2:07:11 PB) and Milton Rotich (2:08:55 PB), who finished fourth in Los Angeles last year.
The non-African challenge will be led by New Zealand National Record Holder Zane Robertson. Now training with his twin brother Jake in Africa, Robertson competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio in 10000m where he set a new national record. The distance running star owns a half-marathon best of 59:47.
“I’m super excited to be racing in Los Angeles, this is my first trip to the race and to see the city, and I’ve heard really good things and have obviously seen lots of the city on television over the years,” said Robertson. “My training has gone very well and as usual when I race, I will put it all out there and see what happens on the day. The field is really strong and I’m looking forward to a great race.”
In the women’s contest, Kenya’s Antonina Kwambai brings the fastest PB of 2:27:43 to the start line. Kwambai’s key challengers should be Kenya’s Jane Kibll (2:29:31 PB), the 2019 California International Marathon winner last December and Margaret Muriuki, who won the 2019 Honolulu Marathon in December in her debut at the distance (2:31:10).
“With incredible neighborhood support, exciting competitive wheelchair and elite races, amazing charity partners and compelling athlete stories, the marathon continues to deliver experiences and life-changing moments unmatched by any other event in the Greater Los Angeles Area,” said Murphy Reinschreiber, Chief Operating Officer of The McCourt Foundation. “Our goal celebrating this milestone 35th edition is to raise the bar of the marathon’s positive impact on the Los Angeles community and the experience of running from the ‘Stadium to the Sea’ has never been more popular.”
Marathon weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, March 6. The free expo is open to the public and features interactive exhibits, live entertainment and the official Los Angeles Marathon Merchandise Store, where all runners pick up their race packet.
The running begins on Saturday with the BIG LA 5K. The course starts and finishes at Dodger Stadium and runs through the beautiful Elysian Park. This family-friendly event starts at 8am and is open to participants of all ages and abilities, including kids races for children from kindergarten to seventh grade. All participants will receive a race shirt, finishers medal and post-race refreshments to top off a truly unforgettable race experience.
On Sunday, the 35th Los Angeles Marathon will commence with the wheelchair start at 6:30am, and the elite women scheduled to start at 6:45am. Runners enjoy a one-of-a kind pre-race starting line venue at Dodger Stadium.
KTLA Los Angeles (channel 5) will broadcast the marathon locally, carrying live, high-definition coverage of the race from 6:00 am to 11:00 am, which will also be streaming live on KTLA.com and the marathon’s facebook page. WGN America will broadcast the marathon live nationally from 7:00 am to 10:00 am PDT. For the first time in 2020, both Fox Sports Asia and Fox Sports Australia will carry the international feed live to a potential reach of 450 million.
“This year’s coverage promises to celebrate the magic of the world’s best destination marathon. From the diversity of one of the world’s great cities, to the iconic landmarks and the thousands of inspirational stories that will use this day to set new standards and achieve dreams that many thought were impossible,” said John Palmer, Director of Broadcasting. “All of this will be captured on the roads and in the air from our international team of motorbikes, helicopters and crews scattered across the course and broadcast around the globe.”
The 35th running welcome 131 legacy athletes who have competed in all previous 34 editions of the race. Nearly 32% of the 2020 field will be participating in their very first marathon. The marathon’s charity platform educates and empowers 74 local and national charities to raise awareness for their causes and increase fund-raising efforts. Since 1985, the Los Angeles Marathon has helped charities raise over $54 million for a variety of causes and non-profit organizations.
Further information about the 2020 Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS can be found online at http://www.LAMarathon.com.
Top Elite Entrants – 35th Los Angeles Marathon
Bib, Name, Country, DOB, PB, Career Highlight
MEN
1. ELISHA BARNO, KENYA, 05/22/1985, 2.09.32, 2017 & 2019 LA Marathon Champion.
3. WILSON CHEBET, KENYA, 12/7/85, 2.05.27, 2nd at 2019 Honolulu Marathon
4. LANI RUTTO, KENYA, 3/29/1989, 2.06.34, PB from Frankfurt Marathon 2015.
5. JOHN LANGAT, KENYA, 2/10/93, 2.07.11, 2019 Lens Marathon Champion & 3rd in Eindhoven
7. ZANE ROBERTSON, NEW ZEALAND, 11/14/1989, 2.08.19, National Record Holder
9. MILTON ROTICH, KENYA, 03/29/1986, 2.08.55, Finished 4th in Los Angeles last year.
10. EMMANUEL NGATUNY, KENYA, 10/10/92, 2.08.22, 2019 La Rochelle Marathon Champion.
11. WELDON KIRUI, KENYA, 2/12/88, 2.09.06, Two Time Event Champion in 2016 and 2018
12. MICHAEL CHEGE, KENYA, 11/15/1990, 2.09.12, 2019 Brussels Marathon Champion
13. DANIEL MESFUN, ERITREA, 1/1/88, 2.10.06, 2018 Cleveland Marathon Champion
14. BONIFACE KONGIN, KENYA, 1/16/1990, 2.10.34, 2019 Pittsburg Marathon Champion
15. BAYELIGN TESHAGER, ETHIOPIA, 9/2/00, Debut, Half Personal Best of 1:00:31.
WOMEN
54. JANE KIBII, KENYA, 10/3/85, 2.29.31, 2019 CIM Marathon Champion
55. MARGARET MURIUKI, KENYA, 3/21/1986, 2.31.10, 2019 Honolulu Marathon Champion.
56. ALMAZ NEGEDE, ETHIOPIA, 02/19/1997, 2.30.33, 2nd 2018 Chongqing Marathon
59. MERINE GEZAHEGN ETHIOPA, 2.34.54, 2nd place 2019 Tolouse Marathon
60. JOAN MASSAH, KENYA, 2.35.56, 2nd place 2019 RnR Montreal Marathon
62. GRACE GONZALES, 2.41.00
63. REGINA LOPEZ, USA – Los Angeles, 3/11/90, 2.42.07, 2020 Pasadena Half Marathon Champion
64. WESLIE PEARCE, USA – Claremont, 11/21/1994, 2.45.29, PB on debut at CIM, December 2019
Courtesy Photo Attached – Defending champion Elisha Barno and Zane Robertson.
About The McCourt Foundation
On January 1, 2020 Conqur Endurance Group merged with The McCourt Foundation (TMF). The combined entity with offices in Los Angeles and Boston, produces a world-class portfolio of events including the Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS, Pasadena Half Marathon & 5K at the Rose Bowl, the Santa Monica Classic 5K/10K, the LA BIG 5K, Boston Waterfront 5K Fitness & Wellness Festival, Tour de South Shore and the Educational Update. TMF is nonprofit that empowers individuals and communities build a healthier world through events and educational forms. TMF provides a platform for these individuals and other nonprofits to fund raise and create awareness of health-related causes. For more information, please visit www.mccourtfoundation.
