Wanjiru tackles Kebede in Chicago

By IAAF

Olympic champion and defending Chicago champion Sammy Wanjiru, 2010 London winner Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) and Boston titleholder Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot will put their winning records on the line in Chicago on October 10.

The participation of these runners will be pivotal in deciding the winner of the 2009-2010 World Marathon Majors (WMM) series.

Wanjiru and Kebede are tied atop the current series standings with 50 points apiece. A victory by one or the other in Chicago would likely determine the champion of the series, which concludes with the ING New York City Marathon on November 7.

Also toeing the start line in Chicago will be Kenya’s Vincent Kipruto, who placed third in last year’s race. Wanjiru, 23, arrived in Chicago last autumn fresh off a victory and course record (2:05:10) in London.

In his first race on US soil, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist thrilled the Chicago crowds by breaking the finish tape in 2:05:41, one second below the previous course record, marking the fastest marathon ever run in North America.

Wanjiru’s Chicago victory gave him an insurmountable lead in the 2008-2009 WMM $500,000 (Sh40m) series, for which he was crowned champion last November.