The 2nd Annual Carol Mindrup Volunteer Award

Carol Mindrup was a special person and friend to the Quad Cities Marathon, involved since the beginning 10 years ago. She was a true 'worker bee.' To think of volunteerism as a part of one's character, Carol comes to mind, always there for the work no matter how hard and strenuous it was.

In July of 2006, Carol passed away after a long hard-fought battle with Cancer. She gave her all right up until the end, always there, always working, always smiling.

The Quad Cities Marathon is proud and honored to have had the grace of her presence for 9 years. To honor and carry on her memory, the QCM created the Carol J. Mindrup Award for Excellence in Volunteerism.

With over 75 organizational committee members giving their personal time and dedication year-round, anyone could have received this honor, but two individuals have stood out year after year with all their talent, commitment, and dedication in volunteering for the Quad Cities Marathon. These committee heads not only are a driving force behind the QCM scenes but graciously epitomize what volunteerism is all about.

It is my honor as Race Director to announce Donna Gulley and Sandy Ohlweiler as the recipients of the 2nd Annual Carol J. Mindrup Award for Excellence in Volunteerism. Donna and Sandy have coordinated the very tedious and laborious tasks required for the Packet Pick Up for all 10 years.

On behalf of all the fellow committee members and the thousands of race participants you've served, Thank you ladies!

Joe Moreno, QCM Founder and Race Director

2007 Post Race Report, Press Release - Link to results

(photos from Dispatch/Argus: Tufa, top; Mogaka, bottom)

COMPLETE RESULTS (INCLUDING AGE GROUPS/ALL RACES):
CLICK HERE

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MARATHON PRESS RELEASE
SEPT. 23, 2007

TUFA’S BIG MOVE AFTER MILE MARK-23 PROPELLS ETHIOPIAN TO QC WIN
Kenya’s Mogaka captures women’s title

MOLINE, IL – Genna Tufa (Ethiopia) made a big move just after mile mark 23 at today’s Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank, and never looked back en route to his third marathon win of the year. Tufa’s 2:18:28 ranks as the second-fastest ever on the QC race course. The time was also a personal best for the 23-year-old who won at Tampa (2:21:44) and Virginia Beach (2:20:35) earlier this year.

The starting conditions were sunny with temperatures in the upper 50’s (F), the temperature rose to over 70 (F) by mid morning. Light wind was experienced on the course.

The early lead pack included Tufa, defending champ and course record holder Jynocel Basweti (Kenya), 2005 champion Paul Rugut (Kenya), Solomon Too (Kenya), and Maciek Miereczko (Poland). By the 10-mile mark Basweti had opened a lead that he would hold for the next 13 miles. Tufa and Rugut stayed within striking distance of Basweti and both used the late push to move into the top positions. Rugut ended up second in 2:19:07, while Basweti clocked 2:21:54 for third place. Too held on to place fourth in 2:23:14. Miereczko dropped from the race and did not finish. Brian Grudowski (Buffalo Grove, IL) rounded out the money winners with a fifth-place showing in 2:34:01.

In the women’s race, Kenya’s Irene Mogaka broke into the lead at the 10-mile mark and never looked back en route to victory in her first race on U.S. soil. She broke the tape in 2:45:42, the seventh-best time ever run by a woman at the QCM. Russia’s Larisa Mikhaylova, the early leader, placed second in 2:49:58. Rounding out the top-five were: Bethany Lewis (Iowa City, IA) in 2:58:09, Michelle Didion (Laporte, IN) in 3:08:12, and Lori Jarrett (Dixon, IL) in 3:13:43.

In the men’s master’s race, Russ Boore (Hampton, IL) captured his second title in three years. He won in 2:44:30. Boore also cracked the overall top-10, with a ninth-place finish, for the fourth time at the QCM – tying an event record. Michael Brisbois (Chicago, IL) placed second in 2:56:03, just ahead of third-place finisher Mike Driscoll (Peoria, IL) in 2:56:55.

The women’s master’s winner was Jarrett in 3:13:43. Kathy Waldron (Green Bay, WI) was second in 3:15:32, while Yukiko Nishide (Rye, NY) took third in 3:18:49.

Top-10 Men:
1. Genna Tufa Ethiopia 2:18:28
2. Paul Rugut Kenya 2:19:07
3. Jynocel Basweti Kenya 2:21:54
4. Solomon Too Kenya 2:23:14
5. Brian Grudowski Buffalo Grove, IL 2:34:01
6. Andy Koziatek Ballwin, MO 2:36:54
7. Brendon Moody Van Wert, OH 2:39:59
8. Scott Damon Bettendorf, IA 2:41:19
9. Russ Boore Hampton, IL 2:44:30
10. Matthew Giesfeldt Madison, WI 2:46:26

Top-10 Women:
1. Irene Mogaka Kenya 2:45:42
2. Larisa Mikhaylova Russia 2:49:58
3. Bethany Lewis Iowa City, IA 2:58:09
4. Michelle Didion Laporte, IN 3:08:12
5. Lori Jarrett Dixon, IL 3:13:43
6. Amy Murphy Bettendorf, IA 3:15:27
7. Kathy Waldron Green Bay, WI 3:15:32
8. Yukiko Nishide Rye, NY 3:18:49
9. Libbi Gaiser Bedford, NH 3:22:55
10. Stacy Kennedy Dubuque, IA 3:25:27

Top-3 Masters Men:
1. Russ Boore Hampton, IL 2:44:30
2. Michael Brisbois Chicago, IL 2:56:03
3. Mike Driscoll Peoria, IL 2:56:55

Top-3 Masters Women:
1. Lori Jarrett Dixon, IL 3:13:43
2. Kathy Waldron Green Bay, WI 3:15:32
3. Yukiko Nishide Rye, NY 3:18:49

Overall winners, individual events, at today’s QCM:

Open Marathon Men Genna Tufa, Ethiopia 2:18:28
Open Marathon Women Irene Mogaka, Kenya 2:45:42
Master’s Marathon Men Russ Boore, Hampton, IL 2:44:30
Master’s Marathon Women Lori Jarrett, Dixon, IL 3:13:43
½-Marathon Men Jerry Lack, E. Moline, IL 1:15:05
½-Marathon Women Linda Sawvell, Newport News, VA 1:27:03
5k Men David Bailey, Davenport, IA 16:26
5k Women Jenny Every, Peoria, IL 17:50*

* course record



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Elite Field Updated

The elite field for the 2007 QCM (as of Sept. 11th):

MEN'S FIELD
JYNOCEL BASWETI, Kenya (1)
2:14:02*, 1st at Austin 2007; 2:16:36, 1st at QCM 2006 CR

MACIEK MIERECZKO, Poland (5)
2:14:16, 3rd at Austin 2006; 2:21:42, 18th at Houston 2007

PAUL RUGUT, Kenya (3)
2:20:27, 1st at QCM 2005; 2:23:32, 2nd at Deseret News 2007

GENNA TUFA, Ethiopia (7)
2:20:35, 1st at Va. Beach 2007; 2:21:44, 1st at Tampa 2007

SOLOMON TOO, Kenya (29)
2:20:45, 2nd at Buffalo 2007

BRENDON MOODY, Van Wert, Ohio (9)
2:23:44, 24th at Houston 2007

PHILLIP KIPCHUMBA, Kenya (11)
2:25:41, 4th at QCM 2007

BRIAN GRUDOWSKI, Buffalo Grove, Illinois (15)
2:26:11, 34th at Houston 2007

JASON BODNAR, Candler, North Carolina (27)
Former Team USA XC Runner, 2000 US Oly. Trials qualifier

JOE MOORE, Manhattan, Kansas (17)
31:00, 10k

RIKKI HACKER, Kansas City, Missouri (19)
31:03, 10k

RUSS BOORE, Hampton, Illinois (Masters) (25)
2:33:42**, 1st Masters at Green Bay 2007; 2:38:47, 1st Masters at QCM 2005

MIKE DRISCOLL, Peoria, Illinois (Masters) (31)
2:51:35, 2nd Masters at QCM 2006

WOMEN'S FIELD
LARISA MIKHAYLOVA, Russia (2)
2:41:43, 2nd at Philadelphia 2006; 2:47:32, 2nd at Green Bay 2007

IRENE MOGAKA, Kenya (4)
2:41, at Mumbai 2007; 2:48, 1st at Safaricom 2007

LETEYESUS BERHE, Ethiopia (14)
2:42:01, 2nd at Memphis 2006; 2:45:05, 18th at NY City 2006

BETHANY LEWIS, Iowa City, Iowa (12)
2:48:27, 9th at Rock 'n' Roll AZ 2006

LISA BUTLER, Tulsa, Oklahoma (10)
2:54:57, 5th at Memphis 2004

MACHELLE COCHRAN, San Antonio, Texas (6)
2:53:45, 1st at Cowtown 2004


* 3rd fastest winning marathon time (open men 2007) - US races
** 8th fastest winning marathon time (masters men 2007) - US races
(assigned bib #'s in parenthesis)

Course Records:
2:16:36, Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2006 - open men
2:36:26, Halina Karnatsevich, Belarus, 2004 - open women
2:31:13, Steve Wilson, Lafayette, IN, 2001 - masters men
2:46:32, Cindy Keeler, Clermont, FL, 2002 - masters women

Top runners added to field, look to contend for win

Three top elite runners have joined the field for the 2007 Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank. Poland's Maciek Miereczko has been added to the men's field and may challenge defending champ Jynocel Basweti (Kenya). On the women's side a pair of runners with 2:41 PR's have recently confirmed their participation: Russia's Larisa Mikhaylova and Kenya's Irene Mogaka. The open field now has 10 men and six women committed.

Miereczko placed third in last year's Austin (TX) Marathon in 2:14:16. He was 18th at this year's Houston (TX) Marathon in 2:21:42. Mikhaylova posted a 2:41:43 en route to a 2nd-place at the 2006 Philadelphia Marathon; her best time this year is a 2:47:32, 2nd-place, at Green Bay (WI) Marathon. Mogaka is making her USA debut in the Quad Cities; she ran a personal best 2:41 earlier this year at the Mumbai Marathon. Mogaka also has one win this year, a 2:48 at the Safaricom Marathon.

Also joining the field: Russ Boore (Hampton, IL) has been added to the men's master's field. He won the 2005 master's title at the QCM in 2:38:47. Bethany Lewis (Iowa City, IA) will race in the open women's event. She set the course record en route to a win at the 2005 QCM Half Marathon in 1:23:35. Jason Bodnar (North Carolina) has also confirmed his participation. Bodnar qualified for the 2000 US Olympic Trials and ran for Team USA in cross country. Leteyesus Berhe (Ethiopia) is the sixth woman to join the open field. Berhe placed 2nd in last year's Memphis Marathon (2:42:01).

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2007 QCM ELITE FIELD TO DATE, as of 9/10/07:
MEN-OPEN
Jynocel Basweti, Kenya: defending QC champ, won at Austin in 2:14:02 this year
Maciek Miereczko, Poland: 3rd at Austin in 2006 - 2:14:16
Paul Rugut, Kenya: 2005 QC champ in 2:20:27
Genna Tufa, Ethiopia: 1st at '07 Va. Beach (2:20:36)/Tampa (2:21:44) marathons
Brendon Moody, Ohio: 2:23:44 at Houston this year
Phillip Kipchumba, Kenya: 4th at 2006 QCM
Brian Grudowski, Illinois: 2:26 PR
Joe Moore, Kansas: 31:00 1ok
Rikki Hacker, Missouri: 31:03 10k
Jason Bodnar, North Carolina: 2:21 PR, former Team USA XC runner

MEN-MASTER'S
Russ Boore, Illinois: 2005 QCM Master's champ, 2:38:47

WOMEN-OPEN
Larisa Mikhaylova, Russia: 2:41 PR
Irene Mogaka, Kenya: 2:41 PR
Leteyesus Berhe, Ethiopia: 2:42:01 at 2006 Memphis (2nd)
Lisa Butler, Oklahoma: 2:54 PR
Machelle Cochran, Texas: 2:52 PR
Bethany Lewis, Iowa: 1st at 2005 QCM half marathon (1:23:35, CR)

Basweti to defend title, has 8th best time on U.S. soil this year

Kenyan Jynocel Basweti will defend his title at the 2007 Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank. The 20-year-old is an up and coming marathoner. He cruised to a course-record 2:16:36 to win the 2006 QCM.

Earlier this year, Basweti ran to an impressive 2:14:02 finish and victory at the Austin (TX) Marathon. The time ranks as the 8th fastest marathon on U.S. soil this year and is the 3rd best winning time of any marathon in the U.S. in 2007. He won the Austin race by 2:43 and dropped a 4:56 in the 20th mile to pull away from the field. His Austin effort was 11-seconds better than the winning time at this year's Boston Marathon. Basweti averaged 5:07's at the Austin race.

Basweti's 2006 effort at the QCM ranked as the 17th fastest winning time of any marathon in the U.S. last year.

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FASTEST MARATHONS ON U.S. SOIL IN 2007 - as of 8/24/07:

1. 2:09:04, Daniel Yego, Rock 'n' Roll
2. 2:10:58, Christopher Cheboiboch, Rock 'n' Roll
3. 2:11:39, Feyisa Tusse, Houston
4. 2:12:00, Sylvester Chebii, Rock 'n' Roll
5. 2:12:10, Joseph Chirlee, Rock 'n' Roll
6. 2:13:56, Mikhail Khobotov, Houston
7. 2:14:00, Fred Mogaka, Rock 'n' Roll
8. 2:14:02, JYNOCEL BASWETI, AUSTIN
9. 2:14:03, Benson Cheruiyot, Houston
10. 2:14:12, Nicodemus Malakwen, Houston
11. 2:14:13, Robert Cheruiyot, Boston

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2007 QCM ELITE FIELD TO DATE:
MEN
Jynocel Basweti, Kenya: defending QC champ, won at Austin in 2:14:02 this year
Paul Rugut, Kenya: 2005 QC champ in 2:20:27
Genna Tufa, Ethiopia: winner of Va. Beach (2:20:36) and Tampa (2:21:44) marathons this year
Brendon Moody, Ohio: 2:23:44 at Houston this year
Phillip Kipchumba, Kenya: 4th at 2006 QCM
Brian Grudowski, Illinois: 2:26 PR
Joe Moore, Kansas: 31:00 1ok
Rikki Hacker, Missouri: 31:03 10k
WOMEN
Larisa Mikhaylova, Russia: 2:41 PR
Lisa Butler, Oklahoma: 2:54 PR
Machelle Cochran, Texas: 2:52 PR

* Other commitments pending, based on Visa approvals:
Men - Maciek Miereczko, Poland; Shurkhno Yevgen, Russia; Dzmitry Sivou, Belarus.
Women - Elena Eugorova, Russia.

Rugut, Tufa highlight early commitments for 2007

Kenyan Paul Rugut (top photo) and Ethiopian Genna Tufa (#100) highlight the early commitments for the 2007 Quad Cities Marathon, presented by THE National Bank.

Tufa has two wins this year, at the Shamrock-Va. Beach Marathon (2:20:36) and at the Tampa Bank of America Marathon (2:21:44). Rugut ran to victory at the 2005 QCM in 2:20:27, running the third fastest time in race history. A number of other top elites are awaiting approval of VISA's and/or travel arrangements.

Phillip Kipchumba (Kenya) placed 4th at last year's QCM in 2:25:41. Brendon Moody (Ohio) ran a 2:23:44 at this year's Houston Marathon and is another top contender in the field.

The elite list, as of 8-16-07 includes:
MEN
Genna Tufa (Ethiopia)
Paul Rugut (Kenya)
Phillip Kipchumba (Kenya)
Brendon Moody (Ohio)
Brian Grudowski (Illinois)
Joe Moore (Kansas)
Rikki Hacker (Missouri)
Edmond Chopa (Colorado)

WOMEN
Lisa Butler (Oklahoma)
Machelle Cochran (Texas)

Marathon discount for military

In Honor of all our Military Personnel presently wearing the uniform, each person will qualify for one-time 50% discount for serving our country during the 10th anniversary of the Quad Cities Marathon.

For most of the QCM's existence we have been at war against world-wide terrorism. Locally we have seen many sad and unfortunate instances of loss and grief. "As founder and race director of the event, I believe it's imperative we celebrate this milestone with a fitting tribute and salute to our men and women in uniform today. At the starting line on Sunday, September 23rd at 7:30 AM, we will honor you with a heartfelt appreciation. Thank You for your service
to our country. This recognition is also a show of appreciation to our military friends and leaders on Arsenal Island as well as the Army's Corps of Engineers. They have been tremendous supporters and an integral part of the Quad Cities Marathon's success
since it's inception," says Joe Moreno.

Details for the 50% Military discount are as follows:
1) You are eligible for the 50% discount if you are member of one of the following: Active duty military, National Guard, or Reserves.
2) Applies to individuals in any adult event, even individuals on a relay team.
3) Paper (hard copy) application forms must be used, no 'on-line' entries will be accepted for the discount. A PDF can be downloaded at www.qcmarathon.org/registration.htm
4) The entry form must be accompanied with a photocopy of your current military photo ID card (for verification purposes only, confidentiality will be respected).
5) Please mail to: 2617 4th Street, East Moline, Illinois 61244.
6) Must be received by Saturday, September 15th, 2007.
7) Any questions please call the QCMarathon hotline at 309-751-9800. Messages will be returned promptly.
8) Effective immediately. Not retroactive prior to announcement.