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Racing in just her third marathon, ‘B’ will face a crack field that includes 2005 world half marathon champion, Constantina Tomescu-Dita from Romania, who finished second in this race last year. Berhane Adhere from Ethiopia, will also be a force to be reckoned with. The 33-year-old set a personal best time of 2:21.52 for the distance at the London Marathon earlier this year.
Johnson will have her sights set on her personal best time of 2:26.32 which she set in finishing sixth in London in 2005. The time has her placed fourth on the Australian all-time list, behind Lisa Ondieki (2:23.51), Nickey Carroll (2:25.51) and Kerryn McCann (2:25.59).
Over 40,000 participants, representing 123 countries will compete in the 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon which commenced in 1977. The event is classified as one of the ‘Big Five’ marathons in world athletics. The top five finishers in both the women’s and men’s fields will be fighting for the US$270,000 prize money up for grabs, with the winner pocketing US$125,000, second US$65,000 and third US$40,000.
Chicago joins the Boston, London, Berlin and New York marathons to form the ‘Big Five’ – the lucrative World Marathon Majors which attract the world’s best athletes.
Johnson, the 2003 World Cross Country champion, has had her sights set on Chicago for some time.
"The Chicago marathon is one race I have thought about contesting in the past. This year I decided that's what I really wanted to do and to go for it," the 27-year-old told Athletics Australia media from her training base in London before leaving for Chicago.
"I like the fact that it is a flat, fast course and I want to run quick."
"Every year, this marathon attracts many of the world's best athletes and it would be such a thrill to win against the best."
"There is a real buzz about the event and it also fits perfectly into my year and training schedule."
"My race plan will be quite simple. Keep up with the pace early on, relaxing as much as possible, switch on in the second half, cover any moves made and keep focused at all times,"
"…and of course sprint at the end!"
Unlike many of her compatriots, Johnson decided not to contest the World Athletics Final or World Cup this year, instead choosing to focus on her marathon preparation. Johnson’s last track race was at the Helsinki IAAF Grand Prix in late July. After battling the European heatwave, she finished second, running her second quickest time ever over 10,000m - 31:14.80. After the run in Helsinki, Johnson and her training group left London, undertaking a month of altitude training in the Swiss Alps of St Moritz.
In August, Johnson competed in the first ever New York Half Marathon. In a fantastic race, Johnson came from behind to almost snatch victory, just losing by 0.3 sec to one of the best distance runners of all time - Catherine Ndereba - the multi-marathon champion and first woman to break the 2 hour and 19 minute barrier.
Earlier this month, Berhane Adere, the former world 10,000m champion, shrugged off Johnson and Kenyan Susan Chepkemi in the last 500m to win Britain’s biggest half marathon, the BUPA Great North Run. Johnson, out-kicked Chepkemi, who won the event in 2001, to finish in 1:10:14 and claim second spot.
"It's been one of those preparations I've had that when I look back at all of the training and racing I've gone throughout these past months I'm happy with how it has all gone and wouldn't have changed anything,"
"This gives me a hell of a lot of confidence going into the race and I will think of all the hard work I have behind me when I'm standing on that start line, raring to go."
An extremely good field will be standing in Johnson’s way.
Romania’s Constantina Tomescu-Dita, 36, has had extensive experience on the course and will be endeavouring to beat her personal best time of 2:21.30. The 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Champion won the event in 2004 and will be looking for revenge after finishing in second position to Deena Kastor from the United States in 2005. Compatriots Nuta Olaru (2:24.33) and Lida Simon (2:22.54) will also put in strong performances.
Berhane Adhere from Ethiopia, who is renowned for her outstanding performances on the track will also be a force to be reckoned with. The 33-year-old set a personal best time of 2:21.52 for the distance at the London Marathon earlier this year.
Russian distance runners Galina Bogomolova (2:21.58) and Ludmila Petrova (2:21.29), along with Japanese marathoner Hiromi Ominani (2:23.26) are also expected to be positioned in the leading pack.
In the men’s field, the might of Kenyan distance running will again be out in force. In an eagerly anticipated race, any eight of the top Kenyan athletes competing could take home the prize.
After finishing 2-3 to Felix Limo last year, Benjamin Maiyo (2:07.09) and Daniel Njenga (2:06.16) will be jostling to cross the line in first place.
World-renowned Kenyan distance runners Robert Cheboror (2:06:23), Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (2:07.14) Charles Kibiwott (2:06:52), Wilson Onsare (2:06.47) and Jimmy Muindi (2:07.50) will also be up the front battling for position.
Dejene Berhanu from Ethiopia, with a personal best time of 2:08.46, has the highest chance of breaking the Kenyan stronghold.
source AustralianAthletics |
Time-to-Run Marathon section
