B.A.A. Boston Half Marathon

Boston, Mass. - The Boston Athletic Association today announced its field of elite athletes for the 11th annual B.A.A. Half Marathon on Sunday, October 9, 2011. The men's and women's list, as of today, is attached to this release. The B.A.A. Half Marathon starts and finishes at White Stadium in Boston's Franklin Park beginning at 8:30 a.m., and has been annually presented by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Jimmy Fund since 2003.


The men's field is highlighted by two past winners. Defending champion and 35-year-old John Korir of Kenya will square off against fellow Kenyan and 2007 champion Samuel Ndereba on Sunday. Korir's winning time of 1:02:21 in 2010 is tied with Ndereba's 2007 runner-up performance as the second fastest in event history. Also in the hunt will be 14-time NCAA All-American Sam Chelanga. The former standout at Liberty University made his professional debut in June at the B.A.A. 10K, where he finished third. This will be his first half marathon.


The women's field is highlighted by defending champion Caroline Rotich of Kenya. Her 2010 B.A.A. Half Marathon time of 1:10:23 set an event record by 34 seconds, surpassing Marie Davenport's 2003 time of 1:10:57. The second and third place finishers from 2010, Janet Cherobon-Bawcom of Georgia and Jane Kibii of Kenya are also in the mix. Cherobon-Bawcom is coming off of a strong summer on the roads, having won the 20K and 10-mile championship within the past month.


"For elite athletes and recreational runners alike, the B.A.A. Half Marathon has grown into one of the most popular races of the season," said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk. "Since its beginning in 2001, it's been a priority of our organization to attract world-class athletes and a wide range of competitive and recreational athletes to the beautiful Emerald Necklace park system for our event. With nearly 7,000 athletes ready to run on Sunday, we hope their experience is one they remember fondly."


In the past two editions of the B.A.A. Half Marathon, the men's race has come down to the final stretch. In 2009, Martin Fagan of Ireland held off Philemon Terer of Kenya to win by three seconds, and last year's photo finish between Korir and countryman Alan Kiprono remains the event's closest yet, with both men finishing less than a second apart.


Road closures begin around 8:00 a.m. at the discretion of the Boston Police, Brookline Police, and the Massachusetts State Police. Roads along the Emerald Necklace Park System will be re-opened through the course of the morning.
For residents who live North of Jamaica Pond on the Jamicaway or the Riverway, or the segments of Pond Avenue, Perkins Street, and Francis Parkman Drive that overlook the Emerald Necklace Park System there will be closures in place until 11:00 a.m. on October 9. Any travelers who may use these roads should seek alternate routes during these hours.
Residents who live South of Jamaica Pond on the Jamicaway or the Arborway, and travelers planning on using those roads and the Monsignor William Casey Overpass will have closures in place until 11:30 a.m.
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors along with the Virgin London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and the ING New York City Marathon.