Cheruiyot, Grigoryeva Capture Titles at 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

In only his second marathon, Kenya’s Evans Cheruiyot pulled away from fellow countryman David Mandago in the final two miles of the 31st annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon to win the men’s title in 2:06:25. On the women’s side, Russia’s Lidiya Grigoryeva won her first Bank of America Chicago Marathon title in 2:27:17. Fellow Russian Alevtina Biktimirova placed second in 2:29:32.

In the wheelchair competition, both the men’s and women’s champions successfully defended their titles from last year. Australia’s Kurt Fearnley won the men’s race in 1:30:16, and Amanda McGrory from Champaign, IL won the women’s race in 1:55:12.

A total of 31,401 runners and 30 wheelchair participants finished the 26.2-mile race.

Men’s Top 10
1. Evans Cheruiyot, KEN, 2:06:25
2. David Mandago, KEN, 2:07:37
3. Timothy Cherigat, KEN, 2:11:39
4. Wesley Korir, KEN, 2:13:53
5. Martin Lauret, NED, 2:15:10
6. Emmanuel Mutai, KEN, 2:15:36
7. Mike Reneau, USA, 2:16:20
8. William Kipsang, KEN, 2:16:41
9. Daniel Njenga, KEN, 2:17:33
10. Richard Limo, KEN, 2:18:48

Women’s Top 10
1. Lidiya Grigoryeva, RUS, 2:27:17
2. Alevtina Biktimirova, RUS, 2:29:32
3. Kiyoko Shimahara, JPN, 2:30:19
4. Constantina Tomescu-Dita, ROU, 2:30:57
5. Desiree Davila, USA, 2:31:33
6. Colleen De Reuck, USA, 2:32:25
7. Bezunesh Bekele, ETH, 2:32:41
8. Paige Higgins, USA, 2:33:06
9. Kate O’Neill, USA, 2:34:04
10. Berhane Adere, ETH, 2:34:16

Men’s Top 3 Wheelchair
1. Kurt Fearnley, AUS, 1:30:16
2. Masazumi Soejima, JPN, 1:32:30
3. Krige Schabort, RSA, 1:36:21

Women’s Top 2 Wheelchair
1. Amanda McGrory, USA, 1:55:12
2. Cheri Blauwet, USA, 1:55:34