Courtesy: Running USA

The 1998-2001 Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon men's champions will attempt to reclaim their titles at the 5th annual event on Sunday, June 2, 2002. Two-time winner (1998-99) Philip Tarus of Kenya, 2000 champion Belay Wolasha of Ethiopia and last year's victor, John Kagwe of Kenya, will battle a talented elite field for a significant portion of the $250,000 prize purse.

The 2001 Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon recharged John Kagwe, a two-time New York City Marathon winner (1997-98), who took the lead early and held off a late surge by a tenacious Tarus, finishing in 2:10:06. Wolasha did not fair as well in defending his 2000 title with a 10th place finish, but is looking forward to another opportunity on June 2. After two disappointing races in 2000 and 2001, Tarus, who owns the course record in 2:08:33, hopes to reclaim his position in the Suzuki driver's seat in 2002.

"What jumps out on the men's side" said Mike Long, Elite Athlete Coordinator for the marathon, "is that every male winner is coming back. But we also have some younger guys with incredible potential who will likely be factors in the race."

Joining Tarus, Wolasha and Kagwe is former Honolulu Marathon champion Eric Kimaiyo, a 2:07 man in his 1997 prime, who is said to be back in top form and anxious to regenerate his career, much like Kagwe did last year in San Diego. But these veterans will have to battle two young Kenyans who are debuting at the Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. David Ruto consistently won races in Mexico last year in a circuit that has grown in prestige. John Gwako took runner up position at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach last September and finished 6th, one place behind Ruto, at the IAAF 2000 World Half Marathon Championships. If the heat is on June 2nd, look for Gwako to shine.

On the women's side, Kenya's Alice Chelangat, whose impressive marathon PR of 2:26:36 came in winning the 2001 Milan Marathon, is the front-runner in the women's field. Russians Olga Kovpotina, who placed 2nd at the 2001 Twin Cities Marathon with a PR of 2:27:37, and Irina Suvorova (PR of 2:29:43), along with Irina Bogacheva of Kyrgyzstan, the 1999 Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon champion, are among a host of talented women who will challenge Chelangat to the finish.

"Alice is definitely the woman to beat," said Long. "She had hoped to run here last year but Margaret Okayo asked that she not be invited. That tells you something about her abilities."

The Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon starts in historic Balboa Park and completes its course at a finish line festival in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Point Loma. More than 40 bands and 40 high school cheer squads will line the 26.2-mile course. Sugar Ray caps off the event with an evening concert at Coors Amphitheater in Chula Vista.