Elite vying for July 24 racing titles

For the first time in many years, no defending champions will be racing in the Deseret News & KJZZ-TV Salt Lake Marathon and 10K races July 24. For a variety of reasons, the top finishers in both men's and women's races aren't registered for Wednesday's big events.

That doesn't mean the field has weakened. In fact, there are more elite runners trying to snag their share of prize money this year than in several of the past few.

The premiere men's 10K race boasts two-time champion John Kariuki of Kenya. The Chicago-based runner has always performed well here, setting the course record of 27:32 in his first effort in Salt Lake City. This is the fifth time he's run in the race. His personal best is 27:18 in the event.

Joining him are Simon Sawe of Kenya, now living in Albuquerque, winner in 2000 and runner-up last year to fellow Kenyan and Albuquerque runner Wilson Kakanyang.

Joseph Kahugu of Kenya, also of Chicago, is entered for the third time and has already placed in two marathons held in Europe this summer. And James Bungei, another Kenyan living in New Mexico, is back after taking third a year ago.

Other top contenders for the $2,500 first prize are former University of Utah runners Teren Jameson and Joe Wilson; Silvestor Moleko of South Africa (now living in Albuquerque), who won three 10K titles last year; Tim Momanyi of Maplewood, N.J., whose wife Grace is running in the women's 10K; and Chris Jaggers of California, a Master's division runner with a personal best of 15:28 for 5,000 meters.

Any one of these runners could share in the $5,000-plus prize money.

On the women's 10K side, defending champ Nicole Jefferson of Aurora, Colo. will likely surrender her crown to a number of top runners.

Among them are Nicole Hunt of Missoula, Mont., third last year and entering the race for the fourth time; former BYU runner Kara Ormond of Orem, who took fourth last year and won the Freedom Run 10K this year; another former Cougar in Tara Northcutt of San Diego (an all-state performer for Provo High); and Johanna Nielsen of Salt Lake City, former University of Utah runner, sixth last year and winner of the Park City and St. George marathons in 2001.