CAA NEWS  10/17
     The fastest men's marathon field ever assembled has lost one of its
quicker components.  Joseph Kimani, 27, of Kenya, who was scheduled to make
his marathon debut this Sunday at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, has
been forced to withdraw because of an undisclosed injury.  Kimani has been
one of the hottest racers on the U.S. road racing scene this year.
     Kimani ran the Bastille Day 5K in July and got a taste of Chicago's
fast flat possibilities. He won that race handily in 13:42.  Kimani has
one claim to fame.  He is defending Chicago champ Khalid Khannouchi's
"favorite competitor."
     The men's field still has all seven of its signed sub-2:07 men, led
by Khannouchi, who ran 2:05:42 to set a world record here in 1999. The
magnificent seven are:
1. Khalid Khannouchi, U.S.  PR 2:05:42, Chicago 1999
2. Moses Tanui, Kenya       PR 2:06:16, Chicago 1999
3. Gert Thys, South Africa  PR 2:06:33, Tokyo 1999
4. Joshphat Kiprono, Kenya  PR 2:06:44, Berlin 1999
5. Fred Kiprop, Kenya       PR 2:06:47, Amsterdam 1999
6. Tesfaye Jifar, Ethiopia  PR 2:06:49, Amsterdam 1999
7. William Kiplagat, Kenya  PR 2:06:50, Amsterdam 1999
    Other late additions to the field include (name and PR):  Josh Cox,
U.S., 2:19:58; Joseph Kahugu, Kenya, 2:07:59; James Kariuki, Kenya, 2:11:14;
Laban Nkete, South Africa, 2:12:30.
   Additional pacers include U.S. Olympian Rod DeHaven (PR 2:13:01), Eliud
Lagat, Kenya (debut) and Jafred Dickens Lorone, Uganda (debut).
   Newst women in the field are Americans Christine Junkerman and Janelle
Cox, who both will make their debuts at 26.2 miles.  Previously announced
Restituta Joseph has withdrawn because of injury.
    NOTES:  78 percent of this year's entries signed up on-line. Last year,
the figure was 37 percent.
    The marathon press conference is at noon Thursday at the Hilton and
Towers.  At that time, the elite runners will be introduced.  The official
number of entrants also will be announced.  It is expected to be about
33,400.
    The Chicago Area Runners Association trained a record 1,508 people for
this year's marathon.
 i Bob Richards