This could be his year. Finally.

Daniel Njenga placed second at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, third in 2003, second in 2004 and third in 2005.

"This year I say no, I have to win the race," Njenga told the media and LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon supporters on Oct. 19. "I'm ready on Sunday," he added. The Kenyan's chances are bolstered with the unfortunate withdrawal of defending champion Felix Limo due to injury. Njenga holds a personal record of 2:06:16, set at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. The current men's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon course record stands at 2:05:42 (Khalid Khannouchi, 1999).

Njenga will face tough competition from Ben Maiyo (2:07:09 at Chicago in 2005), two-time Boston winner Robert Cheruiyot (2:07:14 Boston course record) and 2004 Amsterdam champion Robert Cheboror (2:06:23).

Romanian Constantina Tomescu-Dita comes to Chicago after a world record-breaking 1:03:23 second place finish at the IAAF World Road Running Championship 20K race in Hungary on Oct. 8. (Lornah Kiplagat won in 1:03:21, five seconds faster than Paula Radcliffe's world record.)

"If you have good preparation for the race, you can do a good job," Tomescu-Dita said. "There are a lot of people who are strong here. We'll see what's going on Sunday."

Other possibilities for the female victor include Russian Ludmilla Petrova of Russia (2:21:29), Russian Galina Bogomolova, also of Russia (2:21:58) and Japan's Hiromi Ominami (2:23:26).

Visit www.chicagoaa.com frequently throughout the weekend for the latest updates on elite professional and local athletes.

Check our Results page after the race for complete results from the 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.