CHICAGO - (September 12, 2005) - Masako Chiba, Colleen De Reuck, Deena Kastor (photo) and Constantina Tomescu-Dita will lead the women's elite field at The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Returning champion Tomescu-Dita comes back to Chicago eager to defend her title. This year, the recent bronze medalist at the World Championships marathon will be up against a very strong women's elite field, competing against Chiba, De Reuck and Kastor, three Olympians not afraid to lead the pack.

"All eyes will obviously be on Deena Kastor in this year's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, but she will have some very strong competition from Constantina Tomescu-Dita, Masako Chiba and Colleen De Reuck," stated Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Deena, Constantina, Masako and Colleen are world class competitors and have the same goals to run fast. All four complement each other and in Chicago competition has traditionally produced great performances."

Chiba, De Reuck and Kastor know what it takes to win and will make for a solid women's elite field at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 9. The pressure will be on Tomescu-Dita to hold on to her race title as she faces off against three tough competitors.

Masako Chiba, 29, set her personal best in 2003 with her second place finish at the Osaka Marathon in 2:21:45. She also earned the distinction of being the only athlete, male or female, to have World Championship medals in both the 10,000m (bronze at the Athens IAAF World Championships in 1997) and the marathon (bronze at the Paris IAAF World Championships in 2003).

On August 28, Chiba came in at 2:25:46 defending her title at the Hokkaido Marathon. She has her sights set on another victory in her debut LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Colleen De Reuck, 41, a four-time Olympian, has competed in three LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathons (best finish, 2nd, 1998). The 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion has a personal best of 2:26:35, set at Berlin in 1996.

This year, De Reuck placed thirteenth at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and fourth at the Bolder Boulder 10K and won the Fifth Third River Bank 25K. Judging by these top-notch performances, the Boulder, Colorado resident seems primed to smash Priscilla Welch's 1987 women's marathon masters record of 2:26:51 in October at The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Deena Kastor, 32, the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, hopes to shatter her U.S. record of 2:21:16 at this year's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. In addition to breaking her own American record, the Team Running USA athlete aspires to join the select five-member sub-2:20 club of women marathon runners.

At The 2005 LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Kastor, from Mammoth Lakes, Calif., shattered the previous American record of 25:02 when she came in at 24:36, the second-fastest 8K ever run by a woman, exceeded only by Morocco's Asmae Leghzaoui, who holds the world record of 24:28, set in 2002. Kastor hopes for a second American record in 2005, as she trains for Chicago.

"I'm training for a sub-2:20 goal," Kastor commented. "That's my specific goal this year and I couldn't think of a more fitting race to accomplish this because The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is one of the top races in the world - the fast course, the millions of people that line the streets and the competitive field give you that extra motivation and adrenaline to perform at your best."

The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon The sold-out LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 9 starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The Race will be broadcast live beginning at 8am on CBS 2 CHICAGO and ESPN 1000. Elite athletes will compete for a portion of the $650,000 prize purse, the highest in the sport. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon draws world class athletes and participants from all 50 states and from more than 125 countries.

The Health & Fitness Expo will take place Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, 2005. The Expo will include more than 150 exhibitors featuring the newest designs in running gear and shoes, as well as the latest developments in sports, fitness and nutrition. For more information on The LaSalle Chicago Marathon, visit ChicagoMarathon.com or call (312) 904-9800.