Ethiopian Deriba Merga breaks events record: Events break tape as far as popularity

When he speaks about the Chevron Houston Marathon, managing director Steven Karpas often says, “We must be doing something right.”

That's too modest, though. It seems they are doing a lot of things right. Even Mother Nature wants on the bandwagon.

The 38th running of the race, which again will be the largest annual single-day sports event in the city by a long shot, sidestepped this weekend's deep freeze and, if the long-range forecast holds, will go off Jan. 17 with temperatures in the 50s. If the showers that are possible hold off, that's perfect weather for the record field expected to approach 30,000 with the wheelchair and 5K competitors included.

The marathon and Aramco Half Marathon participation cap has been increased significantly — by 4,000 to 22,000 — yet the places sold out in less than three days. It took the event three months last year for 18,000 places to be locked up, and that was the fastest at that time.

This year also marks the first time the 5K sold out in advance of race weekend.

All those runners mean extra cash for the many charities the race assists. Karpas said $1.4 million to $1.5 million is a viable goal, up from $1.1 million in 2009.

Bigger, of course, isn't necessarily better competitively, and the marathon has again left itself with a tough act to follow. Ethiopian Deriba Merga shaved more than two minutes off the 20-year-old course record last January by finishing in 2:07:52 — the fastest 26.2 miles run in Texas.

Merga then went on to conquer the famed Boston Marathon, a triumph he is pointing toward replicating this April.

New champ guaranteed
Unfortunately, for that reason Merga returns this week only as a VIP guest, having told organizers his training schedule for 2010 is designed for him to peak later in the year.

But instead of wringing his hands over Merga sending his regrets, Karpas contends a slower winning time — if it is slower — would hardly guarantee less drama.

“I think we're going to have one of those turn-the-corner-on-Rusk-(Street)-sprint finishes,” he said. “Last year, we had Merga all by himself.

“Our elite (runner) coordinators worked hard at getting us a great race this year. To be honest, as a running geek, that's what I'm looking for.”

When Merga crossed, you couldn't see runner-up Benson Cheruiyot approaching because he was nearly four minutes behind. But the current field's depth at the top should take the “rabbit” pace-setters out of the equation, and that's a positive thing.

The hired guns have mostly underperformed in recent years. They failed Merga in his stated goal of breaking the North American marathon record of 2:05:42.

Kenya's Cheruiyot returns in better shape than a year ago, Karpas said, as does his no-relation countryman — three-time Houston champion David Cheruiyot, who failed to finish in 2009.

But Karpas thinks two newcomers, also from Kenya, might set off some fireworks in their hot pursuit of the $35,000 first prize.

Jason Mbote ran a personal-best 2:07:37 for third place in the 2008 Seoul Marathon; Charles Kibiwott posted a 2:08:30 in the same race. Those times would indicate they at least have a shot at collecting the $10,000 bonus for breaking Merga's record.

Added attraction
On the women's side, Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia will try to collect an extra $10.000 by eclipsing the women's course record — the 2:24:18 she ran in 2009.

And the half-marathon will have a buzz with 10,000-meter Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan attempting her first half-marathon.

The men's and women's half-marathons continue to serve as the annual U.S. championship races.

Flanagan, 28, finished Beijing's 10,000-meter course — about half as long as a half-marathon — in 30 minutes, 22 seconds, setting the U.S. record and becoming just the second American to medal in the event.

“Being on the road is a little foreign to me,” she said when it was announced she was coming. “But Houston's got good weather, a fast course and a good crowd. I'm really excited to toe the line in Houston and tackle a whole new event.”

Karpas said Flanagan's decision to enter Houston is another indication of the esteem with which the city's competitions are held. He also noted that the race directors for the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon will be among the weekend's VIP guests, an indication they must think Houston's doing something right.

“Our event's a jewel,” Karpas said. “It's awesome.”

dale.robertson@chron.com