clarinews@clarinet.com (01/14/90)
HOUSTON (UPI) -- Two-time winner and defending champion Veronique Marot of Britain along with Denmark's Allan Zachariassen and Kenyan Sam Ngatia are the favorites in Sunday's Houston-Tenneco Marathon. Marot was the first woman to finish in 1986, then last year won in 2:30:16. She went on to have an outstanding year, winning the London Marathon in 2:25:56, a British national record and the seventh fastest time ever by a woman. Her top challenger will be American Maria Trujillo, of Phoenix, who placed third last year in 2:32:47. The women's course record is 2:27:51, set by Ingrid Kristiansen in 1984. Zachariasen is the top returning male runner from last year's race, won by Kenyan Richard Kaitany in a course record 2:10:04 seconds. Kaitany is injured and unable to defend his title. Zachariasen placed fourth in 2:14:23 while Ngatia, who is coming off a victory in the Columbus (Ohio) Marathon, was sixth last year in 2:15:14. Ngatia, competing in his sixth Houston Marathon, ran a personal best 2:11:43 in the 1985 Houston-Tenneco Marathon. Ngatia won the Columbus Marathon in November with a time of 2:11:59. The top American challenger will likely either be Miguel Tibaduiza, of Reno, Nev., or Ashley Johnson, of Bowling Green, Ky. First-place finishers in each of the open divisions win $25,000. In addition, a $10,000 bonus will go to the first male to break 2:10 and the first female to better the 2:27 mark. There also will be bonus money for the first runners to reach the half-way point ($1,500), 15.5-mile mark ($1,750) and the 20-mile mark ($2,000).