Austin Marathon preview

Scouting the field

In order to cut costs, the Austin Marathon decided not to offer prize money to elite runners this year. The change means a local marathoner could be the first across the finish line on Sunday.

In the men's field, three former Statesman Capitol 10,000 champions could duke it out.

Gilbert Tuhabonye, the Cap 10K champ in 2002, has a marathon best of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 7 seconds. He's well-known in Austin as the coach of the Gilbert's Gazelles training group.

Steve Sisson, who helps coach women's distance runners at the University of Texas, held the school's 5,000-meter indoor record for a number of years. The Cap 10K champ in 1992, he finished 12th at the Pike's Peak Marathon a few years back.

Austin's Jean-Marie Ndikumana does not race often, but when he does, look out. In 2004, he won the Congress Avenue Mile in 3:56.7. That same year, he also won the Capitol 10,000. This will be his first marathon.

On the women's side, Austinites Desiree Ficker and Cassie Henkiel both qualified for the 2008 Olympic marathon trials. They will be going up against Elva Dryerof Albuquerque, N.M., who was sixth at the New York Marathon in 2007 with a time of 2:35:15.

Sentimental favorite

Andrzej Krzyscin of Poland won the Austin Marathon three straight times from 2002-04, and he holds four of the fastest times in the event. Now 41, he has returned with the goal of picking up a fourth victory.

His top time in the race, 2:11:41, came in 2001, when he finished second to Mohamed Nazipov of Russia.

Hopefuls in the Half

Yet another former Cap 10K winner, Bernard Manirakiza, will try for a victory in the men's half marathon. Manirakiza won the Nike Human Race 10K in August and has run 1:04:58 for the half.

Nebraskans Chris Stifflerand John Nichols have been training through the winter and plan to challenge Manirakiza.

Both have run in the 1:06 range for the 13.1-mile half marathon distance.

Austin Marathon and Half Marathon

When: 6:55 a.m. Sunday Start: Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge Finish: Congress Avenue and Ninth Street Registration: The half marathon field is full. Entries for the marathon will be taken from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the race expo inside Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd. Cost is $125.

By Brom Hoban