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Lead Stories: Saturday, November 22, 2008

2006 Las Vegas Marathon Champions are Finally Paid

Posted November 25th, 2007 at 1:47 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Nearly one year after winning their respective divisions at the 2006 New Las Vegas Marathon, Kenyans Jemima Jelagat and Joseph Kahugu received their prize money checks yesterday.

“Jemima’s [check] was dated 11/21 and came via FedEx,” wrote Jelagat’s agent Shawn Hellebuyck on Nov. 24, in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly. Jelegat was due $15,000 for winning the women’s division.

Derek Froude of Posso International Promotions, the management firm which represents Kahugu, confirmed on the same day that a check had been received at his office for his client. Kahugu was due a total of $65,000, including a special $50,000 bonus for winning a battle-of-the-sexes bonus in which the women were given a headstart over the men.

“Yes indeed!” wrote Posso in an e-mail message when asked if the payment had arrived.

Race Results Weekly had reported on Nov. 20, that neither athlete had been paid. Larry Barthlow, a consultant for Devine Sports, the organizer of the event, told RRW via e-mail that the payments would be sent by the end of last week, which was in fact the case.
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Nearly One Year Later, Las Vegas Marathon Champions Have Not Been Paid

Posted November 20th, 2007 at 6:46 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

It was nearly one year ago when Kenyans Joseph Kahugu and Jemima Jelagat won their respective divisions of the New Las Vegas Marathon on Dec. 10, yet neither has received their prize money checks, according to the agents who represent them.

Kahugu is not only due the $15,000 winner’s prize, but also a special battle-of-the-sexes bonus of $50,000 for finishing ahead of Jelagat who had a 17 minute and 52 second head start. Jelagat is due $15,000.

“I have seven e-mails, from Aug-October indicating that the checks will be mailed shortly ‘any day’,” wrote Jelagat’s agent Shawn Hellebuyck in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly. “They did pay the second place finishers, but not the winners. I feel bad for coming forward with the story, but as you know Kenyans are not wealthy and a lot of their extended family depend on them.”

Derek Froude of Posso International Promotions, the firm which represents Kahugu, confirmed via e-mail that his client had yet to be paid, either.
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Hundreds gather to remember Mike Long

Posted July 28th, 2007 at 11:22 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Mike Long Elite Racing Under the warm Southern California sun, which no doubt had influenced his sunny disposition, hundreds of family, friends and running industry colleagues gathered at Mission Point Park to remember Elite Racing’s legendary elite athletes coordinator, Mike Long, who died unexpectedly last week at 65.

Tears flowed freely as more than a dozen people came to the podium to remember Long, showering him with praise and sharing their goodbyes.

“For those who never met him words would not suffice,” said writer and television commentator, Toni Reavis, who acted as emcee. He called the diminutive Long, who only stood 5′ 6″ (168cm) tall, “the center around which all we revolved.”

Long’s son, Bruce, said that his father’s sudden death –believed to be a heart attack– was probably how his father would have wanted to go, not caring for lingering goodbyes. “He was never a hospital bed kind of guy,” he said, his sunglasses concealing his tear-swollen eyes.
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