Field of 30 world-class runners will race for $12,500 first prize on Saturday, July 27, including two-time defending champion Silas Kipruto; American masters legends Joan Benoit Samuelson and Bill Rodgers to compete

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Silas Kipruto will attempt to win his third straight Quad City Times Bix 7 on Saturday, July 27. If he succeeds, it will be a historic moment at the 39th edition footrace. No athlete has ever won three consecutive Bix 7 championships.

Kipruto, a 28-year-old Kenyan who has not raced in the U.S. yet in 2013, leads a talented field of international and American competitors into the race.

At the top of the women's start line list is Kenyan Caroline Rotich, 29, a past champion at the Bix 7 in 2011. She finished second in 2012 and has had an excellent 2013 so far, winning three major races including the Prague Marathon, Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run and NYC Half Marathon..

U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi, 38, a winner of three past Bix 7 events, is entered. His last victory in Davenport was in 2009. Keflezighi placed fifth in the USA 10K Championships earlier this month. Mike Sayenko and Carlos Carballo, talented American runners who also hold full-time professional jobs, will test themselves against some of the fast international talent in the field.

In the women's race, Desi Davila, Alexi Pappas, and Nicole Feest are representing the U.S. Davila, making a comeback from injury, was second in the 2013 USA Half Marathon Championships. Pappas, 23, is an up-and-coming young talent with speed on the track.

Linus Chumba, Jane Murage and Diane Nukuri Johnson, all past champions here, are entered. American master's legends Joan Benoit Samuelson and Bill Rodgers are slated to appear and compete.

The Quad-City Times Bix 7 is one of the largest non-marathon prize purses in the U.S. Prize money starts at $12,500 for first place for both the elite men and women.

The full elite start line lists appear below. For more on the race, visit Bix7.com.

MEN
1 Silas Kipruto -- Kenya*
3 Peter Kamais -- Kenya
5 Retired In Honor of Greg Newell
7 Meb Keflezighi -- USA***
9 Leonard Korir -- Kenya
11 Deriba Merga -- Ethiopia
15 Julius Keter -- Kenya
17 Tolossa Gedefa -- Ethiopia
19 Shadrack Kiyai -- Kenya
21 Linus Chumba -- Kenya
23 Retired In Honor of Nancy Kapheim
25 Mike Sayenko -- USA
27 Mykola Labovskyy -- Ukraine
29 Julius Koskei - Kenya
31 Amos Sang -- Kenya
33 Carlos Carballo -- USA
35 Dino Sefir -- Ethiopia
37 Belete Assefa -- Ethiopia
51 Bill Rodgers -- USA Masters

WOMEN
4 Caroline Rotich -- Kenya**
6 Betsy Saina -- Kenya****
8 Buzunesh Deba -- Ethiopia
10 Desi Davila -- USA
12 Rehima Kedir -- Ethiopia
14 Diane Nukuri Johnson -- Burundi
16 Makida Abdela -- Ethiopia
18 Jane Murage -- Kenya
20 Adrienne Herzog -- Netherlands
22 Sule Utura -- Ethiopia
24 Alexi Pappas -- USA
26 Hitomi Nakamura -- Japan
28 Rina Yamazaki -- Japan
30 Nicole Feest -- USA
50 Joan Benoit Samuelson -- USA Masters