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Awol Wins SunTrust Richmond Marathon in Photo
Finish, Richmonders Smith, Ackerly 1-2 in Women's Race RICHMOND, Va. - (November 10, 2007) - With a lunge at the tape, Mohamed Awol, an Ethiopian living in New York City, won the SunTrust Richmond Marathon here on Saturday morning in the most sensational finish in this event's 30-year history. "It took the most concentration of any marathon I've run," said Awol, 29, who finished the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 20 seconds, the same time as David Cheromei, 28, a Kenyan, living in Lynchburg, VA. On a cool breezy day with temperatures in the '40s, Awol and Chermoei broke away from the lead pack and ran side-by-side for miles, but it was Awol who claimed the $2500 check for first place. Wesley Chelule, 33, a Kenyan, living in Mobile, Alabama, was third in 2:22:56. In the women's race, Richmond's Casey Smith, 28, beat last year's SunTrust Richmond Marathon winner Maureen Ackerly by almost four minutes, finishing in 2:44:58. "I'm ecstatic," said Smith, who qualified for the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston in April. "I've been working so hard for this, and I had some injuries, but I never gave up. The whole Richmond running community has been so supportive - the RVA Runners, the Richmond Road Runners Club - so many people have all been so great." Ackerly, 38, a Richmond lawyer and mother of two, ran her personal record but fell just short of her goal to qualify for the Olympic Trials in front of her hometown crowd. She finished in 2:48:38, but shy of the 2:47 qualifying time. "There was a great group of girls out there," said Ackerly, who warmly congratulated Smith at the race's conclusion. "It was a great race to be in. I'm not as disappointed as I thought I'd be." "She'll have another chance to try for it," said Ben Ackerly, her husband and coach. "She has until March to qualify, so she still has time." Elena Paramonova, a Russian living in Florida, was third in 2:51:11. Several runners known as the "Old Lions" were feted for their participation in each of the 30 Richmond Marathons. Wertenbaker Turner, 60, of Charlottesville, VA; Garland Carlton, Jr., 66, of Midlothian, VA; John Deeter, 64, of Richmond; John Loughran, 62, of Sandston, VA and Philip Gibrall, 57, of Richmond were given a special start and media attention and crowd recognition at the finish to commemorate their accomplishment. In the NTELOS 8K men's race, Rod Koborsi, 24, of Washington, DC, was first, ahead of Abiyot Endane, 21, an Ethiopian friend of Awol's who also lives in New York, 22:41 to 22:49. Samuel Kosgei, 21, a Kenyan living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was third (22:55). Caroline Chepkorir, 20, a Kenyan living in Boyersford, PA, won the women's 8K in 26:20 with Julie Culley, 26, of Arlington, VA, second (26:53) and Maria Busienei, 22, a Kenyan living in Charleston, WV, third (27:29). In addition to the athletic drama of its 30th edition, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon smashed registration records for both the marathon and the NTELOS 8K with 5,109 entries in the marathon and 6,006 entries in the 8K. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run drew 627 entries. And next year's addition of a half-marathon as part of the event promises even larger numbers. 30th SunTrust Richmond
Marathon MEN MASTERS MEN (40+) WOMEN MASTERS WOMEN (40+) 18th NTELOS 8K MASTERS MEN (40+) WOMEN MASTERS WOMEN (40+) Complete results and race photos at: RichmondMarathon.com |
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Return to top / Return to main page "Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition" Captures the Event Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition by George Banker captures the soul of the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) and explains what "The People's Marathon" represents. The book is written from the heart and by those who have a personal connection to the race, the race directors and runners. This book represents an indispensable piece of literature for runners and spectators. What makes this race so special is that the organization of the marathon is treated like a military maneuver and the race course becomes the battle site. The experience of planning and structuring military tasks helps the Marine Corps to organize this high quality event. More than 330,000 runners have crossed the finish line since 1976. Their stories are captured within these 200 pages: including their joy and triumph, as well as their mental and physical pain, which they endured while covering 26.2 miles. To support the text is a collection of pictures dating as far back as 1976. There are top athletes who run alongside amateur runners, as well as celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey. The marathon includes the Ad Hoc Publicity Committee of the Marine Corps Marathon, the Special Olympics, the Ground Pounders, the Challenge Cup and the Charity Partners. The appendices are an extensive collection of race statistical facts and top performances. Included are the names of the leadership from the Marine Corps and the marathon office. The heart of the race is in the heart of the runners. About the Author To purchase or for more information, visit: MCMhistory.com or contact George Banker at monkbank@comcast.net Return to top / Return to main page 2007 Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival
Generates $18 Million for City and State BALTIMORE, Md. - (November 9, 2007) - The seventh Under Armour Baltimore Marathon and Running Festival generated more than $18 million to the city and state's economy according to a recent study by RESI, an economic research and consulting firm located at Towson University (see chart below). This year, the event attracted a record 14,542 runners, as participant numbers have grown 15-20% for the last five years. Each year, the event attracts more out of state participants with 40% of this year's runners coming from out-of-state, compared to 25% in the first year. In all, 48 states and 23 countries were represented. 2007 Under Armour Baltimore
Marathon by the Numbers "We are very proud of what this event brings to the community both from an economic impact perspective and charitable angle, it is truly a great event for the city," stated Lee Corrigan, the event's Executive Director and president of Corrigan Sports Enterprises. "Seven years of hard work have put this event on the national and international runners map, so to speak. People all over the country know about the Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival and are anxious to come to Baltimore and participate in our great event." The charitable proceeds generated by the event topped $600,000. Special Olympics Maryland, The United Way of Central Maryland, Maryland Reads, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Ronald McDonald House, Sadie's Gift, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Baltimore Fire Foundation and The Center for Adoption and Education are some of the area's benefiting charities. More than $3.6 million has been raised for charity since the event's inception. "Last year, the CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield Half Marathon, the Legg Mason Team Relay as well as the United Way 5K all sold out. The fact that we limit our fields every year has certainly gotten around. We subscribe to a smart growth theory and deliver a high quality product every year. Sometimes when you grow too fast details go by the wayside and mistakes are made. We want to keep our outstanding reputation intact," Corrigan continued. The 2008 Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium. Online registration will open on December 13, but mailed and faxed applications are currently being accepted. For more information, visit: TheBaltimoreMarathon.com or call Gene Brtalik at (410) 605-9381. Return to top / Return to main page 2008 ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® Poised
to Host 15,000 MIAMI - Six years ago, the notion of hosting a large-size, major marathon in Miami and Miami Beach was unimaginable and now the organizers of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® are forecasting registration numbers to be between fourteen and fifteen thousand runners, walkers and athletes with disabilities. With three months until the January 27, 2008 event, the number of registered athletes has surpassed 6,000, an increase from 4,600 registrants at the same time last year. The 31% spike in registration marks the largest number of participants to have registered three months before the race and organizers expect the number to stay ahead due to the strong marketing effort underway at major marathons nationwide and Florida marathons in December and January. With an expected field of 15,000 athletes, Miami has become a well known destination for runners around the world looking for a winter event to participate in. As running season peaks from September through November, when the largest races in the U.S. and Canada are held, race organizers have created a marketing plan to continue the boost in registration and attract participants that travel for winter races. Marketing teams from the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® are showcasing South Florida's largest marathon at race expos, reaching half a million runners, spectators, and sponsors at ten races, urging runners to "Picture Yourself Running Miami This Winter." The marketing effort will be taken to major marathons in Philadelphia and Las Vegas after visiting New York, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Chicago the past month. The campaign has been successful in elevating the events appeal to runners from outside of Florida, in cold climates like the Midwest, Northeast and Canada. At expos, runners are given magnetic photo frames, citrus scented silhouettes of a runner and brochures in line with the "Picture Yourself" theme. "Visiting these races in major markets allows us to sell Miami to hundreds of thousands of runners from cold climates, Europe, Latin America and elsewhere," explained Danny Elfenbein, Marketing and Public Relations Director, PR Racing. "More importantly, we get to sell them the idea of winter in Miami, the best time of year to run a marathon in South Florida." In 2007, 68% of the participants came to Miami from outside Miami-Dade County, with 1,200 runners coming from international destinations. Currently, runners are registered from 49 states and 36 countries and registration is expected to increase after expo marketing is done and the race draws near. The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® is scheduled for Sunday, January 27, 2008. Anyone who registers before November 15 will be able to get a personalized bib with their name on it. Entry fees are $70 for the half-marathon and $95 for the marathon. For more information, call (305) 278-8668 or visit: INGMiamiMarathon.com Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director |
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