FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Irvin
Irvin PR
614-296-4057
Perfect Marathon Weather Aids Largest Columbus Marathon Field
in Recent History
More than 7,700 participated in the 27th Columbus Marathon and
inaugural 1/2 Marathon
(COLUMBUS, OH) - Cecil Franke didn't need to take many glances at his watch
to gauge his progress today in the 27th running of the Columbus Marathon.
Good thing he didn't count on his timepiece. It malfunctioned midway
through the race. No big deal. The lack of faces around him let him know he
held a comfortable lead throughout.
Franke, 38, broke away from the competition about five miles in and cruised
to an easy win in a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 13 seconds.
The time qualified the Dublin, Ind. native for the US "A" standard to
qualify him to participate in the 2007 United States Olympic Team Trials in
New York. The "A" standard means the USATF will pay for his trip to New
York next year.
Running solo is nothing new for Franke.
"I train a lot by myself," he said. "I could have pushed myself a little
harder if other people were around but I'm really happy with my time."
Franke set a course record earlier this year in The Cincinnati Flying Pig
Marathon and claimed his second career marathon win in just his third
start.
Brendon Moody of Van Wert, Ohio finished second in a time of 2:24:07 and
said, "I had no idea where [Franke] was after about four miles." Brian List
of Milford, Ohio finished third in 2:29:28.
Issac Barnes of Williamsport, Ohio (2:31:00) and Kevin Michalske of
Westlake, Ohio (2:35:13) rounded out the top five.
Female winner Kristin Price one-upped Franke. The former North Carolina
State cross country runner won today in her first marathon (2:44:09) and
qualified for the US "B" standard to participate in the 2007 United States
Olympic Team Trials in New York.
"I made the decision to run in it on Friday," she said. "I had a friend
coming up [from Raleigh, N.C.] and decided to tag along with him."
Concord, Ohio's Tara Gruskiewicz finished second in 2:53:52 and a pair of
out-of-state women finished third and fourth, Michelle Peltier of New York
City (2:58:33) and Melissa Reyes of Dacula, Ga. (3:01:26).
Kevin Hosea of Urbana, Ill. won the open wheelchair division in a time of
1:59:08. Grant Berthiaume of Tuscon, Ariz. claimed the masters wheelchair
competition in 2:04:03, while Michael Savicki captured the quad wheelchair
division in 2:58:08.
Cincinnati's Mike Greiwe claimed the inaugural edition of the Columbus 1/2
Marathon with a time of 1:10:41. He edged Dave Johnston of Xenia, Ohio
(1:13:21) for the title.
P.J. Ball of Norwood, Ohio won the women's half marathon in a time of
1:22:28, outlasting Upper Arlington, Ohio's Nancy Jeggle (1:28.13). A field
of 3,000 runners competed in the half marathon.
Sunshine and a start-time temperature in the low 40s greeted the more than
7,700 participants in today's event.
The 28th running of the Columbus Marathon and second annual Columbus 1/2
Marathon will take place Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. The Columbus Marathon is
one of the 20 largest marathons in the United States. Nearly 20 percent of
the field qualified for the Boston Marathon. The Columbus Marathon is
presented by Nationwide and Discount Drug Mart and the Columbus 1/2
Marathon is presented by Atlas Butler. Visit www.columbusmarathon.com for
more information.
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