FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elite Racing, Inc.
Ian Monahan
(858) 518-6077
NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT EIGHTH ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC MARATHON
Former NFL running back with the Tennessee Titans
completes Country Music ½ Marathon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 28, 2007) - With cool temperatures and calm winds,
the eighth annual Country Music Marathon crowned two new champions in the
men's and women's races. First across the finish line outside LP Field,
home of the Tennessee Titans, was 28-year-old Simon Wangai from Kenya, who
covered the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 52 seconds. Olena
Shurkhno, 29 from the Ukraine won the women's race in 2:37:52.
The pace of the men's race was set early by 28-year-old Oleg Kulkov from
Russia, along with Ukrainians Yuriy Hychun, 30 and Evgeni Bozhko, 31. They
held their narrow lead through mile five before the trailing pack closed
the gap.
Nearly the entire men's field jockeyed for position over miles five through
nine. Past winners Jomo Kororia, 26, and Luke Kibet, 33, moved in to the
lead, pushing the pace towards mile 13. At the half-marathon, the men were
on pace to run in a 2:16:30 marathon time.
At mile 18, Kenyans Simon Wangai, 28, and Laban Moiben, 24, broke away from
the pack, turning in the first sub five-minute mile of the race (4:59).
Moiben gradually took control and turned in the fastest mile split of the
race at mile 21 (4:49), widening his lead to 11 seconds.
As Wangai entered Nashville's Shelby Park at approximately mile 22, he had
victory comfortably in hand.
"I looked back and nobody was coming," Wangai said after his win. "I
thought this could be mine. Next year, I will come back to defend my
title."
In the women's race, Ethiopians Hirut Legesse, 25, and Alem Ashebir, 24,
lead early. By mile six, the race came under European control with Svetlana
Pretot, 35, from France, Olena Shurkhno, 29, from the Ukraine and Iraida
Pudovkina, 25, from Russia in the lead.
Approaching the half-marathon mark, Shurkhno and Pretot took control of the
pace. Pretot was comfortable enough with the pair's lead that she smiled
and waved to one of the live bands along the course, while Shurkhno
remained focused on the race. Shurkhno's "focus" would pay off in the end.
After passing through the half-marathon, running a 2:34:45 marathon pace,
Pretot worked to increase her lead. Near mile 19, Pretot had opened up an
approximate 24-second lead ahead of Shurkhno, glancing back inside
Bicentennial Mall to admire her handy work.
At mile 21, the women were on 2:36:00 marathon pace and Shurkhno remained
steady behind Pretot.
Shurkhno took the lead at mile 23 and never looked back. She crossed the
finish line 37 seconds ahead of second place Pretot.
"She ran the race as she had planned," said Shurkhno's agent Anbrey
Baranov. "I was very confident in the hills. I was trying to be patient."
Baranov translated for Shurkhno.
Former NFL running back with the Tennessee Titans, Eddie George, completed
his first half-marathon in 2:02:56 alongside his friend and training
partner Morris Jamison. The two were pleased to beat their 2:10:00 goal.
"I didn't want to go out to fast, I wanted to enjoy the run," George said.
"The encouragement from the people in the race was great."
George who was recently recruited by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to
join TeamTN and lead the GetFitTN campaign said he hopes to speak through
action and continue to encourage people to lead healthy lives.
Duane Morrow, 39, from Hoschton, Ga. won the wheelchair invitational race
in 2:22:07.
Johnathan Eckberg, 26 and Victoria Crisp, 54, both from Nashville, were the
top local male and female finishers in times of 2:28:44 and 3:17:18
respectively.
In her marathon victory, Crisp also claimed the top spot in the masters
division, and Stephen Langat, 45, from Kenya won the men's masters division
in 2:29:25.
Claudia Colita of Fayetteville, Ga. set a course record and won the women's
half-marathon race in 1:16:14. William Weaver, 23, from Nashville won the
men's half-marathon in 1:09:21.
The Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon welcomed more than 31,500 runners
and walkers to Music City this year. For more information, please visit
www. CMMarathon.com, or call 800-311-1255.
2007 Country Music Marathon Prize Schedule
PROFESSIONAL ELITE RESULTS
Place, Name, Country, Time, Money
Men
1) Simon Wangui, 28, KEN, 2:13:52, $17,500
2) Laban Moiben, 24, KEN, 2:15:10, $8,000
3) Jomo Kororia, 26, KEN, 2:15:18, $4,000
4) Oleg Kulkov, 28, RUS, 2:15:34, $2,000
5) Philip Tanui, 31, KEN, 2:16:32$1,250
Women
1) Olena Shurkhno, 29, UKR, 2:37:52, $17,500
2) Svetlana Pretot, 35, FRA, 2:38:29, $8,000
3) Iraida Pudovkina, 25, RUS, 2:40:17, $4,000
4) Alem Ashebir, 24, ETH, 2:44:08, $2,000
5) Tatiana Mironova, 37, RUS, 2:44:36, $1,200
TOP NASHVILLE FINISHERS - MARATHON
Men
1) Johnathan Eckberg, 26, Nashville, 2:28:44, $1,000
2) Kevin Hill, 30, Nashville, 2:29:27, $500
Women
1) Victoria Crisp, 54, Nashville, 3:17:18, $1,000
2) Lisa Kirkham, 40, Nashville, 3:27:10, $500
TOP STATE OF TENNESSEE FINISHERS - MARATHON
Men
1) Johnathan Eckberg, 26, Nashville, 2:28:44, $1,000
2) Kevin Hill, 30, Nashville, 2:29:27, $500
Women
1) Victoria Crisp, 54 Nashville, 3:17:18, $1,000
2) Lisa Kirkham, 40, Nashville, 3:27:10, $500
WHEELCHAIR
Duane Morrow, 39, Hoschton, Ga., 2:22:07, $500
MASTERS
Male
Stephen Langat, 45, Kenya, 2:29:25, $500
Female
Victoria Crisp, 54, Nashville, 3:17:18, $500
###
|
