FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Basweti, Eap Win Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon
· Andrew Leatherby takes men's half marathon, Mari Ozaki claims women's
side
· Event will feature Dodge as a title sponsor in 2011.
· 1,400 participants raised more than $2.5 million for charity through the
race
· Seattle City Councilmembers Richard Conlin & Sally Bagshaw, along
with King County Councilmembers Jan Drago and Julia Patterson participated
in half marathon
Seattle, WA - June 26, 2010 - Cheerleaders and live bands lined the course
Saturday morning as more than 27,000 participants ran from Tukwila to
Seattle for the second annual Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2
Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society.
With a fully-loaded elite field running the half-marathon, it was Jynocel
Basweti of Kenya who broke away from the lead pack at the 35K mark in the
marathon to claim victory in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 19 seconds. Basweti,
who finished fourth in Seattle last year, claimed his fourth marathon title
in 2010. He has been training in New Mexico with the AmeriKenyan Running
Club and is coached by 2000 U.S. Olympic triathlete Ryan Bolton.
"Seattle is so fantastic, so green, the spectators and cheering was so
nice," said Basweti, who didn't enter the race until Wednesday. "I ran here
last year, it was my first time and I didn't know the route. This year I
had the knowledge about the course. At halfway, I thought this marathon was
going to be between three guys, so when we got out of the tunnel (Battery
Street) I knew I needed to make my move."
The women's marathon was won by Oregon's Sopagna Eap in 2:43:05, a time
which qualified her for the 2012 Olympic Trials. It was the first big city
marathon victory for Eap, a Division II All-American at U.C. Davis, who
recently finished her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of
Oregon.
"It's really exciting," said Eap, who ran alone for most of the race. "This
was my first Rock 'n' Roll and the bands kept it interesting and the crowds
were awesome. I was injured twice this year and I'm not running the times I
was supposed to run, but I can't complain about winning."
A lead pack of five men led the half marathon through 9 miles, when
American Patrick Rizzo pushed the pace with only Australia's Andrew
Letherby staying with him. Letherby made his move with about a mile to go,
opening up a 30 meter gap to win the race in 1:04:55, the second fastest
half marathon ever run in the state of Washington, according to Running
USA. Japan's Mari Ozaki won the women's race in 1:10:52.
"At ten miles I knew I could win. My last race was in the humidity of
Washington D.C. and I live at altitude and so this was perfect weather.
It's an awesome course with a nice variation of hills and flat. I'd like to
come back and do it again," said Letherby, who won a 10k in Washington D.C.
and represented Australia at the World Championships in Berlin last year.
"I felt great. I've been incorporating a lot of cycling into my training,
so it's been good to give my body a rest. I'm cycling 150 miles a week,
running 70-80 miles a week and it seems to be working so far."
The race kicked off the city's annual Seafair summer celebration and
welcomed more than 27,000 entrants from all 50 states and 23 countries to
the Emerald City. Seattle City Councilmembers Richard Conlin and Sally
Bagshaw, along with King County Councilmembers Jan Drago and Julia
Patterson participated in half-marathon.
"Seattle's hospitality community is excited to have the Rock 'n' Roll
Marathon back for another year," said Tom Norwalk, President & CEO of
Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau who competed in the half marathon
for the second consecutive year. "The race provides the region with vital
economic impact, attracting thousands of participants from outside the
state who book hotel rooms, dine in restaurants and tour local
attractions."
Dodge will become the title sponsor of this event next year. The third
annual Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon is set for Saturday, June 25,
2011.
PHOTOS
Start (credit: asiphoto.com)
http://seattle.competitor.com/files/2010/06/Start-2010.jpg
Half Marathon (credit: asiphoto.com)
http://seattle.competitor.com/files/2010/06/Mens-Half-Marathon-Seattle.jpg
Marathon (credit: asiphoto.com)
http://seattle.competitor.com/files/2010/06/Basweti.jpg
RESULTS
Place/Name/Age/Country/Time/Prize Money
Men's Half Marathon
1. Andrew Letherby, 36, Australia, 1:04:55, $2,500
2. Patrick Rizzo, 26, USA, (Schaumburg, IL), 1:05:04, $1,500
3. Chad Johnson, 34, USA (Chetek, WI), 1:05:27, $1,000
4. Drew Polley, 24, USA (Port Orchard, WA), 1:05:38, $750
5. Luke Humphrey, 29, USA (Sidney, MI), 1:06:01, $500
Women's Half Marathon
1. Mari Ozaki, 34, Japan, 1:10:52, $2,500
2. Benita Willis, 31, Australia, 1:12:50, $1,500
3. Lidia Simon, 36, Romania, 1:13:21, $1,000
4. Kari Oyama, 27, Japan, 1:14:59, $750
5. Leah Thorvilson, 31, USA (Little Rock, AR), $500
Men's Marathon
1. Jynocel Basweti, 23, Kenya, 2:18:19, $2,500
2. Mark Chepses, 24, Kenya, 2:18:51, $1,500
3. David Cheruiyot, 29, Kenya, 2:21:28, $1,000
4. Kassahun Kabiso, 26, Ethiopia, 2:22:15, $750
5. Jacob Puzey, 27, USA (Hermiston, OR), 2:27:36, $500
Women's Marathon
1. Sopanga Eap, 29, USA (Eugene, OR), 2:43:05, $2,500
2. Kim Harding, 22, USA (Issaquah, WA), 2:56:43, $2,500*
3. Stacia Kalinoski, 25, USA (Eugene, OR), 2:59:48, $1,000
4. Rebecca Jordan, 31, USA (Brewton, AL), 3:04:02, $750
5. Nikki Gamble, 26, USA (Edmonds, WA), 3:05:40, $500
*Includes top $500 State of Washington bonus
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