FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Karl Gilpin Wins 2008 GO! St. Louis Marathon,
Establishes a New Course Record
Ohio Runner Tara Keller is Top Woman's Marathon Finisher
Mathew Chesang and Kelly Handel Placed First In Large Half Marathon Field
Kristin Armstrong Participates in the Half Marathon
Governor Matt Blunt Participates in Marathon Relay
ST. LOUIS, MO— The 2008 GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend concluded
today with the Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay events. More than
13,000 people participated in the eighth annual event. Karl Gilpin from
Russellville, MO was the overall male marathon winner, establishing a new
course record in the process. Gilpin, 29, completed the 26.2 scenic course
in a time of 2:24:51, breaking Daniel Maurer's 2006 record of 2:25:09.
Gilpin's win marked the second consecutive year that he has won the GO! St.
Louis marathon. He won the 2007 race with a time of 2:28:59. On the woman's
side, Tara Keller, 33, from Hilliard, OH finished first with a time of
3:07:26.
In the Half Marathon race, presented by National City, Mathew Chesang, 26,
from Olathe, KS, won with a new course record of 1:08:20, eclipsing Zac
Freudenburg's 2006 record of 1:08:36. The win was Chesang's second in a
row, as he finished first in 2007 with a 1:09:02 mark. The top woman in the
Half Marathon was Kelly Handel with a time of 1:20:13.
"Today's race established a new participation record for the GO! St. Louis
endurance events, with more than 13,000 runners and walkers crossing the
finish line, said Nancy Lieberman," GO! St. Louis president. "For many of
our athletes, today was a day of personal triumph and concluded a long
fitness journey. Not only did we have a perfect day of weather, but new
course records were established and many new friendships were made along
the way," she added.
Top Finishers
Marathon - Men
1. Karl Gilpin, Russellville, MO 2:24:51
2. Matt Flaherty, Bloomington, IN 2:26:19
3. Mike Cole, Kendallville, IN 2:31:05
Marathon – Women
1. Tara Keller, Hilliard, OH 3:07:26
2. Ashley Hansen, Sonoma, CA 3:08:29
3. Megan Earney, Olathe, KS 3:10: 49
Half Marathon – Men
1. Mathew Chesang, Olathe, KS 1:08:20
2. Emisael Favela, Chicago, IL 1:09:11
3. Simo Wannas, Turku, DC 1:09:35
Half Marathon – Women
1. Kelly Handel, Austin, TX 1:20:13
2. Jill Czarnik, Urbana, IL 1:24:16
3. Judy Dorpinghaus, Washington, MO 1:25:13
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