FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gilbert Salazar (Long Beach, CA) And Beth Woodward (Orrville, OH) Win Surf
City USA Marathon; Jimmy Grabow (Long Beach, CA) Sets Half Marathon Record
Free Wheelchair Mission raises $191,500 through Run for Mobility; $2.0
million since 2006
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Sunday, February 6, 2011 – Gilbert Salazar of
Long Beach, CA and Beth Woodward of Orrville, OH were the top finishers in
the 15th annual Surf City USA Marathon on Sunday in Huntington Beach.
Salazar, 38, won in 2:35:02, while Woodward, 35, won with a time of
3:00.59. California's largest combined oceanfront marathon and
half-marathon featured more than 20,000 pre-registered runners from all 50
states and 18 foreign countries. Detailed race information is available at
www.runsurfcity.com.
With the Pacific Ocean and Surf City USA's iconic pier as a backdrop, a
crowd of more than 30,000 lined Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach
for near-perfect racing conditions. An additional 35,000 spectators
attended the Active Lifestyle Expo on Friday and Saturday. The winner of
the men's half-marathon was Jimmy Grabow, age 26 of Long Beach, CA who
finished in a course record 1:03:37. Cheryl Smith, age 30, of Laguna
Beach, CA won the women's half marathon in 1:17:48.
For the sixth year in a row, racers used "Run for Mobility" to raise funds
for the Free Wheelchair Mission, an Irvine-based nonprofit group that
provides wheelchairs to underprivileged people in developing countries.
With an estimated $191,500 raised this year, Surf City USA Marathon
participants have now donated nearly $2.0 million. Other notable
accomplishments:
Candace Ransom: (Riverside County, CA) a mother running in memory of her
son Luke, a surfer killed by a great white shark in October of 2010,
finished the half marathon in 2:10:20.
Greg Jacobson: (Chicago, IL) a police homicide detective who ran on behalf
of five fallen police officers who died in 2010 finished the half marathon
in 2:13:33.
George Border: (Huntington Beach, Calf.) at 82-years-old George was the
oldest participant registered for the full Surf City Marathon course. He
finished in 5:22:15 then walked briskly toward the beer garden where he was
seen jogging in place while waiting in line.
Local Women Marathoners: A strong showing from the OC women marathoners
included top 20 finishes from Sabrina Higashi (Dana Point, age 36), Leng
Klukken (Huntington Beach, age 39, past winner), Carolyn Smuts (Huntington
Beach, age 37), Lisa Yokoyama (Huntington Beach, age 41) and Sally Boles
(Mission Viejo, age 42).
"It was one of those perfect days where all the elements came together to
create the ideal running experience," said Surf City USA Marathon GM, Amy
Tomchak. "Energy ran high the entire weekend, the weather was perfect, and
we had a new course record in the men's half marathon. The Free Wheelchair
Mission came very close to breaking the $2M fundraising mark, and thousands
of runners had the time of their lives. It is just great to be part of
it."
Staged in front of The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton hotel, the Surf
City USA Marathon's exclusive oceanfront course runs on Pacific Coast
Highway, past the famous Huntington Beach Pier and winds through the
surfing beaches that define Southern California.
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