FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bell Tower Rings In A Record Number For Fifth Annual
Raleigh City Of Oaks Marathon And Rex Healthcare Half Marathon
Local Runners Dominate at Sunday's Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (November 6, 2011) – N.C. State's Bell Tower
overlooked a sea of runners this morning as 3,774 participants sprung from
the start of the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Rex Healthcare Half
Marathon, and News & Observer Old Reliable 10K. A record number of runners
upheld a five-year-old Raleigh tradition, facing crisp autumn air to
complete one of three challenging courses and help raise thousands of
dollars for local charities.
Of the participants, 690 individual runners finished the 26.2-mile
marathon, 64 teams completed the marathon relay, 1,869 completed the
13.1-mile half marathon, and 486 ran the 10K, a new addition to the City of
Oaks' race-day offering.
Mitch VanBruggen, 26, of Durham, NC won the men's marathon title, crossing
the line in a time of 2:29:33 and earning a $1,000 cash award. VanBruggen
led the race uncontested, working comfortably over the grueling, hilly
trails of Umstead State Park. Chasing him was Tim Surface, 33, of Raleigh,
who completed the course in 2:33:50 to earn second place and a $750 prize.
Ryan Woods, 32, of Boone, NC took the third-place spot, winning $550 for
his finishing time of 2:37:36.
The women's race played out in a similar fashion, with Raleigh's Kimberlie
Fowler, 31, running to an early lead and pulling ahead to win in a time of
2:55:22. Fowler ran nearly 16 minutes faster today than in last year's
event, when she took second place. She attributes her strength to a regimen
of twice-a-week training on the trails in Umstead Park, widely renowned by
runners as the most scenic and most challenging part of the City of Oaks
course. "I felt pretty strong," she said. "The training was a definite
advantage."
Kelcey Carlson, 37, of Raleigh finished behind Fowler in a time of 3:05:13
and earned $750 for second place. Carlson, too, achieved her fastest time
here, shaving nearly 15 minutes off her City of Oaks best. Still, she
admitted to some fatigue in the latter part of the race. "I knew it was
going to be tough," Carlson said, "so it wasn't unexpected." Reaching the
finish in third place was Trisha Moore, 29, of Raleigh, who earned $400 for
her time of 3:08:28. Moore's race-day bonus came with the news that her
husband, Joe Moore, 27, had won the Rex Healthcare Half Marathon shortly
before, earning $750 for a speedy finish of 1:05:14. That time was more
than a minute faster than his performance here last year, which earned him
fourth place. Today, Moore commanded his event, running across downtown
Raleigh in front of second-place Ricky Flynn, 24, of Lynchburg, VA, and
steadily pushing his pace over the last few miles to secure his spot. Flynn
finished in 1:06:08 and earned $550 for second place. Philip Cawkwell, 22,
of Bedford, NY cruised in behind Flynn to take third place in a time of
1:09:18. Cawkwell earned $400 for third place.
Jemissa Van Hoy, 27, of Raleigh wrapped up the Rex Healthcare Half Marathon
women's win today in a confident 1:17:11. Her steady pace was out-of-reach
for second place finisher Lori Stich, 41, of Colorado Springs, CO 1:21:18.
Stich earned $550 for second place, plus an additional $200 prize as the
first Masters (over age 40) runner. Close behind was third-place Marley
Burns, 22, of Chapel Hill, NC. Burns finished in 1:21:36 and won $400.
The launch of the News & Observer Old Reliable 10K at today's event boosted
participation numbers and gave shorter-distance runners a chance to display
their own talents. Forty-one-year-old Colin Jones of Raleigh ruled the 10K
today, winning in a time of 34:57. The women's winner was 25-year-old Laura
Berry, also of Raleigh, who completed the 6.2-mile course in 39:45.
The top five men and top five women runners in today's marathon and half
marathon events won cash prizes. Cash prizes were also given out to the top
three male and top three female Masters (over age 40) runners in both race
events. The top overall runners in the News & Observer Old Reliable 10K won
commemorative race awards today, as did age-group winners in all three
events.
Proceeds from the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Rex Healthcare Half
Marathon, and News & Observer Old Reliable 10K benefit local chapters of
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Rex Healthcare Foundation, and Girls on
the Run. Presenting sponsor Raleigh Running Outfitters established the City
of Oaks Race in 2007 with the intention of bringing a prestigious running
event to the city of Raleigh.
Complete race results will be made available at www.precisionrace.com. For
more information on the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Rex Healthcare Half
Marathon and News & Observer Old Reliable 10K, including course maps, visit
the official race website, www.cityofoaksmarathon.com.
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