FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Records Broken at Sixth Annual
Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon
4,155 Complete Sunday's Race Events;
Local Runner Breaks Half Marathon Record
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (November 4, 2012) – Raleigh set a record today
when more than 5,000 runners spanned Hillsborough Street for the start of
the sixth annual Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Rex Healthcare Half
Marathon, and News & Observer Old Reliable 10K. Cool autumn temperatures
and overcast skies presented ideal race conditions for local and national
athletes who vied for cash prizes and helped raise thousands of dollars for
local charities.
For the first time, the marathon field capped out and registration was
closed after the cancellation of the New York City Marathon on Friday
caused an unexpected boost in registration requests. Race organizers
expanded the marathon field by more than 100 spots to help accommodate some
of the shut-out athletes.
In all, 871 individual runners and 86 relay teams completed the 26.2-mile
marathon course, a new route that included a scenic, 14-mile excursion
along the Capital Area Greenway. The half marathon and 10K routes remained
in town, showcasing the city's most historic and celebrated districts. A
total of 2,377 completed the 13.1-mile half marathon, which was named the
North Carolina USATF Half Marathon Championship event for the first time
this year. A total of 821 finished the 10K.
Raleigh's own Tim Surface, 34, won today's marathon. He surged away from
the rest of the field early in the race and finished in a time of 2:33:57.
It was a second win here for Surface, who seized the marathon title at its
2007 inaugural run. He earned a $1,300 cash prize for today's win.
With a smile, Surface praised the support of the crowd. "It was rough from
mile 17," he said, "and I was feeling it on the greenway." This year's
course change, which moved the marathoners off the infamously steep trails
of William B. Umstead State Park, offered little comfort for Surface, who
trains regularly in Umstead. "But I always like new challenges," he said.
This year's paved course presented a new set of hills for the marathoners
to contend. "The crowd really got me through it," said Surface.
Second and third place were captured by two Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon
veterans. Orinthal Striggles, 36, of Elgin, SC, ran the race for his fifth
time today. He took second place in a time of 2:40:38, earning $700. John
Piggott of Williamsburg, VA, had also run four of the previous Raleigh City
of Oaks Marathon races. He placed third today in 2:41:22 and took home a
$500 cash prize.
Chapel Hill's Lauren Holesh, 24, earned the women's marathon title today in
a time of 2:51:26, just 1 minute, 34 seconds off the marathon's record
time. Holesh won $1,300 for her performance. Second place went to Shawanna
White, 32, of Stone Mountain, GA, who crossed the finish line in 2:52:42,
earning the $700 prize. Natalie Hall, 26, of Blacksburg, VA, captured third
in a time of 2:53:28, winning the $500 prize.
Sparks flew in the half marathon race as former N.C. State runner Bobby
Mack, 27, of Raleigh broke the course record by 17 seconds. He finished in
a time of 1:04:21, earning a $1,000 cash award for his win in the NC-USATF
Half Marathon Championship event, plus an additional $300 for the new
course record.
Mack's new record didn't come easily, despite today's cool weather. "I
found it tough," he said of the hilly half marathon course. "I kept telling
myself that the first six miles [or so] would be the hardest, but the last
six really got me."
Mack's friend and training partner, Stephen Furst, 27, wasn't far behind.
Furst took second place in a time of 1:05:52, earning $500 for the NC-USATF
championship spot. It was familiar scene for the Raleigh resident, who
placed second in the Rex Healthcare Half Marathon two years ago. Chapel
Hill's Mark Jeuland, 33, came in third today in 1:09:23 and earned $300 as
a NC-USATF championship competitor.
Caitlin Chrisman of Charlotte captured first place in the women's half
marathon event today with a time of 1:23:03. The 26-year-old took home
$1,000 and the NC-USATF Half Marathon Championship title. Chrisman admitted
that her time was slower than she typically races the 13.1-mile distance.
"I ran it for fun," she said of her performance today. She plans on getting
married this month and is focused on her future. "I'm looking forward to
taking two weeks off [from training] to get ready for my wedding."
Danielle Baker, 36, of Durham finished behind Chrisman in a time of
1:26:48, securing second place, and Phoebe Markle, 28, of Alexandria, VA,
took third place in 1:28:11.
Today's second-annual News & Observer Old Reliable 10K gave
shorter-distance runners a chance to display their talents. Chapel Hill's
Brock Baker, 25, brought home the win in a course-record time of 32:02. The
women's winner was 33-year-old Brianne Gaal of Cary, who completed the
6.2-mile course in 40:57.
The top five men and top five women runners in today's marathon event won
cash prizes, as did the top four men and women registered for the NC-USATF
Half Marathon Championship event. 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 and the Rex Healthcare Foundation.
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.
For more information on the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Rex Heathcare
Half Marathon and News & Observer Old Reliable 10K, including course maps,
visit the official race website, www.cityofoaksmarathon.com.
###
|
