FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American takes top place in the 2009 Cyprus Marathon
Over 500 participants brave windy conditions to compete
More than 500 runners took part in the 2009 Cyprus Marathon (Marathon, Half
Marathon and 10km Road Race) which was organised successfully on Sunday
15th March 2009. Unfortunately the high winds which were blowing on Sunday
did not help the runners for a personal best. The Marathon course started
from Petra tou Romiou (Birthplace of Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty)
and finished at the Pafos Mediaeval Fort square. The other two races (Half
Marathon & 10 km Road Race) started and finished at the Pafos Mediaeval
Fort square. The events were successfully organized by NIKI Sports
Management. The Marathon departed at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Half
Marathon at 9:15 a.m. and the 10km at 9:30 a.m.
The number of runners that participated indicated the big impact of the
event, as most of the runners came from abroad, especially to participate
in the event. There were runners from more than 24 different countries such
as England, Germany, Ireland, France, Hungary, Canada, Austria, Holland,
Poland, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Russia, Argentina, Scotland, USA,
Australia, Sweden, Greece and Cyprus. There were also quite a few runners
who participated in the Marathon to raise money for charities. A team of 10
runners from the BFC run the Marathon carrying bergans and wearing boots
and raised money for the charity 'Help For Heroes'. The Cyprus Marathon is
now recognized as the major race in Cyprus.
The American runner Mark Werner won the 2009 Cyprus Marathon in a time
2:56:26. The British runner Steve Holyoak was second in 2:59:20. The
'Episkopi runners' lady Yvonne Davies was first in the women category with
a time 3:48:44. The Cypriot runner Michael Keenan with a time of 1:16:23
won the Cyprus Half Marathon with Charles Stephen from UK in second place
with a time of 1:17:07. The British lady Sarah Paterson of Schiniathlon
Club won the ladies race with the time of 1:33:10. Second lady in the Half
Marathon distance was Rebekah Lincoln of 'JSSU Women' Club with a time
1:36:28. The male winner of the Cyprus 10km Road Race was British Steve
Tomlisson with a time of 38:45 and the female winner was British lady
Alexandra Lodge of Schiniathlon Club with the time 46:30.
Each participant who finished the Cyprus Marathon 2009 was given a quality,
commemorative T-shirt and a medal. Awards were given to the first three
runners in each of the 48 age group categories. After the races the
Organisers offered to all participants ample quantities of seasonal fruit,
free KEO beer, Lanitis orange juices and AVRA natural mineral water. The
runners and spectators were entertained with Pop music by the Music
Ensemble 'Eternity' and enjoyed traditional Cypriot and Greek dancing from
the Dance Group 'Chorevtiko Schima to Kastro'. It was a real running
festival! Race results for all three races can be viewed in the Web site
www.cyprusmarathon.com/results09.htm. Race photos can be ordered
from Fotokinisi (Tel: 26938635, Web site www.fotokinisi.com/).
All in all the city of Pafos produced a spectacular event that heralded not
just a few but hundreds of winners. As the many finishers exited Pafos
Mediaeval Fort square an overwhelming sense of achievement radiated from
the Fort. The Organisers of the Cyprus Marathon 2009 express their sincere
thanks to all the sponsors of the race. The Cyprus Marathon was sponsored
from Constantinou Bros Hotels, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, CO-OP Bank of
Strovolos, Cyprus Airways, SpiderNet Services Public Ltd, Laser Graphics
Ltd, The Gallery (art+graphic design), Pafos Municipality and FOTOKINISI.
NIKI sports Management would like to thank each and every one who was
involved, in any capacity, in this, the running of the Cyprus Marathon
2009. Preparations have already begun for the 2010 Cyprus Marathon, which
will be held on Sunday 14th March 2010.
Happy running,
Stavros Kakourides
Race Director
Amathunta Half Marathon & 10 km
Sunday 15th November 2009
www.spidernet.net/main/web/amathuntahalfmarathon/index.html
Cyprus Marathon, Half Marathon & 10 km
Sunday 14th March 2010
www.cyprusmarathon.com
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