FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Daba Shatters Chevron Houston Marathon Course Record
Countrywoman Daska Women's Marathon Champion at 39th Edition;
Eggleston, DeReuck Aramco Houston Half Marathon Winners
HOUSTON (Jan. 30, 2011) - On Sunday morning under the threat of inclement
weather, Bekana Daba and Mamitu Daska continued the Ethiopian dominance at
the Chevron Houston Marathon with victories in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 4
seconds and 2:26:33 respectively. Daba's time, in his second marathon, was
a personal, course and state record, while Daska became the third fastest
woman all-time at the event.
In the men's race at the 39th edition, Daba, Kenyan Wilfred Murgor and
American training partners Brett Gotcher and Nick Arciniaga were the
contenders and the group hit the halfway point in 1:04:17.
As the drizzle turned to light rain around 80 minutes into the race, Daba,
22, began to pull away from the field and between the 25K and 30K he strung
together three sub-4:40 miles to seal the win. He continued to push the
pace though mile 23 and went unchallenged to the tape to shatter countryman
Teshome Gelana's 2010 course record by 33 seconds and also ran the fastest
marathon time of the year. Daba, who ran the second half of the race in a
fast 1:02:46, was also the third straight Ethiopian men's race champion and
the third straight to set a course record.
"I could have run faster with better competition and less rain, but I'm
happy," said Daba, who earned $35,000.
Arciniaga, 27, from Flagstaff, Ariz. was runner-up in an 18-second personal
record of 2:11:30, while Gotcher had an off day to finish sixth in 2:19:30.
Most of the women's race was led by either Daska, Ashu Kasim or Belainesh
Gebre of Ethiopia - who reached the halfway mark in 1:12:16 - before it
became a duel between Daska and Kasim around 17 miles. At 25 miles, Daska,
27, made a break with a 5:17 mile that Kasim couldn't follow and Daska hit
the finish line alone to become the fifth straight women's race champion
from Ethiopia.
Kasim slowed, but kept her number two position to the line (2:27:47), while
American Stephanie Rothstein, 27, from Flagstaff, Ariz. finished third in
2:29:35, a more than 10-minute personal record.
Three-time race champion David Cheruiyot, 40, of Kenya won the Masters
marathon in 2:24:07, while Sheila Casey, 41, from Park Ridge, N.J. took the
women's 40 and over crown in 2:51:44.
There were also six new 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers: Jesse
Davis and Kristen Fryburg-Zaitz, Emily Harrison, Nicole Hagobian, Natasha
Labeaud and Sara Patrick. Houston will host the 2012 U.S. Men's and Women's
Olympic Trials Marathon on January 14.
Jeff Eggleston, 26, Flagstaff, Ariz. and Colleen DeReuck, 46, Boulder,
Colo. won the 10th Aramco Houston Half Marathon in 1:08:26 and 1:16:19
respectively. DeReuck also won the 2004 race.
Overall, there were 6,728 marathon starters and 9,114 half-marathon
starters at the annual event.
39th Chevron Houston Marathon
Houston, TX, Sunday, January 30, 2011
MEN
1) Bekana Daba (ETH), 2:07:04*, $35,000
2) Nick Arciniaga (USA / AZ), 2:11:30, $17,000
3) Wilfred Murgor (KEN), 2:11:41, $7000
4) Rob Watson (CAN), 2:16:17, $4000
5) Jesse Davis (USA / IN), 2:18:47, $2000
6) Brett Gotcher (USA / AZ), 2:19:30
*course and state record (previous record, 2:07:37, Teshome Gelana (ETH),
2010)
MASTERS MEN (40+)
1) David Cheruiyot, 40, KEN, 2:24:07, $1500
WOMEN
1) Mamitu Daska (ETH), 2:26:33, $35,000
2) Ashu Kasim (ETH), 2:27:47, $17,000
3) Stephanie Rothstein (USA / AZ), 2:29:35, $7000
4) Belainesh Gebre (ETH), 2:34:47, $4000
5) Selamie Getnet (ETH), 2:36:34, $2000
MASTERS WOMEN (40+)
1) Sheila Casey, 41, USA / NJ, 2:51:44, $1500
Full results and more at: www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC), a Running
USA Founding Member, annually organizes the nation's premier winter
marathon, half-marathon, 5K and kids' fun run. In 2010, more than 30,000
runners participated in four race weekend events organized by 7,500
volunteers, creating Houston's largest single-day sporting event. In
addition to hosting numerous world-renowned road races, including the USA
Men's and Women's Half Marathon Championships since 2005 and 2007
respectively, and the 1992 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials, HMC will
host the 2012 U.S. Men's and Women's Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on
January 14, 2012.
For more information, visit houstonmarathon.com or call 713.957.3453.
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