FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Two New Champions Crowned at ING Miami Marathon
Sold-Out Field of 15,000 Elevates Miami Event
to Largest Distance Race in South Florida
MIAMI, Jan. 25, 2009 – A trio of Americans took home three of the four
titles at the seventh running of the ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon®.
Americans Michele Suszek of Colorado won the women's ING Miami Marathon,
and Pat Hayburn of Pennsylvania and Susanne Larsen of Michigan won the
men's and women's half marathons, respectively. Morrocan Benazzouz Slimani,
who resides in Italy, won the men's marathon. This year's edition of the
ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon included the largest number of
participants, with a sold-out field of 15,000 for the combo distance event.
Thirty-four-year-old Slimani closed strong to win the 26.2-mile race with a
time of 2:16:49. In a decisive win, Slimani stepped ahead at Mile 6 and
maintained a strong pace. "This is my first race in the United States and
this is such beautiful city, culture and country," said Slimani. "I am very
happy to win my first American race here and look forward to running more
races in the United States." Kenyan Jynocel Basweti secured second place in
the marathon, staying within sight of the leader the entire race; he
completed the marathon is a time of 2:18:14. Basweti's fellow countryman
Edward Tubut rounded out the top three finishers with a time of 2:18:30.
Michele Suszek pulled off an exciting come-from-behind victory in the
women's race, making her final pass in the last half mile to win by 20
seconds, with a final time of 2:43:31. "With two miles to go, I could see
the leader ahead and pushed the pace," said the 26-year-old female
champion. "I never thought about passing her and was just praying my pace
was good enough." Suszek had heart surgery in 2003 for complications from
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Now fully recovered, she had hoped for a
personal record.
"I was 30 seconds off my personal best today, but I'm happy with the final
result." Suskek bested Kenyan Zeddy Kepchoech, who held the lead for most
of the 26.2 mile course. Kepchoech finished in second place with a time of
2:43:51. Ecuadorian Sandra Ruales Mosquera finished in 2:50:36 to capture
third place.
The men's division of the ING Miami Half Marathon was won by Pat Hayburn of
Pennsylvania in 1:11:12. "The field spread out a bit early and I was
actually able to enjoy the race a bit," said Hayburn. "The course is really
beautiful -- the cruise ships and seeing the sunrise as you run -- it's a
big difference from home." Hayburn held to the fast pace by his teammate,
training partner and next-door neighbor Kevin Cunningham, who earned second
place with a time of 1:11:32. Jose Gutembergue Ferreira of Brazil ran a
1:13:00 to claim third place in the 13.1-mile contest.
Suzanne Larsen of Michigan captured the ING Miami Half Marathon title by
finishing in 1:20:38. She handily staved off second-place finisher Karina
Navarette Dueno of Ecuador, who finished in 1:23:50. "I felt really great,
but coming from Michigan, I knew this would be a great race," said Larsen.
"It's a treat not to run on ice this time of year." Mexico-native Yamile
Alaluf took third place in the women's half marathon with a time of
1:24:54.
Now in its seventh year, the ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon has grown
to become South Florida's largest distance running event. A total of 12,376
racers started the race under ideal temperatures of 61 degrees at American
Airlines Arena in downtown Miami. Of the total starters, 12,219 racers
finished both the marathon and half marathon courses today, with 2,630
completing the 26.2-mile course. The marathon traveled to the vibrant Miami
Beach neighborhoods and back along picturesque causeways, showing off the
best of Miami's communities before finishing at Bayfront Park. The half
marathon had 9,589 finishers on the 13.1-mile course, for a finish rate of
98 percent.
"Today's sold-out race was a tribute to the vibrancy of the city, the
support of ING and our sponsors, the dedication of our volunteers and the
determination of our racers," said Gaby Pozo, race director of the ING
Miami Marathon & Half Marathon. "The ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon is
a showcase of our community and the vibrancy that is Miami."
Joining the runners today were a very special group of middle-school
children from the Miami-Dade County School System. As part of the ING Run
for Something Better, nearly 4,000 children completed the Final Mile of
their own marathon. Having trained through the winter, the children
completed 25 miles of running through the free fitness program prior to
today. They completed their Final Mile today under picture-perfect skies,
and with the company of Congressmen Kendrick Meek (Fla.), who joined the
children for the run.
"To every racer today, including the 4,000 children who ran the ING Run
for Something Better Final Mile, we extend our congratulations," said Ann
Glover, chief marketing officer, ING Americas. "As a company, ING's goal is
to help make it easier for people of all ages to achieve success -- whether
it's running a marathon or preparing for a safe, secure financial future."
For more information on the results of the ING Miami Marathon & Half
Marathon, please visit www.ingmiamimarathon.com. Next year's ING Miami
Marathon & Half Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 30, 2010.
Race Highlights
· 15,000 Total Entrants
· 12,376 Total Starters and 12,219 Total Finishers
· 2,630 athletes finished the marathon
· 9,689 athletes finished the half marathon
· Total Prize Purse: $28,000
· Age of youngest participant (half marathon): 12 years
· Age of oldest participant (half marathon): 82 years
· U.S. states represented: 50
· Countries represented: 55
· Number of volunteers: more than 2,000
· Temperature at the start (6:15 a.m.): 61 F (partly cloudy)
· Temperature at the finish (1:00 p.m.): 74 F (sunny)
· Nearly 4,000 schoolchildren from Miami-Dade County middle schools
participated in the Final Mile as part of ING's Run for Something
Better
Men's Open Division Marathon Results
1. Benazzouz Slimani (Italy) 2:16:49
2. Jynocel Basweti (Kenya) 2:18:14
3. Edward Tabut (Kenya) 2:18:30
4. David Tuwei (Kenya) 2:19:50
5. Mike Korir (USA) 2:35:13
6. Claudio Marcelo Nunez (Ecuador) 2:41:29
7. Pablo Tipantuna (Ecuador) 2:42:09
8. Mark Pepin (USA) 2:44:18
9. Moacir Capistrano (Brazil) 2:44:20
10. Matt Woods (USA) 2:44:22
Women's Marathon Open Division Winners
1. Michele Suszek (USA) 2:43:31
2. Zeddy Chepkoech (Kenya) 2:43:51
3. Sandra Ruales Mosquera (Ecuador) 2:50:36
4. Kristijna Loonen (Belgium) 2:53:19
5. Jessica Haouache (USA) 3:08:17
6. Nancy Rojas (USA) 3:10:48
7. Heather Goodfellow (USA) 3:12:58
8. Stephanie Stevens (USA) 3:14:02
9. Guadalupe Duran (USA) 3:15:56
10. Bouchre Franz (USA) 3:18:15
Men's Half Marathon Open Division Winners
1. Pat Hayburn (USA) 1:11:12
2. Kevin Cunningham (USA) 1:11:32
3. Jose Gutembergue Ferreira (Brazil) 1:13:00
4. Marius Acker (USA) 1:14:10
5. Brooks Grossinger (USA) 1:14:38
6. Freddy Alvarado (PR) 1:16:34
7. Ben Ingram (USA) 1:16:37
8. Jonathan Mederos (USA) 1:16:45
9. Elliott Mason (USA) 1:16:51
10. Joseph Elsakr (USA) 1:17:11
Women's Half Marathon Open Division Winners
1. Suzanne Larsen (USA) 1:20:38
2. Karina Navarette Duena (Ecuador) 1:23:50
3. Yamile Alaluf ((MEX) 1:24:54
4. Ana Garcez (Brazil) 1:26:29
5. Lizbeth Rodriguez (MEX) 1:27:47
6. Janine Peart (USA) 1:28:07
7. Isabelle Piller (USA) 1:28:34
8. Carol Postigo (USA) 1:28:35
9. Katie Churchill (USA) 1:28:41
10. Tami James (USA) 1:29:10
Men's Wheelchair Division Winner
1. Piery Ramirez (USA) 1:40:13
Women's Wheelchair Division Winner
1. Jessica Matassa (CAN) 2:07:14
Men's Handcycle Division Winner
1. Brian Mitchell (USA) 1:20:47
Women's Handcycle Division Winner
1. Vickie Horne (USA) 2:31:56
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