FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pair of Kenyans take Home Life Time Miami Marathon Titles
18,000 runners representing all 50 states and 69 countries
competed in iconic event
MIAMI (January 29, 2023) - They were nearly 8,000 miles from home in the
urban center of Kisii, Kenya, but their individual pursuits for Life Time
Miami Marathon titles brought them together in South Florida on Sunday.
Originating from farming families in southwest Kenya, George Onyancha and
Damaris Areba both secured easy victories in their inaugural appearances in
Miami's signature running event.
Twenty-nine year-old Onyancha (2:18:25) finished nearly six minutes ahead
of Siraj Amda (2:24:16) of New York in the men's Marathon. Twenty-seven
year-old Areba turned in the second fastest time in Miami Marathon history
(2:33:49) bettered only by fellow Kenyan Martha Akeno's course record
(2:29:00) last year. Isgah Cheruto (2:36:19) of Minneapolis was second
behind Areba.
Onyancha and Areba were winners of few words. "I was leading and had
another runner behind me until the 25K mark," Onyancha said. "Since I
didn't know what his strategy was, I thought: 'Let me take off."
Areba was more focused on the uniqueness of the course route. The
U.S.TAF-certified and Boston Marathon-qualifying circuit showcased the best
views of Miami's cityscape and waterways during the 26.2-mile and 13.1-mile
races. "The lights on the big ships, they're so beautiful," Areba said.
It was the 21st edition of the Life Time Miami Marathon and Half, which
wound through downtown Miami, Miami Beach and Coconut Grove. The event's
sold-out field of 18,000 runners came from all 50 states and 69 countries -
generating upwards of $50 million in economic impact to the Miami
community. Colombia (1,300) and Mexico (1,100) led a wave of Latino
runners, while nearly 1,000 U.S.-based runners represented the state of New
York.
The Marathon began in front of the downtown Miami-Dade Arena before heading
to South Beach via the MacArthur Causeway and then back downtown along the
Venetian Causeway. Runners then headed south through the lush Coconut Grove
community before turning north through the Brickell Avenue financial
district and across the finish line at Bayfront Park.
Temperatures were 72 degrees at race start and eventually settled into the
mid '70s. Runners were able to experience the South Florida sunrise nearly
an hour into their run, and the sparkling cruise ships docked at the Port
of Miami put an exclamation point on the Event's iconic views.
Onyancha races mostly in Europe and China, and Sunday's marathon was his
first in the United States. Areba has been on a tear, winning four
marathons in eight months. Prior to her Miami victory Sunday, Areba won
titles at the Green Bay Marathon (May), the Quad Cities Marathon
(September) and the Des Moines Marathon (October). In November, she was
fourth at the Philadelphia Marathon.
When Nacho Hernando-Angulo (1:08:36) arrived first to the finish line of
the Half Marathon, he was almost home. The 29-year-old broke the tape just
800 meters from the hi-rise where he lives in downtown Miami. "To be home
with the (2023) title is awesome," said Hernando-Angulo. "This title has to
stay home, in Miami."
Veteran French triathlete, Brice Daubord (1:10:11), and 24-year-old,
Alberto Mena (1:10:21) of Ecuador, were nearly two minutes off Angulo's
pace to secure second and third place while event-defending-champion, Cesar
Lizano, was sixth (1:14:01). The 40-year-old Costa Rican was fourth in
2012, third in 2014 and fifth in 2015 before winning last year's Miami
title.
A native of Madrid, Spain, Hernando-Angulo settled in Miami in 2018
following running careers at New Hampshire Technical Institute and Southern
New Hampshire University. He works as a sales director for a European
importer. "I moved to Miami for work, definitely not for training," he
said. "It's very tough to be an elite runner here. So we do what we can."
Ethiopia's Weynshet Ansa Weldestadisk (1:14:55) won her second career
half-marathon Sunday, ahead of Ukraine's Valentyna Veretska (1:18:41) and
defending champion, Lisa Brooking (1:18:50) of Canada. "It was a good
course, but very windy and hot," said Weldestaisk. "The city is so
beautiful. I wish I could live here. Everybody was telling me 'good job.'
It gave me power."
The tall and slender Weldestadisk has been based in Washington DC for the
last four months while competing in a series of U.S. races. The 26-year-old
smashed the course record at the Extra Long Bronx (NY) 10-Mile Race last
September and won both the Philadelphia Marathon and the Virginia 10 Miler
in November.
Veretska, the women's half-marathon runner-up, continued her good results
since fleeing Ukraine last year and winning the Jerusalem Marathon a month
later in borrowed shoes and gear. The 32-year-old ran her first race in the
U.S. in November, finishing third at the Princeton Marathon.
Onyancha and Areba each received $4,500 for their first-place finishes.
Onyancha will use the funds to pay for two of his brothers' tuition
payments while Areba will donate a portion to Kenyan youth developmental
running programs and use the remainder to buy land to build a house. She
and her husband are currently living in a rental unit. "I loved the city
and the palm trees," Onyancha said about his first experience in Miami.
"They look like umbrellas."
More information about the Life Time Miami Marathon may be found at
www.themiamimarathon.com and on social media at Facebook.com/RunMiami,
Instagram.com/TheMiamiMarathon, and Twitter.com/RunMiami. The Life Time
Miami Marathon And Half operates with the tremendous support of the Miami
Beach Visitor and Convention Authority.
The Miami Marathon And Half is owned and produced by Life Time, the premier
healthy lifestyle brand. It is among more than 30 premier athletic events
owned by the Company, including the Chicago Spring Half Marathon, Garmin
UNBOUND Gravel, and Leadville Race Series. For more information about Life
Time (NYSE: LTH), visit www.lifetime.life. More information about Life Time
athletic events is available at my.lifetime.life/athletic-events.html.
About Life Time®, Inc.
Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through
its portfolio of more than 160 athletic country clubs across the United
States and Canada. The Company's healthy way of life communities and
ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging and healthy
entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of
more than 30,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to
providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic
athletic events and comprehensive digital platform.
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