FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pool and Meyer Win Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon
Fast Times and Personal Records Abound
NAPA, Calif. - March 3, 2013 - Kevin Pool of Folsom, Calif. didn't plan on
winning today's 35th Annual Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon. He
entered the 26.2-mile race through the scenic Napa Valley wine-growing
region as a training run in preparation for this coming April's Boston
Marathon. On the other hand, San Francisco's Michelle Meyer set a goal of
recording a fast time, and possibly a women's win, at Napa. Both Pool and
Meyer emerged victorious in close contests and were crowned Road Runners
Club of America national marathon champions. The marathon served as Road
Runners Club of America's 2013 National Marathon Championship.
Pool, 30, broke the finish line tape at Napa's Vintage High School in 2
hours, 21 minutes, and 58 seconds, the seventh fastest winning men's time in
the 35-year history of the event. Meyer's time of 2:43:11 is the fourth
fastest ever by a woman on the scenic, gently rolling, point-to-point
course. The rural race route from Calistoga to Napa has not changed since
the event's inaugural running.
Pool, a veteran of nine previous marathons, notched his victory despite
giving the other top men in the field an unintentional 40-second handicap.
He was in the port-a-potty when the 7 a.m. starting gun sounded as Cheyne
Inman (Vacaville, Calif.) assumed a solo early lead and held it until Pool
and Frank Corrigan (Port Costa, Calif.) caught him near the 23 mile point.
"It was a really great day, perfect for running," Inman said. "I just made
some mistakes running by myself. Around 23 miles my body completely shut
down."
By 24 miles Pool moved into the lead and lengthened it to the finish line as
both Corrigan (2nd, 2:22:47) and Inman (3rd, 2:25:38) both recorded personal
bests.
"Part of the reason I ran here (in Napa) is because I think it has a similar
downhill profile to Boston," said Pool who was an NCAA Division III
All-American at Pennsylvania's Allegheny College and now serves as the Team
Manager for the Sacramento Running Association Elite running club. "I wanted
to get a little simulation to that because previously when I ran Boston my
quads didn't hold up on the downhills."
In April, at Boston, Pool will aim to lower his marathon PR of 2:19:22 which
he recorded at the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon.
Martin Rindahl, 49, of Fresno, Calif. was crowned the men's masters (age 40
and over) champion with a 15th place finish time of 2:42:21. Chris Mocko
(defending overall men's champion) had an off day, finishing 10th in
2:38:07.
Among women, Meyer, age 25, took an early lead and maintained it until
45-year-old Molly Friel (Fresno, Calif.) caught her at approximately 11
miles. The pair proceeded through halfway (13.1 miles) in 1:21:25 and
briefly exchanged the lead until 20 miles where Meyer made a surge and
proceeded unchallenged to victory. Friel's finishing time of 2:44:17
garnered the runner-up women's spot. She was also crowned the female masters
(ages 40 and over) victor. Sarah Raitter (40, Reno, Nev.) placed third in
2:50:37.
"The course was really nice," said Meyer. "I was expecting the big hill at
mile 19, but it wasn't as big at I'd thought it would be. It was bigger in
my mind. It was nice running with Molly because it's always great having
someone to run with."
Said Friel: "There's so many variables in the marathon that need to come
together on the right day, so I was pleased by my performance. In my head,
it would have been nice to run 2:43, but I came close and that's fine."
Both Meyer and Friel lowered their personal marathon records, by 46 seconds
and 52 seconds respectively. Devon Yanko (nee' Crosby-Helms) who won last
year's women's race in 2:39:37, a course record, entered the race but did
not start.
Known as "the Biggest Little Marathon in the West," the Kaiser Permanente
Napa Valley Marathon rewards male and female open and masters winners with
oversized bottles of wine etched with their championship accomplishments.
The male and female winners of the race also receive their "weight-in-wine"
donated by the Silverado Trail Wineries Association.
After receiving the crown as 2013 men's champion, Kevin Pool commented "I'm
engaged and getting married in July, so the wine will definitely help at the
wedding."
In the accompanying Greater Kiwanis Club of Napa 5K Run, Dylan Isaacson (23,
Berkeley, Calif.) was the men's winner in 16:31 and Rylee Bowen (13, Santa
Rosa, CA) was first among women in 18:06. 1984 Olympic marathon gold
medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson (55, Freeport, Maine) finished second in
18:48.
Benoit Samuelson was on hand during race weekend for a special Napa Valley
Marathon panel presentation honoring "Women in Marathoning." Additional
panelists included female running icons/pioneers Jacqueline Hansen (1973
women's Boston Marathon champion), Lorraine Moller (1992 Olympic Games
marathon bronze medalist), and Nina Kuscsik (1972 women's Boston Marathon
champion).
Appropriately, women comprised 51 percent of the 2013 Napa Valley Marathon
race field, a race record, reflecting a steady national trend of increasing
female participation in road races.
"We've slowly crept up the women to men participant ratio here," said
Co-Race Director David Hill, who along with Co-Race Director Rich Benyo has
devoted years of volunteer time to the event. "This year the stars were
aligned. I think traditionally women tend to be more health conscious than
men. They keep us men abreast of how we should be eating and exercising."
Benoit Samuelson echoed this opinion. "In general, I think women are better
at multi-tasking," she said. "They understand the importance of balance in
one's life. So, when you think of the mind, body, and spirit they want to
make room for the body and physical fitness. Because running is so
affordable and accessible it's the 'go-to' sport for women. Many
congratulations to the Napa Valley Marathon for passing the 50 percent
female number."
All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are
donated to local charities in the Napa Valley.
The Napa Valley Marathon appreciates generous sponsor support from Kaiser
Permanente/Thrive, Gatorade, ASICS, Silverado Trail Wineries Association,
Marathon & Beyond, Visit Napa Valley, Napa County California, Road Runners
Club of America, USA Track & Field, MarathonFoto, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel
& Spa, GU, CBS 5 and The CW, XFINITY, Napa Valley Register, KVYN/99.3 The
Vine, KVON 1440 AM, Napa Running Company, KCBS 740 AM/106.9 FM, Arrowhead
Water, Wallaby Organic, Running USA, Hurley's Restaurant, Southgate Mini
Storage, Napa Smith Brewery.
###
|
