FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fast Elite Fields Ready For Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon
And Half Marathon
NAPA, Calif.-February 24, 2019-The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon
(NVM) and Half Marathon has assembled formidable elite athlete fields for
the 41st annual event scheduled for Sunday, March 3, 2019. The throng of
over 4,200 event entrants will be highlighted by two KP Napa Valley
Marathon past champions and a host of talented competitors vying for 2019
titles.
Top Half Marathon Contenders
The elite women's field for the event's inaugural half marathon race (13.1
miles) is particularly solid. Among the entrants is three-time NVM champion
Devon Yanko (age 36, San Anselmo, Calif.). Yanko (née Crosby-Helms) set the
fast NVM women's course record of two hours, 39 minutes, and 37 seconds in
2012.
Note: The superb NVM men's course record of 2:16:20 was set in 1987 by U.S.
National Distance Running Hall of Fame member Dick Beardsley.
Yanko is, perhaps, best known as an ultramarathon runner, competing in
races longer than the traditional 26.2-mile marathon. She has competed five
times on the U.S. national 100 kilometer team, including the gold medal
winning women's team at the 2009 100 km World Championships in Belgium.
Yanko is running the half marathon event at NVM as a tune-up for the London
Marathon on April 28th.
"The Napa Valley Marathon is one of my favorite races," Yanko said. "The
course is beautiful and works well for me. I like rolling hills and I've
always felt like the event showcases some of the best parts of the wine
country. I'm really excited by my marathon training right now. I'm going
after a personal record time at London so the Napa Valley Half Marathon is
a great fast effort to help with my lead-up into that race."
Additional contenders for the female half marathon crown include:
Jenny Kadavy (36, Clayton, Calif.) Kadavy was the 2014 NVM (full marathon)
female champion. Her fast winning time of 2:40:47 that year qualified her
for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials race. Recently she placed second
woman at this year's Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon on
February 3rd in a time of 1:17:52.
Samantha Diaz (27, Jackson, WY). Diaz owns a personal best of 1:17:40 for
the half marathon distance and 4:40 for one mile.
Clara Peterson (35, Corte Madera, Calif.). Peterson (née Horowitz) was an
All-American in track and field and cross country at Duke University where
she earned Duke Athlete of the Year honors in 2006. Since then, as a
prolific racer on the roads and trails, she has scored wins in a number of
California's most competitive races-while raising four children with her
husband, Jeff. Her personal best half marathon of 1:12:49 was recorded in
2012. More recently, she scored a 1:18:52 women's victory at the San
Francisco Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.
The half marathon field on the men's side is chock full of contenders who
will vie for victory. Top entrants include:
Lupe Cabada (27, Reno, NV). Cabada is certainly familiar with NVM's course
having raced solidly on NVM's full marathon route three times previously.
Cabada's best NVM (full marathon) performance was fourth place in
2017 with a time of 2:37:35. His all-time personal best performance at the
half marathon distance is 1:09:17.
Chandler Kemp (29, Palo Alto, Calif.). Kemp scored a 1:09:30 third place at
the 2018 Silicon Valley Half Marathon and will be among the men's top
contenders in Napa.
Jonathan Briskman (27, San Francisco, Calif). Briskman recorded his
personal best half marathon time of 1:07:12 in 2017 and will aim for a
solid run in Napa.
Top Full Marathon Contenders
For NVM's full marathon (26.2. mile) race Liza Reichert (31, Los Altos
Hills, Calif.) comes in well prepared following a solid victory at last
month's Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon. Reichert's winning
time of 1:16:41 set a personal record. In 2015, Reichert set her marathon
personal best of 2:42:24 at the very competitive California International
Marathon in Sacramento, placing 14th female. Her time qualified her for the
2016 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials race. Reichert's primary goal for
NVM is to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in
Atlanta, Ga.
"This will be my first attempt at the marathon distance since giving birth
to my daughter, Madeline, about a year ago," Reichert said. "I had my best
cross country season to date this past fall, and set a 5K personal best of
16:32 on the roads. I haven't raced a marathon since the 2016 Olympic
Trials, but my training has been going well, and I'm optimistic that I can
go sub 2:45:00 at Napa."
Outside of running, Reichert works as a clinical researcher in the field of
neonatology (newborn medicine) at Stanford University and Lucile Packard
Children's Hospital.
Sarah Hallas (39, Cotati, Calif.) is returning to NVM following runner-up
performances in 2005 and more recently in 2018. Hallas' time of 2:51:01 at
NVM last year marks her personal best at the 26.2-mile marathon distance.
"I'm really excited to return to Napa for my 34th marathon and race the
beautiful and fast course again," Hallas said. "I've been able to get in
more training miles than ever in preparation for the race and can't wait to
see how it goes. I'm looking forward to some fast competition since several
ladies are hoping to grab the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials 'B' qualifying
standard. I'm hoping they'll push me to a new personal record and a top
five finish. Local races are always my favorite and Napa never
disappoints."
Among the men's top entrants for NVM's full marathon keep an eye on Zack
Sims (25, Atlanta, Ga.) who will be making his debut at the 26.2-mile
distance. Sims, a graduate of the University of Georgia, owns personal
bests of 3:47 for 1,500 meters, 14:07 for 5,000 meters, and 29:56 for
10,000 meters.
Additional Race Weekend Events:
The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon's annual Health and Fitness Expo
is scheduled for Saturday, March 2nd from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Napa
Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. The expo will also feature booths and
information presented by NVM sponsors and running, wine, and food related
vendors. Seminars and free beer and wine tasting are also scheduled. The
Health and Fitness Expo is free for the general public. The full Health and
Fitness Expo schedule, plus information about featured guest speakers, can
be found on the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon website.
The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon has kept to its traditions over
all the years. It's always on the first Sunday in March. The 26.2-mile full
marathon race starts at 7:30 a.m. from Rosedale Road and the Silverado
Trail in Calistoga. The USA Track & Field certified point-to-point course
takes runners south, through St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville
and to the finish line, located in the front parking lot area of Vintage
High School in Napa. The 13.1 mile half marathon race, new this year,
starts at 7:00 a.m. on the Silverado Trail at Conn Creek Winery and also
finishes at Vintage High School. The companion Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa
5K (3.1 miles) race starts at 7:30 a.m. at Vintage High School where it
also finishes. NVM has been supported by 1,200 volunteers each year.
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, New Balance, Road Runners Club of America, USA Track &
Field, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, Legendary Napa Valley, KPIX CBS5
and KBCW, XFINITY, KVYN/99.3 The Vine, KVON 1440 AM, KCBS AM and FM Radio,
Napa Smith Brewery, Conn Creek Winery, Athletic Feat, Nuun Hydration,
Nakedwines.com, Clif Family Winery, Raley's Nob Hill, Calistoga Motor Lodge
& Spa.
###
|
