FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cortes Aces Fitteam Palm Beaches Marathon In First Try At Distance
Wellington's Whitelaw captures Women's Division
With an itch to try a marathon and a goal to escape the cold, Juan Pablo
Cortes got on an airplane in Denver and headed to Palm Beach for Sunday's
FITTEAM Palm Beaches Marathon.
Once a budding soccer player, Cortes got himself in shape while
rehabilitating an injured knee in 2012. He got into cycling and swimming.
But his true passion became running and that brought him to the start line
Sunday for his first ever shot at the 26.2-mile marathon distance. It is
safe to say that it will not be his last.
Cortes blew away the competition as he traversed the streets of West Palm
Beach and Lake Worth, winning the men's Marathon in a time of 2:53:06.
"It was fun, and really humid, and I'm not used to that," said Cortes, 35.
"I wanted to escape the cold. Palm Beach seemed like the perfect place to
go."
It was snowing when Cortes boarded the plane in Denver on Friday. The
FITTEAM Palm Beaches Marathon was run on a picture-perfect Sunday morning
with temperatures around 74 degrees and a nice breeze coming from the
Atlantic across the Intracoastal Waterway and onto picturesque Flagler
Drive.
Horse trainer Allie Whitelaw of Wellington didn't have to travel as far as
Cortes, but she also was a first-time winner in the Women's Division with a
time of 3:31:50. Unlike Corte, it was her 14th marathon.
In the half-marathon, Lake Worth resident Dylan Siska, 40, won in 1:23:17
while younger brother Rory, 36, was fourth. Recent Florida transplant Meta
Haley, a 32-year-old from Pittsburgh, won the women's division in 1:28:51.
The four winners were among 3,200 runners who participated in the race
weekend that also featured a 10K, four-person relay teams and a division
for disabled athletes and Achilles Freedom Team members. Runners came from
42 states and 17 countries in order to compete in one of the most unique
experiences among distance races in the state and country, a flat and fast
course with miles of water views along palm tree-lined Flagler Drive.
"I was very satisfied with the energy level we were able to generate in
year two of my ownership of the FITTEAM Palm Beaches Marathon," said Race
owner Kenneth R. Kennerly, also the Executive Director of The Honda Classic
PGA TOUR event. "Interest in the race is growing and we are bringing a
large number of new people to experience Palm Beach County."
The first two miles wound through the holiday-decorated downtown area and
past the multiple Santi-Land "Holiday in Paradise" sand displays which
included a 30-foot talking Christmas tree made of 600 tons of sand. Then
the runners headed north to the Manatee Lagoon before looping back South.
The Marathon participants continued past downtown to Lake Worth and back.
Cortes, a software engineer and professional cyclist, finished more than 23
minutes ahead of nearest competitor and second-place finisher Chuck Engle
(3:16:48). Cortes crossed the finish line 25 minutes ahead of third-place
Paulo Henrique (3:18:04).
Because it's the off-season for cyclists, Cortes still swims and runs
shorter distances to keep in shape.
"I've never been brave enough to try the full marathon," he said. "I
thought I'd sign up and come down here and find out what it's all about.
This was my debut."
He will return to Denver's cold temperatures early next week with what
might be the first of many first-place marathon medals.
"I'm just considering it my little run-cation" Cortes said.
Whitelaw, who ran her first marathon in Palm Beach in 2012, was well into
the race when she became aware that she was the race leader closing in on
her first title.
"I was chasing the half marathoner," she said. "I had no idea where I was.
At mile 6, they told me I was in the lead."
Though happy with the win, Whitelaw, married and a mom to a two-year old
son, was not happy with her time (3:31:49.9).
"It was good for 15-16 miles,' she said. "I was on pace for 3 hours. Then I
fell apart. There was a headwind when we turned around. It's a marathon.
Everything has to go perfectly to get that good time."
Jamie Sheahan, 38, (3:34:56) finished second while Carolyn Tapp, 50, was
third (3:35:10.8).
The Siska brothers both ran cross country and track cross country at
Atlantic High School in Lake Worth as prep students, but the pair never ran
on the same team.
"Because of the age difference we never got to run together," said Dylan, a
landscape company owner who celebrates his 41st birthday on Thursday.
While both brothers-who now live five houses apart-have run off and on
since high school, it was Dylan who started training first about six months
ago.
"I caught the bug again," said the father of two small boys who turned in a
winning time of 1:23:17. "I'm in the process of training. This race was
great. It's local, it's in front of friends and family and everything is
here.
"I had no intention of wining today until I got to 10 miles. I saw a couple
of guys in front of me and saw I had an opportunity to go for it. I thought
I'd give it a shot. They were great conditions today. I like it warm. It
worked to my advantage today."
Finishing in between the Siska brothers in second place was 16-year-old
Cameron Dunn (1:24:00.9) of Palm Beach Gardens with Delray Beach's Alan
Stob, 31, in third place (1:24:10.6). Rory Siska clocked in at 1:25:27.
Haley, who moved to South Florida in October from Pittsburgh where she was
an emergency room physician, is training for the Miami Marathon, where she
hopes to reach an Olympic qualifying time.
She surged to the lead Sunday after the first mile.
"It was hotter and more humid than I expected," said Haley, a former soccer
player at Pitt who took up running while rehabbing from an injury. "It was
just a good hard effort. I'm still a step below an elite athlete."
Stephanie Pi, 33, of Miami (1:30:58.4) and Kaitlyn Kelly, 24, of Port
Orange (1:31:42.9) were second and third, respectively.
The 10K race was won by a married couple: Jakob Loof, 33, won the men's
division (37:46.4) while Lena Eliasson-Loof, 37, was both the women's
winner (38:07.2) and second place finisher.
Former Navy Seal Commander Mark McGinnis finished a year-long personal
challenge at Sunday's marathon. McGinnis kicked off a one-marathon-a-month
campaign last year at this race and completed his 13th marathon Sunday
where it all started. McGinnis was running to bring awareness to his SEAL
Legacy Foundation that provides support to families of wounded and fallen
United States Navy Seals.
THE FITTTEAM PALM BEACHES MARATHON
RESULTS
MEN'S MARATHON
1 Juan Pablo Cortes Centennial CO 2:53:05.7
2 Chuck Engle Lancaster OH 3:16:49.5
3 Paulo Henrique Gouveia Sao Paulo3:18:05.0
4 Yusheng Ni Richmond BC 3:25:12.0
5 Todd Alfuth Jupiter FL 3:26:19.5
6 Kevin Cochrane Ft Lauderdale FL 3:30:11.0
7 Sebastien Sangely Boca Raton FL 3:31:16.2
8 Hamed Kian Jupiter FL 3:36:44.1
9 Tim Hannon Juno Beach FL 3:40:25.3
10 Emmanuel Galeote Hobe Sound FL 3:41:07.4
11 Ricardo Ripalda Coral Gables FL 3:41:46.7
12 Cezary Lubinski Ballina 3:43:28.9
13 Jay Mund Boca Raton FL 3:44:35.3
14 Gerry Keavany Venice FL 3:45:06.6
15 Patrick Higgins West Palm Bch FL 3:49:18.5
16 Auhalt Derick 3:50:02.7
17 Jean-Louis Beaudonnet Coconut Creek FL 3:53:01.6
18 Kevin Hanna Orlando FL 3:53:09.8
19 Jean Charles Lake Park FL 3:53:41.1
20 John Siragusa Palm Bch Gdns FL 3:54:09.5
21 Frederick Dolan Coral Gables FL 3:54:10.5
22 Don Sullivan Hamilton NJ 3:55:14.6
23 Robert Toonkel Elmira NY 3:56:10.1
24 Dave Masterson Palm Bch Gdns FL 3:56:25.5
25 Galvin Luznyj Kerns 3:57:24.1
26 Michael Spegt Suwanee GA 3:59:08.0
27 Eric Allaire Senneterre QC 4:00:21.5
28 Scott Douglas Miami Lakes FL 4:00:01.8
29 Marvin Mayorga Guatemala 4:00:26.6
30 Brian Minutoli Margate FL 4:02:48.3
31 John Iovanisci Xenia OH 4:04:12.9
32 Deukwoo Kwon Miami FL 4:05:40.4
33 Clayton Mcmillen Delray Beach FL 4:07:22.1
34 Matthew Radmilli Barnet 4:07:11.0
35 Kevin Dulong-Lapointe Senneterre QC 4:10:02.6
36 Mike Morley Oviedo FL 4:10:10.1
37 Danny Hastaba Palm Bch Gdns FL 4:13:45.5
38 Jon Coatoam Jupiter FL 4:14:53.8
39 Francisco De Jesus Doral FL 4:18:40.1
40 Alan Bloom Hollywood FL 4:20:18.9
41 Thomas Dannals Winston Salem NC 4:20:08.3
42 Paul Goldberg Hollywood FL 4:21:48.6
43 Ryan Dargan Tampa FL 4:24:15.3
44 Scott Cohen Vero Beach FL 4:25:14.6
45 John Donehue Summerville SC 4:30:02.3
46 Warren Barlow Kamloops BC 4:28:52.5
47 Patrick Hieger Hollywood FL 4:31:14.4
48 Roy Hampton Boca Raton FL 4:31:28.3
49 Ortega Joe 4:33:08.4
50 Matthew Altbuch West Palm Bch FL 4:33:35.6
WOMEN'S MARATHON
1 Allie Whitelaw Wellington FL 3:31:51.0
2 Jamie Sheahan S Burlington VT 3:34:58.0
3 Carolyn Tapp New Orleans LA 3:35:13.3
4 Christina Rooney West Palm Bch FL 3:38:38.5
5 Hannah Hearn West Palm Bch FL 3:42:56.4
6 Sharon Venturi New York NY 3:46:58.8
7 Lea Tardanico St Augustine FL 3:48:45.5
8 Kaley Glover Evans GA 3:50:00.7
9 Caryn Lubetsky Miami Shores FL 3:51:40.1
10 Delmy Rubio Palmetto Bay FL 3:53:02.8
11 Martha Madrigal Miami FL 3:53:02.8
12 Marisa Hafer St Petersburg FL 3:55:20.6
13 Helen Mckenzie Ft Lauderdale FL 3:58:56.6
14 Lynn LaRiviere Cape Coral FL 3:59:39.3
15 Kimberly Gates Port St Lucie FL 4:15:03.5
16 Edna Tello Coral Springs FL 4:18:07.6
17 Maureen Flynn Jupiter FL 4:21:15.9
18 Pat Nascimento Palmas TO 4:25:54.3
19 Anne Carroll Riviera Beach FL 4:26:16.3
20 Kelly Joy Naples FL 4:28:58.7
21 Diana Walsh Palm City FL 4:30:38.3
22 Aino Korhamo 4:29:51.0
23 Carla Fowell Lehigh Acres FL 4:31:28.2
24 Steph Piirainen Fort Myers FL 4:34:00.9
25 Shannon Houle Longwood FL 4:32:42.2
26 Jenny Sparks Wellington FL 4:33:00.4
27 Trish Dunn Annapolis MD 4:36:40.6
28 Maryna Ozerova Breckenridge CO 4:37:43.9
29 Emily Daycock Ft Lauderdale FL 4:37:12.7
30 Claudia Grottendorfer St.Martin 4:38:55.3
31 Jamie Crocker Wellington FL 4:42:01.4
32 Rachel Jones Okeechobee FL 4:43:55.2
33 Christian Hogg Wellington FL 4:45:01.9
34 Amy Hammond West Palm Bch FL 4:44:36.9
35 Erin Duffey-Dupree Wellington FL 4:47:50.4
36 Kelly Brown Tampa FL 4:51:43.2
37 Diana Riordan Plymouth MA 4:52:06.9
38 Patricia Hunt Cape Coral FL 4:52:23.1
39 Margo Gregory Kennesaw GA 4:55:50.3
40 Ashley Peacock Loudonville NY 4:58:22.0
41 Cecily Carr St Petersburg FL 5:05:00.9
42 Tammy Davis Vero Beach FL 5:05:37.1
43 Swellen Yano Da Silva Palmas TO 5:08:59.3
44 Michelle Lunderby Oakland Park FL 5:08:22.6
45 Hannah Schwab Jensen Beach FL 5:10:45.2
46 Janel Cruz Port St Lucie FL 5:10:23.9
47 Heather Beall Cary IL 5:12:37.4
48 Stephanie Craig West Palm Bch FL 5:13:46.9
49 Veronica Ghoghos Plantation FL 5:16:24.0
50 Lori Moger Key West FL 5:17:38.6
MEN'S HALF MARATHON
1 Dylan Siska Lake Worth FL 1:23:17.5
2 Cameron Dunn Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:24:01.6
3 Alan Stob Delray Beach FL 1:24:13.0
4 Rory Siska Lake Worth FL 1:25:27.7
5 Scott Colton Riviera Beach FL 1:25:56.8
6 William Burlison Hypoluxo FL 1:29:18.5
7 Richard Wandoff 1:30:18.9
8 Ricky Montez Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:31:28.1
9 Ryan Billings Tequesta FL 1:33:43.3
10 Jeffrey Kessler N Bethesda MD 1:34:11.8
11 Bernard Hechanova Royal Plm Bch FL 1:36:12.0
12 Andrew Smith 1:36:35.3
13 Zack Kraev Boca Raton FL 1:37:19.8
14 Tommy Fletcher Jupiter FL 1:39:16.8
15 Christopher Hobbs Royal Plm Bch FL 1:39:38.5
16 John Alexander West Palm Bch FL 1:40:13.2
17 Lenin Hallim Lake Worth FL 1:40:08.3
18 James Leidel West Palm Bch FL 1:40:11.0
19 Robert Weingard Boynton Beach FL 1:41:29.9
20 Carson MacLaren Boca Raton FL 1:43:52.6
21 Richard Illsley Lake Worth FL 1:42:33.7
22 Mitchel Duttinger Boynton Beach FL 1:43:00.9
23 Cormac Doyle West Palm Bch FL 1:43:08.2
24 Jacob Dillistin West Palm Bch FL 1:43:23.5
25 Reynaldo Caballero Miami Beach FL 1:44:00.2
26 Jean-Luc Caous 1:44:18.5
27 Daniel Damato Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:44:50.0
28 Matt Carter 1:44:50.3
29 Oscar Garcia Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:44:55.9
30 Peter Foglia Lighthouse Pt FL 1:45:53.0
31 Nicholas Crosby Delray Beach FL 1:45:58.4
32 Jamal Grant-Edwards Lake Park FL 1:46:27.8
33 Daniel Ocasio Royal Plm Bch FL 1:46:49.2
34 Steven Beson Wellington FL 1:46:37.4
35 John Strahley Cheshire CT 1:46:55.3
36 Heath Vinig Boca Raton FL 1:47:45.6
37 Peter Gaultney Hapeville GA 1:47:12.6
38 Sam Guagliardo Greenacres FL 1:47:24.0
39 Stephen Fletcher Jupiter FL 1:47:40.8
40 David Garfield Jupiter FL 1:47:49.1
41 Kevin Basore Wellington FL 1:48:48.2
42 Ron Rashid Chicago IL 1:48:40.7
43 Franz Resch Jupiter FL 1:48:49.6
44 Daniel Marieni N Palm Beach FL 1:49:00.0
45 Omar Warraiat Wellington FL 1:49:46.7
46 Jorge Vera Brooklyn NY 1:50:13.5
47 John Smith Jupiter FL 1:49:21.3
48 Dimitri Chimerakis Tequesta FL 1:49:33.1
49 Wassim Sewtizzi 1:49:53.0
50 Edward Hengtgen Pompano Beach FL 1:49:58.5
WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON
1 Meta Haley 1:28:51.8
2 Stephanie Pi Miami FL 1:30:59.3
3 Kaitlyn Kelly Port Orange FL 1:31:43.8
4 Lauren Ludka Boca Raton FL 1:32:49.5
5 Olga Martinez 1:33:59.2
6 April Flynn Jupiter FL 1:34:05.5
7 Melissa Perlman Delray Beach FL 1:34:28.9
8 Catherine Cope Jupiter FL 1:40:13.8
9 Sara Aube Port St Lucie FL 1:39:27.2
10 Maria Bastidas 1:40:55.0
11 Andrea McMillan West Palm Bch FL 1:41:05.2
12 Francesca Kaminski Wellington FL 1:41:51.7
13 Julia Priest Wellington FL 1:41:42.0
14 Johana Toviw 1:43:14.3
15 Nina Montez Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:43:51.6
16 Maribel Bleeker West Palm Bch FL 1:43:50.8
17 Ana Poveda Madrid 1:44:21.1
18 Teresa Dabrowski Jupiter FL 1:45:40.9
19 Shannon Fox 1:44:42.3
20 Kelly Harris Winston Salem NC 1:45:07.3
21 Marla Dudak Boca Raton FL 1:45:17.9
22 Aubrey Barela Jupiter FL 1:45:51.6
23 Alexis DeLisle Boca Raton FL 1:45:55.5
24 Antonio Guillermo 1:45:35.5
25 Silvia Poland Sterling VA 1:46:51.2
26 Alexandra Foglia Lighthouse Pt FL 1:47:10.8
27 Kiele Devine Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:47:01.2
28 Veronique Toupin Repentigny QC 1:48:36.8
29 Masha Pechenik Ocala FL 1:48:27.7
30 Kate Campbell Jupiter FL 1:47:26.6
31 Kristin Parker N Palm Beach FL 1:48:00.5
32 Nancy Frey 1:47:44.3
33 Jennifer Pressley Jupiter FL 1:49:24.6
34 Whitney Lasseter Jupiter FL 1:49:10.3
35 Stacey Harbison Boynton Beach FL 1:52:06.6
36 Emma Butchard Wellington FL 1:50:32.6
37 Carole Tordi N Palm Beach FL 1:50:52.1
38 Anne Ferola Jupiter FL 1:51:57.1
39 Amanda Pollok Palm Bch Gdns FL 1:51:32.7
40 Mia Rodriguez Lake Worth FL 1:51:31.5
41 Jahnel Kinnebrew Tequesta FL 1:52:26.1
42 Ana Garcia 1:52:40.3
43 Megan Nocella Jupiter FL 1:53:31.4
44 Taylor Tendrich 1:53:06.5
45 Hailey Smallwood Greenacres FL 1:53:56.3
46 Doreen Nieman 1:54:15.8
47 Emily Powell Lake Worth FL 1:54:34.8
48 Bridget Belcik Delray Beach FL 1:54:54.8
49 Tina Daughtry West Palm Bch FL 1:54:50.5
50 Stephanie Biront Palm Beach FL 1:55:45.0
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