FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Omae, Miller Win 2012 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Wykes, Slattery take half-marathon titles;
B-52s rock post race show; event to benefit National MS Society
Tempe, Arizona – January 15, 2012 – A soft cloud cover and cool
temperatures graced the 9th annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona
Marathon & ½ Marathon to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as
more than 25,000 runners toured the neighboring cities of Phoenix,
Scottsdale and Tempe. The race debuted two brand new courses, with new
start lines and a more scenic route.
In the men's full marathon race, Peter Omae reached the final straightaway
and took one last look over his shoulder. He knew he had to wait another 75
meters before he could start celebrating.
Omae, a Kenyan living in Worcester, Massachusetts, lifted his arms in
triumph when he broke the tape in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 47 seconds – 11
seconds up on Chad Ware of Fort Huachuca, Arizona. For the 33-year-old
Omae, it was his second marathon in a week. He was runner-up last Saturday
at the Mississippi Blues Marathon in 2:21:12.
"When you cross [the finish line] is when you celebrate," Omae said after
the race. "You can't celebrate with 50 meters to go. I was not expecting to
win because I ran a marathon last week, so I was hoping just to get top
three. I tried to push with the other guy to 24 miles and I knew that guy
was very strong. At 24 miles I started to push fast."
A group of three, including Omae, Ware and Roosevelt Cook (who finished 9th
in 2:33:17) went through halfway in 1:14:01, with Jeremy Zarins of Tempe
just a few seconds back. Omae and Ware eventually pulled away from Zarins
by 24 miles and fought each other stride for stride nearly all the way to
the finish line.
"I was trying to go for the win today," said Ware, who has a 2:19:16
personal best. " I was hoping to run in the low-2:20's. He was just a
little bit stronger at the end."
In the women's race, Trisha Miller of Missoula Montana, broke the tape in a
marathon for the first time in her career, posting a winning time of
2:49:12.
"I was shooting to go under 2:50," said Miller, whose previous personal
best was 2:51. "That's a huge PR for me."
Tanya Gallagher of Phoenix was the runner-up in 2:51:24, while Tere Derbez
Zacher of Scottsdale placed third in 2:53:45.
Miller held a 1:05 lead over Zacher at halfway, passing 13.1 miles in
1:25:26, while Gallagher went through in 1:26:45. By 20 miles Miller had a
1:38 advantage over Gallagher and continued to extend that lead over the
final 10K. Miller's second half was a 1:23:46, an impressive negative split
"I had an inkling that maybe I'd get top five," Miller said, "but honestly
a win was beyond anything that I could have ever imagined. I'm speechless.
It was awesome."
In the men's half-marathon, Dylan Wykes, a 28-year-old Canadian currently
training in Flagstaff, Arizona, separated himself from the sound of
starter's pistol to win in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 38 seconds, nearly 6
minutes up on second-place finisher Tibor Vegh of Flagstaff, who crossed
the finish line in 1:08:32. Jon Harmon of Phoenix was third in 1:08:53.
"I was hoping maybe someone would be willing to go with me the first 5K or
10K," Wykes said afterward. "But it is what it is. I was prepared to run
alone. I wanted to run hard. I really got up for this race."
With two of the slots already accounted for on the Canadian team, Wykes is
hoping his current momentum can carry him all the way to London.
"I've got a bit of work to do but it's a good goal to have," Wykes said of
his Olympic qualifying attempt.
In the women's half marathon, Phoenix native and 5,000/10,000-meter track
specialist Sara Slattery of Boulder, Colorado broke the tape in 1:16:24 to
win by 2:10 over Dorota Gruca of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Allison Krausen of
Edwards Colorado rounded out the top three in 1:18:43.
"It's fun to be able to race at home with my friends and family there to
support me," said Slattery, who hopes to make her debut marathon next year.
"It was fun. It was good to start the season here in my old backyard."
A high school teammate of Sally Mayerhoff, who won the marathon here last
year and died in a tragic bike accident two months later, Slattery had her
friend in mind throughout the race.
"Sally was really tough," Slattery remembered. "I didn't feel great out
there. I felt a little tired and sluggish, so whenever I hit a rough patch
out there I thought of Sally and she pulled me through."
Tributes to Meyerhoff took place throughout race weekend. All runners were
given black ribbons to wear, and elite athletes wore special bibs bearing
Sally's image. Trisha Miller, winner of the women's marathon, became the
first to receive the Sally Meyerhoff Memorial Trophy, a tradition that will
continue, along with the retirement of the last number Sally wore, F1.
Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman completed his 5th annual Mayor's Run for Wellness,
raising money for local charities by running the half-marathon course
twice. His official time for the second half-marathon was 2:29:51.
The 10th annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon to benefit
the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will return Sunday, January 20,
2013.
RESULTS
Men's Half Marathon
1. Dylan Wykes, 28, Canada, 1:02;38, $1,000
2. Tibor Vegh, 27, Flagstaff, AZ, 1:08:32, $500
3. Jon Harmon, 26, Phoenix, AZ, 1:08:54, $250
Women's Half Marathon
1. Sara Slattery, 30, Boulder, CO 1:16:24, $1,000
2. Dorota Gruca, 41, Las Cruces, NM, 1:18:34, $500
3. Allison Krausen, 31, Edwards, CO, 1:18:43, $250
Men's Full Marathon
1. Peter Omae Ayieni, 33, Phoenix, AZ, 2:24:47, $1,500*
2. Chad Ware, 27, Fort Huachuca, AZ, 2:24:58, $500
3. Jeremy Zarins, 39, Tempe, AZ, 2:25:09, $250
Women's Full Marathon
1. Trisha Miller, 31, Missoula, MT, 2:49:12, $1,000
2. Tanaya Gallagher, 25, Phoenix, AZ, 2:51:24, $1,000*
3. Tere Derbez Zacher, 39, Scottsdale, AZ, 2:53:47, $250
*Includes local prize money
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