FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Neely Spence Gracey Wins Humana Rock ‘n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon
· Poland's Emil Dobrowolski won men's half; Michigan's Geoff Burns and
Canada's Meggan Franks win marathon distance
· 7th annual event attracted 23,000 entrants from all 50 states and 32
countries; $1.6 million was raised by runners for charity through the
event
· 2017 marathon scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5; Presale registration special
is available online through March 6 RunRocknRoll.com
New Orleans, LA – February 28, 2016 – Neely Spence Gracey's goal at
Sunday's Humana Rock ‘n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon was to replicate a
marathon-pace effort and shake out some racing cobwebs.
Mission more than accomplished.
On a chamber of commerce, sun-splashed morning, Spence Gracey won the half
marathon in 1 hour, 14 minutes, 20 seconds. After dealing with the
heartache of a foot injury that prevented her from competing at the U.S.
Olympic Marathon Trials, Spence Gracey is healthy again and on schedule to
make her 26.2-mile debut at the Boston Marathon.
Sprawled out on a massage table after her victory, Spence Gracey said, "I'm
pleased with my effort. It's exactly what I wanted to get out of it. I
stayed controlled and pushed the last three miles, getting out of my
comfort zone, something you can't simulate in training."
Spence Gracey turned heads at the Rock ‘n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
last October, finishing second in 1:09:59, becoming only the 10th American
woman to run a sub-1:10 half. But the performance came with a price. She
suffered a foot injury that knocked her out of the Trials.
Sunday morning, she pulled away from Canadian Dayna Pidhoresky a little
after 4½ miles at the turnaround on St. Charles Avenue and was never pushed
again. Pidhoresky finished second in 1:18:42.
"I wasn't trying to make a move (when she took the lead). That's just how
things played out," she said.
More than 23,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes entered the half
marathon, marathon and 10K. No one drew more attention than Spence Gracey,
her long blonde hair braided and held in place by a baby-blue ribbon.
When she made the U-turn on St. Charles and began running against the grain
of the thousands of age groupers, the men and women filled her ears with
encouragement.
"You go get 'em … You go, girl … Yeah, first lady."
"It's always nice to have that encouragement," said Spence Gracey. "That's
what makes road racing so much fun. The overall environment, and it didn't
disappoint today."
Spence Gracey admits she's not the best hand-eye-coordination athlete,
saying she flunked second grade physical education because she couldn't hit
a baseball.
"But I could beat all the fifth-grade girls (running)," she said.
She made like Steph Curry on Sunday morning, tossing her first empty water
bottle about four feet, perfectly sinking it into a trash can. Impressed,
the men and women in the press truck cheered. Smiling at the feedback,
Spence Gracey slam dunked her empty water cup in trash can the rest of the
race.
"Pretty much a miracle," she later joked about that first four-footer.
"You'll never see that again."
Poland's Emil Dobrowolski won the men's half marathon in 1:04:17.
Michigan's Geoff Burns broke the tape in the men's marathon in 2:24:58.
Canada's Meggan Franks won the women's marathon in 2:51:50.
The runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes were treated to a foot tour of
the Big Easy. Along Charles Avenue they ran beneath sprawling oak trees in
front of southern mansions. Beads hung from trees and trolley car wires.
Jazz bands filled the course. There was a man in a giraffe costume handing
out Jello shots.
"This was so perfect," said Burns. "I wanted to come to New Orleans, sample
the food, catch some music. When I was hurting late in the race, there was
a band to pick me up. I love this race. I love this city."
The 2017 Humana Rock ‘n' Roll New Orleans Marathon & ½ Marathon will take
place on Sunday, February 5 and runners can take advantage of a presale
registration special through March 6. For complete results, photos and
more, visit RunRocknRoll.com.
Results – Humana Rock ‘n' Roll New Orleans
Place, Name, Age, Country, Time, Prize
Men's Half Marathon
1. Emil Dobrowoiski, 30, Poland, 1:04:17, $500
2. Derlis Ayala, 26, Paraguay, 1:05:10, $400
3. Jakub Nowak, 26, Poland, 1:06:53, $300
4. David Flynn, 26, Ireland, 1:09:45, $200
5. Andris Goncarovs, 23, USA, 1:13:18, $100
Women's Half Marathon
1. Neely Spence Gracey, 25, USA, 1:14:20, $500
2. Dayna Pidhoresky, 29, Canada, $1:18:42, $400
3. Allie Moore, 29, USA, 1:19:37, $300
4. Morgan Van Gorder, 26, USA, $200
5. Gabriela Trana Trigueros, 35, USA, $100
Men's Marathon
1. Geoffrey Burns, 25, Michigan, 2:24:58, $500
Women's Marathon
1. Meggan Franks, 32, Canada, 2:51:50, $500
About Rock ‘n' Roll New Orleans Marathon & ½ Marathon
The 7th annual Humana Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon & Half-Marathon
will take place the weekend of February 26-28, 2016. Runner's World named
the event one of the "Top 10 Most Fun Marathons" in 2016 featuring races
with the biggest parties. Participants get a first class tour of New
Orleans architecture and historical scenery while rocking to the sounds of
live, local bands playing every mile of the 26.2, 13.1-mile, and 10
kilometer courses. Cheer teams will be posted along the course to keep
runners moving. The event concludes with a headliner concert and finish
line festival in City Park where runners can celebrate their
accomplishments with unlimited post run beer. A two-day Health & Fitness
Expo kicks off race weekend at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention
Center. To register for the race or for more information, visit
RunRocknRoll.com.
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