FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Winitz
Media Coordinator
Win-It!z Sports Public Relations
(650) 948-0618
FIRST TIME VICTORS LEAD RECORD TURNOUT FOR SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - (July 31, 2005) - Two jubilant runners earned
their first-ever marathon victories, leading a record 11,290 finishers
at the 28th edition of the San Francisco Marathon and companion events
presented by Runners World today. Tony Torres, 35, of Cedar Glen, CA
grabbed the men's victory in 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 57 seconds. Sarah
Hallas, 25, of Petaluma, CA earned the women's crown with a time of
2:56:55. The pair topped the featured 26.2-mile marathon (4,918
finishers) which also included two half marathons and a 5K run/walk.
Running with the benefit of San Francisco's patented mid-summer cool
running conditions, Torres closely trailed Simon Isaacs of Washington,
D.C. through the early miles along the San Francisco Bay waterfront.
Following a roundtrip over the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, Torres
overtook Isaacs at 9-1/2 miles in Golden Gate Park. From there, Torres
negotiated the remainder of the scenic loop course unchallenged, and
broke the finishing tape at the Ferry Building in strong form.
Isaacs, 25, hung in for second place, finishing in 2:34:52. Austria's
Niklas Kroehn, 34, was third in 2:34:58.
"I felt that the early pace was slow, and I knew I could do better than
that," said Torres, who ran his first marathon only last December in
Sacramento. It's a pretty hard course, so my time was kind of slow. Over
the last two miles, I felt the pain. But now I feel good. With the
experience that I have now, I'll definitely be ready for my next
marathon."
Torres said that he was a star prep runner at Madera High School (near
Fresno), then stopped running until he resumed training five years ago.
On the women's side, Hallas improved upon her third place finish at last
year's San Francisco Marathon, and recent runner-up performances at the
Napa Valley Marathon and the Avenue of the Giants Marathon. Now, in her
fifth marathon, the former competitor at Ursuline High School (Santa
Rosa) and Chico State University is a marathon champion.
Hallas took the lead from the starting gun and never relinquished it,
improving upon her previous personal best time by 47 seconds.
"There were a couple of men that I was able to run with most of the
way," said Hallas. "That was great, so I was able to get through the
hills okay. It feels great to be a winner."
Tyler Stewart, 27, of Oakland, CA finished second in 3:04:27, followed
closely by Shana Brown, 35, of Colfax, CA in 3:05:12.
Vytautas Ezerskis, 44, of San Francisco successfully defended his
masters (age 40 and over) men's title, placing 7th overall in 2:42:56.
Jane Bloom, 40, of Olathe, KS captured the women's masters title in
3:14:01. John McCardle, 39, of Montpelier, VT was the first wheelchair
racer, finishing in 2:40:28.
San Francisco's Marian Lyons, 58, successfully completed her 100th
marathon. Wearing bib number 100. Lyons finished in 4:13:11.
"Everybody was cheering me on the whole way," Lyons said. "They brought
me through. Thanks to all my supporters, the marathon committee, and
Runner's World magazine for a great race and supporting me in my 100th."
Other notable accomplishments: Don Lang, (71 years old, Glendale, CA)
successfully finished his 400th marathon in 6:38:02. Chicago's Jose
Nebreda, 63, carried the American flag for the entire marathon distance
for the 37th time in honor of September 11 victims, finishing in 7:08:10.
In addition to the marathon, the event offers two half marathons.
Participants can choose which half marathon they want to run, negotiating
either the first 13.1 miles or second 13.1 miles of the marathon course.
The winners of the "first" half marathon were Michael Western (1:17:48),
26, of Waverly, IA and Eileen White (1:29:12), 42, of Piedmont, CA. White
also won last year's first half marathon. Sean Nixon, 34, of Bend, OR
secured the men's title in the "second" half marathon in 1:15:20. Lisa
Daane, 34, from Reno, NV was the second half marathon women's winner in
1:21:46.
Sarah Reinertsen, 30, of Solana Beach, CA finished the first half
marathon in 2:36:47. Reinertsen, a disabled athlete, holds world records
in several distances from 100 meters to the marathon for above-knee
amputee women. She is training for October's Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.
In the accompanying 5K race, Palo Alto, CA's Daniel Roth, 25, took the
men's crown in 15:43 and Brooke Wells, 20, from Berkeley, CA topped women
in 18:57.
The marathon's unique "Cause to Run" program allows participants to
pledge support to any of the event's official charity organizations,
raise funds, and earn pledge prizes by participating in any of the
running/walking events. In the past two years, race participants raised
over $250,000 for local charities that provide valuable and much-needed
services for the community.
The 2005 San Francisco Marathon is sponsored by Runner's World
(presenting sponsor), KPIX CBS Channel 5, UPN 44/Digital 45/Cable 12,
Hyatt Regency, Organs 'R' Us, Cytomax, University of California-San
Francisco, and See Jane Run. Our radio supporters are KGO 810 AM, KSFO
560 AM, 96.5 KOIT, and KDFC 102.1 FM.
Top Finishers - San Francisco Marathon - July, 31, 2005
Men
1. Tony Torres 35 Cedar Glen, CA 2:31;57
2. Simon Isaacs 25 Washington, DC 2:34:52
3. Niklas Kroehn 34 Austria 2:34:58
4. Duncan Larkin 35 Bethel, CT 2:37:26
5. Chikara Omine 22 San Francisco, CA 2:38:01
Women
1. Sarah Hallas 25 Petaluma, CA 2:56:55
2. Tyler Stewart 27 Oakland, CA 3:04:27
3. Shana Brown 35 Colfax, CA 3:05;12
4. Caroline Radtke 27 Vacaville, CA 3:09:26
5. Amanda Klein 26 Williston Park, NY 3:09:27
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