Press Release - St. George Marathon - 10/6/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                         Contact: JohnBradley
                                                  (435) 634-5850
                                                  USA Track & Field
                                                  

                   High School cross country coach 
                Michael Kirk wins St. George Marathon

St. George, UT (October 6, 2004) The 28th annual St. George Marathon was 
met with great weather, amazing scenery and over 4600 runners.  Michael
Kirk, of Salt Lake City UT improved his time from last year by more than 
six minutes to win the Marathon on Saturday, October 2nd. His time of  
2:23:37 bested Ibigawa, Japan visitor Katsuhiko Onuki.  Last year's Onuki 
won the Ibigawa, Japan Marathon entitling him to compete in the 2004 St. 
George Marathon as a member of the delegation sent by the sister-city.  
Katsuhiko finished  in second place with a time of 2:24:06. Steve Frisone 
of Chino Hill CA was third in 2:24:33.

Brenda Graham-Gray, 42 of Rock Springs WY, reached another milestone with 
her first marathon victory, completing the course in 2:44:05. Not only is 
she the overall winner, but she won the Masters Division as well. Suzy 
Schumacher, 35 of Phoenix AZ improved from sixth place in 2003 to second 
place with a time of 2:45:16 and Makiko Somiya another member of the 
Japanese Delegation from Ibigawa finished third in 2:47:10.

The wheelchair division was won by Jesse Austin of Provo, UT.  Jesse 
cruised through the downhill course with a victory in 1:38:38.

Masters winners included Donald Henderson, 46 of N Kingston RI in 2:36:01 
and the women's division winner with a time of 2:57:57 was Karen Cross of 
Provo, UT.

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