Kiogora Wins Challenge, $100,000 at the 2005 New Las Vegas Marathon
Fernandez Women's Champion in Four-Women Sprint Finish
By Ryan Lamppa, Running USA wire

*Photos of the Finish Here

LAS VEGAS - (December 4, 2005) - At the New Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday morning, Stephen Kiogora of Kenya pulled away from countryman Titus Munji to win his first marathon in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 58 seconds, a new Nevada state record, while Adriana Fernandez of Mexico captured the women's title in 2:31:54 in a thrilling four-women sprint finish.

With fireworks, 30-plus running Elvi and the neon lights on the Vegas Strip at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino start, the inaugural race attracted an elite international field and thousands of marathon enthusiasts.

For the Challenge (the first person to cross the finish line wins an extra $50,000), the elite women took off 14 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of the elite men and the people's race. With 10-15 mph gusty, north winds, the lead packs of the women and men went out conservatively. The women hit the half-marathon in 1:16:29 and the men 1:08:26, and by the half, the men had whittled down the Challenge lead to 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Between miles 17 and 18 (1:45:31 into the women's elite race), the men caught the women and the Challenge was essentially over. With a series of late sub-5 minute miles, Kiogora and Munji made it a two-man race. At mile 24, Kiogora, 4th at Boston in 2004, pulled away from Munji and went unchallenged to the finish line.

"With the wind, I knew that it would be a tactical race, and I raced according to our training," said Kiogora, 31, who earned $100,000 ($50,000 for the win and $50,000 for the Challenge).

In the women's race, at 22 miles, Fernandez, Galina Bogomolova of Russia, Dorota Gruca of Poland and Nuta Olaru of Romania broke up the pack and stayed together until the end. In the final 150 meters, all four women sprinted hard with Fernandez edging Bogomolova (in her debut) at the line with Gruca and Olaru right behind.

"The wind was definitely a factor in our race. I concentrated on the other women not the Challenge. I didn't know if I would win until I broke the tape," said Fernandez, 34, the 1999 New York City Marathon winner.

With 10,955 entrants, the New Las Vegas Marathon became the fourth largest first-time marathon behind Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll 1998 (San Diego), Cologne 1997 (Germany) and P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 2004 (Phoenix).

Inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon
Las Vegas, NV, Sunday, December 4, 2005

MEN
1) Stephen Kiogora, Kenya, 2:11:58*, $100,000
2) Titus Munji, Kenya, 2:13:21, $25,000
3) Tekeste Kebede, Ethiopia, 2:14:38, $15,000
4) Girma Tola, Ethiopia, 2:14:50, $10,000
5) Araya Haregot, Ethiopia, 2:15:30, $5,000
6) Yusuf Songoka, Kenya, 2:17:01, $3,000
7) James Koskei, Kenya, 2:18:15, $2,000
8) Gilbert Koech, Kenya, 2:20:08, $1,500
9) Mohammed Awol, Ethiopia, 2:21:37, $1,000
10) Assefa Mezgebu, Ethiopia, 2:25:24, $500
*new state record (previous best, 2:12:37, Frank Plasso, Las Vegas 1986)

Clark County Championship
1) Abebe Yimer (ETH), NV, 2:26:15, $10,000

WOMEN
1) Adriana Fernandez, Mexico, 2:31:54, $50,000
2) Galina Bogomolova, Russia, 2:31:54, $25,000
3) Dorota Gruca, Poland, 2:31:55, $15,000
4) Nuta Olaru, Romania, 2:31:57, $10,000
5) Irina Safarova, Russia, 2:33:15, $5,000
6) Merima Hashim, Ethiopia, 2:33:52, $3,000
7) Albina Ivanova, Russia, 2:34:37, $2,000
8) Halina Karnatsevich, Belarus, 2:36:36, $1,500
9) Josephine Deemay, Tanzania, 2:41:40, $1,000
10) Edna Kiplagat, Kenya, 2:50:20, $500

Clark County Championship
1) Angela Bestwick, NV, 2:54:45, $10,000

For deeper results, go to: LVMarathon.com

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