Simon Wangai, Olena Shurkhno Pick Up $17,500 at Country Music Marathon
Former NFL Running Back Eddie George Runs 2:02 Half Marathon
Press Release
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (April 28, 2007) - With cool temperatures and calm winds, the
eighth annual Country Music Marathon crowned two new champions in the
men's and women's races. First across the finish line outside LP Field,
home of the Tennessee Titans, was 28-year-old Simon Wangai from Kenya,
who covered the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 52 seconds.
Olena Shurkhno, 29 from the Ukraine won the women's race in 2:37:52.
The
pace of the men's race was set early by 28-year-old Oleg Kulkov from
Russia, along with Ukrainians Yuriy Hychun, 30 and Evgeni Bozhko, 31.
They held their narrow lead through mile five before the trailing pack
closed the gap.
Nearly the entire men's field jockeyed for
position over miles five through nine. Past winners Jomo Kororia, 26,
and Luke Kibet, 33, moved in to the lead, pushing the pace towards mile
13. At the half-marathon, the men were on pace to run in a 2:16:30
marathon time.
At mile 18, Kenyans Simon Wangai, 28, and Laban
Moiben, 24, broke away from the pack, turning in the first sub
five-minute mile of the race (4:59). Moiben gradually took control and
turned in the fastest mile split of the race at mile 21 (4:49),
widening his lead to 11 seconds.
As Wangai entered Nashville's Shelby Park at approximately mile 22, he had victory comfortably in hand.
"I
looked back and nobody was coming," Wangai said after his win. "I
thought this could be mine. Next year, I will come back to defend my
title."
In the women's race, Ethiopians Hirut Legesse, 25, and
Alem Ashebir, 24, lead early. By mile six, the race came under European
control with Svetlana Pretot, 35, from France, Olena Shurkhno, 29, from
the Ukraine and Iraida Pudovkina, 25, from Russia in the lead.
Approaching
the half-marathon mark, Shurkhno and Pretot took control of the pace.
Pretot was comfortable enough with the pair's lead that she smiled and
waved to one of the live bands along the course, while Shurkhno
remained focused on the race. Shurkhno's "focus" would pay off in the
end.
After passing through the half-marathon, running a 2:34:45
marathon pace, Pretot worked to increase her lead. Near mile 19, Pretot
had opened up an approximate 24-second lead ahead of Shurkhno, glancing
back inside Bicentennial Mall to admire her handy work.
At mile 21, the women were on 2:36:00 marathon pace and Shurkhno remained steady behind Pretot.
Shurkhno took the lead at mile 23 and never looked back. She crossed the finish line 37 seconds ahead of second place Pretot.
"She
ran the race as she had planned," said Shurkhno's agent Anbrey Baranov.
"I was very confident in the hills. I was trying to be patient."
Baranov translated for Shurkhno.
Former NFL running back with
the Tennessee Titans, Eddie George, completed his first half-marathon
in 2:02:56 alongside his friend and training partner Morris Jamison.
The two were pleased to beat their 2:10:00 goal.
"I didn't want
to go out to fast, I wanted to enjoy the run," George said. "The
encouragement from the people in the race was great."
George who
was recently recruited by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to join
TeamTN and lead the GetFitTN campaign said he hopes to speak through
action and continue to encourage people to lead healthy lives.
Duane Morrow, 39, from Hoschton, Ga. won the wheelchair invitational race in 2:22:07.
Johnathan
Eckberg, 26 and Victoria Crisp, 54, both from Nashville, were the top
local male and female finishers in times of 2:28:44 and 3:17:18
respectively.
In her marathon victory, Crisp also claimed the
top spot in the masters division, and Stephen Langat, 45, from Kenya
won the men's masters division in 2:29:25.
Claudia Colita of
Fayetteville, Ga. set a course record and won the women's half-marathon
race in 1:16:14. William Weaver, 23, from Nashville won the men's
half-marathon in 1:09:21.
The Country Music Marathon & ½
Marathon welcomed more than 31,500 runners and walkers to Music City
this year. For more information, please visit www. CMMarathon.com, or
call 800-311-1255.
2007 Country Music Marathon Prize Schedule
PROFESSIONAL ELITE RESULTS
Place, Name, Country, Time, Money
Men
1) Simon Wangui, 28, KEN, 2:13:52, $17,500
2) Laban Moiben, 24, KEN, 2:15:10, $8,000
3) Jomo Kororia, 26, KEN, 2:15:18, $4,000
4) Oleg Kulkov, 28, RUS, 2:15:34, $2,000
5) Philip Tanui, 31, KEN, 2:16:32$1,250
Women
1) Olena Shurkhno, 29, UKR, 2:37:52, $17,500
2) Svetlana Pretot, 35, FRA, 2:38:29, $8,000
3) Iraida Pudovkina, 25, RUS, 2:40:17, $4,000
4) Alem Ashebir, 24, ETH, 2:44:08, $2,000
5) Tatiana Mironova, 37, RUS, 2:44:36, $1,200
TOP NASHVILLE FINISHERS - MARATHON
Men
1) Johnathan Eckberg, 26, Nashville, 2:28:44, $1,000
2) Kevin Hill, 30, Nashville, 2:29:27, $500
Women
1) Victoria Crisp, 54, Nashville, 3:17:18, $1,000
2) Lisa Kirkham, 40, Nashville, 3:27:10, $500
TOP STATE OF TENNESSEE FINISHERS - MARATHON
Men
1) Johnathan Eckberg, 26, Nashville, 2:28:44, $1,000
2) Kevin Hill, 30, Nashville, 2:29:27, $500
Women
1) Victoria Crisp, 54 Nashville, 3:17:18, $1,000
2) Lisa Kirkham, 40, Nashville, 3:27:10, $500
WHEELCHAIR
Duane Morrow, 39, Hoschton, Ga., 2:22:07, $500
MASTERS
Male
Stephen Langat, 45, Kenya, 2:29:25, $500
Female
Victoria Crisp, 54, Nashville, 3:17:18, $500
Images courtesy of ASIphoto.com
Female Champion
http://www.eliteracing.com/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=13427
Male Champion
http://www.eliteracing.com/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=13426