Post by kaima on Jun 20, 2009 17:43:10 GMT -7
ANCHORAGE – After 22 years, the Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, has a new record-holder at the 26.2-mile distance.
Michael Wisniewski, 30, from Anchorage, captured the men’s title in the 36th annual event, blazing to a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 29 seconds, breaking the 1987 record of current race director Michael Friess, who ran 2:24:44 in 1987.
The women’s marathon title went to Paris, Ontario, native Natasha Yaremczuk, 29, who finished in 3:04:35, beating runner-up Kirsten Kolb by over 16 minutes. Kolb, from Anchorage, was the top Alaskan woman, thereby earning Alaska Airlines round-trip tickets, along with Wisniewski.
Wiesniewski, who last year set the current course record in the half-marathon at 1:11:46, saw that broken by University of Alaska Anchorage runner Marko Cheseto, who finished the 13.1-mile race in 1:09:24. The overall half-marathon record is still held by former Olympian Don Clary, who ran 1:08:18 on the old course in 1995.
Cheseto, a recent two-time NCAA Div. II All-American in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, led a parade of Seawolves in the top five of the half-marathon, with teammate Alfred Kangogo placing second (1:14:08), All-American skier Lex Treinen placing third (1:17:45), and cross country standout Paul Rottich placing fifth (1:18:39).
The women’s half-marathon went to another familiar face in local running circles as former marathon winner Esther Jurasek won in 1:28:34, almost six minutes better than runner-up April Nelson, also from Anchorage.
Seawolf cross country standout Hallidie Wilt, from Unalaska, won the women’s 5.6-miler in 34:12, while Edmund Burke, of Burtonsville, Md., took the men’s race in 29:05.
Wiesniewski, who last year moved to Alaska from Minnesota, has now added the Mayor’s title to recent victories in the Alaska 10-K Classic and the Alaska Heart Run.
Kenyan David Kiplagat, a three-time All-American with the UAA cross country and track teams, finished runner-up in the men’s marathon in 2:29:39, running that distance for the first time. More former Seawolves also had success, with Vernon Campbell coming in eighth overall (2:49:13), and Auston Ellis placing ninth (2:51:53).
The Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, is a joint production of the UAA Dept. of Athletics and the Municipality of Anchorage.
Approximately 3,500 racers – representing 46 states and 16 countries – took part in the 2009 events, including the marathon, half-marathon, 5-miler, youth cup and relay events.
_ _ _
I broke my old personal record in the half-marathon and am enjoying my victory coffee in the local coffee shop, but Kaladi doesn't sound very Polish!
Michael Wisniewski, 30, from Anchorage, captured the men’s title in the 36th annual event, blazing to a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 29 seconds, breaking the 1987 record of current race director Michael Friess, who ran 2:24:44 in 1987.
The women’s marathon title went to Paris, Ontario, native Natasha Yaremczuk, 29, who finished in 3:04:35, beating runner-up Kirsten Kolb by over 16 minutes. Kolb, from Anchorage, was the top Alaskan woman, thereby earning Alaska Airlines round-trip tickets, along with Wisniewski.
Wiesniewski, who last year set the current course record in the half-marathon at 1:11:46, saw that broken by University of Alaska Anchorage runner Marko Cheseto, who finished the 13.1-mile race in 1:09:24. The overall half-marathon record is still held by former Olympian Don Clary, who ran 1:08:18 on the old course in 1995.
Cheseto, a recent two-time NCAA Div. II All-American in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, led a parade of Seawolves in the top five of the half-marathon, with teammate Alfred Kangogo placing second (1:14:08), All-American skier Lex Treinen placing third (1:17:45), and cross country standout Paul Rottich placing fifth (1:18:39).
The women’s half-marathon went to another familiar face in local running circles as former marathon winner Esther Jurasek won in 1:28:34, almost six minutes better than runner-up April Nelson, also from Anchorage.
Seawolf cross country standout Hallidie Wilt, from Unalaska, won the women’s 5.6-miler in 34:12, while Edmund Burke, of Burtonsville, Md., took the men’s race in 29:05.
Wiesniewski, who last year moved to Alaska from Minnesota, has now added the Mayor’s title to recent victories in the Alaska 10-K Classic and the Alaska Heart Run.
Kenyan David Kiplagat, a three-time All-American with the UAA cross country and track teams, finished runner-up in the men’s marathon in 2:29:39, running that distance for the first time. More former Seawolves also had success, with Vernon Campbell coming in eighth overall (2:49:13), and Auston Ellis placing ninth (2:51:53).
The Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, is a joint production of the UAA Dept. of Athletics and the Municipality of Anchorage.
Approximately 3,500 racers – representing 46 states and 16 countries – took part in the 2009 events, including the marathon, half-marathon, 5-miler, youth cup and relay events.
_ _ _
I broke my old personal record in the half-marathon and am enjoying my victory coffee in the local coffee shop, but Kaladi doesn't sound very Polish!