Aish, Zekerios Win P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon ... Running Down a Dream: Seven women qualify for 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
TEMPE, Ariz. - (January 13, 2008) - New Zealand's Michael Aish ran to his first career marathon victory Sunday at the 5th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, 20 seconds. Returning women's champion, Adenech Zekirios from Ethiopia, broke the 2004 course and Arizona state record of 2:31:33 in her repeat victory, finishing in 2:31:14. Also in the women's race, seven U.S. women qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon.
The 31-year-old Aish looked comfortable and composed in his second marathon appearance as he ran a strong race against his African counterparts.
"Sometimes when you're feeling good and out in front, nothing can stop you," said Aish. "This is the highlight of my running career."
The New Zelander battled Dejene Yirdawe, 29, from Ethiopia over the last half of the course. The two men separated themselves from a field of seven as they set a 4:58 per mile pace through mile 22. In the end, it was Aish's persistence that gave him the upper hand as Yirdawe broke in the final two miles.
Zekiros, 25, bested countrywomen Salomie Getnet (2:34:01) and Asnakech Mengistu (2:36:18), who finished second and third respectively.
The three Ethiopians ran together through the half-marathon, until Zekerios emerged from mile 14 in control of the lead, having recorded a 5:25 mile. She continued on a 2:28 marathon pace, which would have shattered the course record, before she began to slow in the last four miles.
Victory in hand, Zekerios lowered the course record by 19 seconds as she broke the finish line tape.
Finishing fourth in a time of 2:41:04, Linda Somers Smith, 46, was the first of seven U.S. women to qualify for this year's Olympic Trials. Having achieved the Olympic "B" standard by running under 2:47:00, these women will now move on to the Trials in Boston on April 20, the day before the Boston Marathon.
Trials qualifiers from the race - who received $500 in addition to any top 10 prize money - include: Somers Smith from Arroyo Grande, Calif., Sally Meyerhoff from Tempe, Ariz., Kristen Henehan from Silver Springs, Md., Allison Kerr from Vacaville, Calif., Betsey Keever from San Francisco, Michele Suszek from Aurora, Colo. and Lisa Thomas from Alexandria, Va.
Phoenix resident Susan Loken, 43, finished seventh in a time of 2:44:24. Having already achieved the Olympic "B" standard earlier this year, Loken had hoped to earn the "A" standard by running under 2:39:00.
In the half-marathon, Austin Bailey, 25, from Boulder, Colo. finished first among the men, while Bridget Duffy, 23, from Berkeley, Calif. was the first woman in 1:07:12 and 1:21:46 respectively. Tyler Byers, 25, from Sterling, Va., won the wheelchair division in a time of 1:45:07.
5th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe, AZ, Sunday, January 13, 2008
MEN
1) Michael Aish (NZL), 2:13:20, $20,000
2) Dejene Yirdawe (ETH), 2:14:10, $10,000
3) Halefom Adebe (ETH), 2:14:30, $6500
4) Pavel Andreev (RUS), 2:15:07, $4000
5) Lamech Mokono (KEN), 2:15:29, $3000
6) Shimelis Mola (ETH), 2:17:44, $1800
7) Evegeni Bozhko (UKR), 2:18:35, $1400
8) Wesley Ochoro (KEN), 2:19:07, $1200
9) Chokri Dhaouadi (TUN), 2:21:31, $1100
10) Stephen Muturi (KEN), 2:22:13, $1000
WOMEN
1) Adenech Zekiros (ETH), 2:31:14*, $20,000
2) Salomie Getnet (ETH), 2:34:01, $10,000
3) Asnakech Mengistu (ETH), 2:36:18, $6500
4) Linda Somers Smith, 46, USA / CA, 2:41:04, $5500
5) Irina Pudovkina (RUS), 2:42:26, $3000
6) Sally Meyerhoff (USA / AZ), 2:42:46, $2300
7) Susan Loken, 43, USA / AZ, 2:44:24, $1400
8) Kristen Henehen (USA / MD), 2:45:12, $1700
9) Allison Kerr (USA / CA), 2:46:02, $1600
10) Betsey Keever (USA / CA) 2:46:06, $1500
*course and state record (previous record, 2:31:33, Shitaye Gemechu (ETH), 2004)
MASTERS (40 & over)
1) Nikolay Kerimov, 40, Russia, 2:26:58, $1000
1) Somers Smith, see above
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