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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (April 24, 2004) -
It was a pair of Kenyans, including a past champion, who decided
the men's victory at the fifth annual Country Music Marathon
Saturday in Nashville. Twenty-nine-year-old Luke Kibet, who
won the inaugural race title in 2000, used his experience
to overcome an impetuous 20th-mile surge by course rookie
and countryman Nephat Kinyanjui to capture the men's title
in a time of 2:14:11. On the women's side, Romanian Anuta
Catuna's hopes for a third Olympic berth remained alive when
she posted a time of 2:33:36 to win the women's title. Catuna's
mark placed her under the Olympic "A" time standard
and third on her country's list of Olympic qualifiers.
A half-hour weather delay at the start, due to heavy rain
and lightning, did not deter the runners from staging an exciting
race. Though the rain stopped just before the start, humidity
lingered and with no pacesetters to lead them, the elite men
began their tour of Nashville in tentative fashion. The first
10K was a sluggish 33:36, forecasting a 2:22 marathon finish.
The men reached the halfway point with a large pack still
intact. By 18 miles, the race had been reduced to four Kenyans
with Kinyanjui controlling the pace. A 5:09 20th mile had
opened a six second lead for Kinyanjui over Kibet. It was
the final ascent on the course, through Shelby Park at approximately
23 miles, where Kibet pulled away and ran unchallenged to
the finish.
"I was reminded of the many friends I have made here
in Nashville through the years," said Kibet, who in addition
to his victory in 2000, also placed second place here in 2001
and third in 2003. "I knew if I won, I would make many
more friends and that is what motivated me."
Kinyanjui ended up in second place, at 2:15:52, and Alario
Carrasco of Columbia was third, at 2:16:00. The countries
of Columbia and Venezuela used the marathon as their Olympic
Trials for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens and Carrasco earned
a trip with his third place showing.
In the women's race, Russian Firaya Sultanova and Catuna
worked together early on. The second place finisher at the
P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon in January, Catuna
made her move at 11.5 miles and ran by herself the rest of
the way.
"Today was my day," said Catuna, the 1996 New York
City Marathon champion. "I am so happy. When I was at
Shelby Park, I looked back and did not see anyone and I was
able to stay with my pace. I worked so hard to win, and I
did it."
Kenyan Gladys Asiba was the second woman across at 2:35:13
and Sultanova, a master, was third at 2:35:56.
Over 16,000 runners and walkers took part in the Country
Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon this year, the largest crowd
in the five-year history of the race. Among the participants
were Senator Bill Frist, who ran the half-marathon in a time
of 2:46:13 and Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte, who completed
the half in a personal best 3:05:45.
"I loved the new 'out-and-backs' on the course,"
said Frist, who hadn't anticipated finishing the entire half-marathon.
"It was not my best day, but I kept feeling better and
better and the fans along the course were great. They really
kept me going."
The festivities were capped with a Saturday evening post-race
concert featuring country music star Brad Paisley.
5th Country Music Marathon
Nashville, TN, Saturday, April 24, 2004
MEN
1. Luke Kibet, Kenya, 2:14:11, 2004 Nissan Xterra
2. Nephat Kinyanjui, Kenya, 2:15:52, $8,000
3. Alario Carrasco, Colombia, 2:16:00, $4,000
4. David Mutua, Kenya, 2:17:30, $2,000
5. Juan Cardona, Colombia, 2:18:04, $1,000
6. Julian Berrio, Colombia, 2:18:48
7. Diego Colorado, Colombia, 2:18:49
8. Hugo Jiminez, Colombia, 2:19:01
9. Collins Edep, Kenya, 2:20:41
10. Freddy Alvarado, Venezuela, 2:21:57
WOMEN
1. Anuta Catuna, Romania, 2:33:36, 2004 Nissan Xterra
2. Gladys Asiba, Kenya, 2:35:13, $8,000
3. Firaya Sultanova, Russia, 2:35:56, $4,000
4. Elena Makalova, Belarus, 2:38:15, $2,000
5. Elena Orlova, Russia, 2:42:29, $1,000
6. Hannah Lawrence, USA, 2:48:20
7. Iglandini Gonzalez, Colombia, 2:53:41
8. Katherine Danner, USA, 2:59:02
9. M. Hernandez, USA, 3:05:11
10. Emily McReynolds, USA, 3:09:23
Wheelchair Marathon Results
1. Scot Holconbeck, 1:42:06, $500
2. Patrick Doak, 1:50:14
3. Charles Gornall, 2:09:02
Half-Marathon
MEN
1. Andrew Person, Kirksville, Mo., 1:11:48
2. Matt Pulle, Nashville, Tenn., 1:13:39
3. Natnael Amare, Fort Worth, Tex., 1:14:27
WOMEN
1. Barbara Jarnagin, Lilburn, Ga., 1:26:10
2. Candace Chambers, Huntsville, Ala., 1:28:01
3. Kari Velasco, Louisville, Ky., 1:29:29
For complete resuls, go to the race website at: http://www.cmmarathon.com
source Running USA wire
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