Posted: September 13, 2004

Athletics: Sweeney, Gardner Crowned AUA National 100 Mile Champions

By Dan Brannen, Running USA wire

SYLVANIA, Ohio - (Sept. 11-12, 2004) - Connie Gardner of Medina, Ohio successfully defended her national 100 Mile title and Bob Sweeney of Rye Brook, N.Y. struck gold in his first race beyond 100 kilometers at Olander Park. Both Sweeney and Gardner are veteran members of the National 100K Team, Gardner, 40, have previously taken national titles at both 100K and 100 miles and Sweeney, 37, here earning his first.

Under a relentless sun which brought daytime temperatures to 82 degreesF, both athletes took the lead from the starting gun and controlled the race throughout. Sweeney was never challenged, extended his lead continuously by the hour, ran steady throughout and bested runner-up Steve Peterson of Lafayette, Colo. by over an hour at the finish. His 13:05:28 winning time was the fastest 100 mile by an American in 13 years and represents an average pace under 8 minutes per mile.

Gardner, on the other hand, was constantly pursued and challenged by Rebecca Johnson, who hails from the same hometown as Peterson. Having established an early lead of over a full lap of the 1.1 mile certified road loop on which the race is held, Gardner then gauged her ongoing effort on the various attempts Johnson made to unlap herself. The pair waged a tug-of-war until the final hours, when Johnson finally lost the ability to match her more experienced adversary's pace as Gardner hit the tape in 15:48:04.

The race was webcast live and the unfolding hour-by-hour story and complete results can be found on the website of the American Ultrarunning Association at: www.americanultra.org

AUA National 100 Mile Championship - Olander Park, Sylvania, OH, Saturday, Sept. 11-12, 2004

Men
1) Bob Sweeney, 37, Rye Brook, NY, 13:05:28
2) Steve Peterson, 42, Lafayette, CO, 14:11:26
3) John Geesler, 45, St. Johnsville, NY, 14:55:44
4) Serge Arbona, 39, Baltimore, MD, 15:57:39
5) John Nichols, 40, Waterville, OH, 16:06:49

Women
1) Connie Gardner, 40, Medina, OH, 15:48:04
2) Rebecca Johnson, 35, Lafayette, CO, 16:19:13
3) Janet Runyan, 45, Boulder, CO, 17:28:59
4) Susan Hart, 38, Reserve, NM, 18:25:08
5) Sue Albert, 35, Murrsville, PA, 19:40:50

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.