Posted: January 10, 2005

Athletics: Yae Wins, Gemechu Repeats at P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon

TEMPE, Ariz. (Jan. 9, 2005) - The second annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon brought more of the same on the women's side and crowned a new men's champion as the musical marathon hit the streets of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe on Sunday.

Ethiopia's Shitaye Gemechu, 24, successfully defended her title when she captured the women's 26.2-mile road race in a time of 2:32:51. Close behind was the young Australian, Haley McGregor, 25, who made her marathon debut in a solid 2:33:47.

A tactical race ensued on the men's side. Kenyan teammates Haron Toroitich, the defending champion, and Philip Tarus, ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Ethiopia's Terefe Yae through 25 miles before Yae finally broke away from defending champion Toroitich to capture his first major marathon title. He crossed the line in a time of 2:14:24. Toroitich was second in 2:15:40 and Ethiopia's Belay Wolasha was third at 2:16:23. The top American, Chad Johnson of Team USA Minnesota, finished fifth overall in a personal record 2:16:57.

There were several famous faces in the crowd of over 29,000 marathon and half-marathon registered participants. Shonda Schilling, wife of World Series Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, finished her first marathon in 4:50:57. NFL great and three-time Super Bowl Champion Roger Craig completed the marathon in 3:50:45. Arizona Diamondback outfielder, Luis Gonzalez, completed his first half-marathon in 2:16:19. Cindy McCain, wife of U.S. Senator John McCain, walked the half-marathon for Train to End Stroke in 3:58:05.

2nd P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon - Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe, AZ, Sunday, Jan 9, 2005

MEN
1) Terefe Yae, 23, Ethiopia, 2:14:24, $20,000
2) Haron Toroitich, 27, Kenya, 2:15:40, $10,000
3) Belay Wolasha, 34, Ethiopia, 2:16:23, $6,500
4) Philip Tarus, 30, Kenya, 2:16:36, $4,000
5) Chad Johnson, 28, USA/MN, 2:16:57, $3,000
6) Sergey Emelyanov, 26, Russia, 2:17:44, $1,800
7) Stephen Muturi, 29, Kenya, 2:19:43, $1,400
8) Asnake Ferkadu, 22, Ethiopia, 2:23:55, $1,200
9) Driss Dacha, 42, USA/NM, 2:28:38, $1,100
10) Marty Dalton, 28, USA, 2:29:44, $1,000

WOMEN
1) Shitaye Gemechu, 24, Ethiopia, 2:32:51, $20,000
2) Hayley McGregor, 25, Australia, 2:33:47, $10,000
3) Karla Sokolovich, 32, USA, 2:55:35, $6,500
4) Mindy Kuehl, 26, USA, 2:56:01, $4,000
5) Sarah Shuler, 26, USA, 2:57:25, $3,000
6) Lisa Pohlit, 24, USA, 2:57:53, $1,800
7) Rebbechah Castilo, 43, USA, 2:58:40, $1,700
8) Suzy Schumacher, 35, USA/AZ, 3:00:21, $1,200
9) Stephanie Hodge, 39, USA, 3:03:22, $1,100
10) Stacey Lauritano, 38, USA, 3:06:23, $1,000

For complete results, go to the race website at: www.rnraz.com.

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.