Posted: January 31, 2005

Athletics: Record Falls As The Sun Rises, South Americans Conquer Again in Miami

Female Marathon Record Set, Runners Enjoy The View

MIAMI (January 30, 2005) - Sandra Ruales Mosquera, 30, from Ecuador, broke the female course record for the Toyota Prius Miami Tropical Marathon when she crossed the finish line on Sunday morning. Mosquera claimed her title as the 2005 champion and shaved 3 minutes off the course record set by Volga Yudziankova in 2003. Her time of 2:37:02 won her an $8,500 prize and victory. Natalya Cherkes, 28, took second in 2:45:01 receiving $3,500. Last year's champion, Stacie Alboucrek, 37, ran a 2:45:03, well off her Olympic Trials qualifying time last year. Alboucrek, received a $2,500 prize plus roundtrip airfare for placing as a top South Floridian.

Starting his day with a bang, Elias Rodrigues Bastos, 30, with a 2:17:26 time was the overall first place finisher in the 26.2-mile Toyota Prius Miami Tropical Marathon. Rodriugues Bastos, from Brazil, was greeted with a $5,000 reward. Trailing close behind, Freddy Alvarado, 25, finished in second place in 2:17:36. Alvarado, from Venezuela, was rewarded with a $3,500 prize. Winning $2,500 Jose Gutembergue Ferreira, 29, claimed this year's third place title after he completed the 26.2-mile course in 2:17:38.

Erick Quiros, 31, from Costa Rica, beat out all other male elite runners on the 13.1-mile Toyota Prius Miami Tropical Half-Marathon. His winning time of 1:08:04, which was just nine seconds short of setting a new course record, won him a prize purse of $1,000. The second place finisher, Michael Wardian, from Arlington, Virginia, finished his run in 1:10:06, winning $500. Two running partners tied for third place: Tom Kutter, 24, and Daniel Monroe, 25. Both runners crossed the finish line at exactly the same time, running the course in 1:11:08. The two will split the third place prize of $250.

The top three female half-marathon runners provided each other with a run for their money and the title, as the three crossed the finish line in a 33-second period. The lead female half-marathon runner, Debbi Kilpatrick, 41, raced across the 13.1-mile course in 1:18:32. Kilpatrick's cash payout was $750 for her speedy run. In a very close second place, Veena Reddy, 26, made it to the Bayfront Park finish line in a time of 1:18:49. The Philadelphia native received a $500 prize. Floridian Sonja Friend Uhl, 33, received a $250 prize for her 1:19:05 time.

The race website is at: http://www.miamitropicalmarathon.com" target="_news">www.miamitropicalmarathon.com

Source: Danny Elfenbein
PR Racing, Inc.

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