Posted: May 23, 2005

Athletics: More Than 7,000 Runners Participate in 28th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and 10K

Leghzaoui Sets Women's 10K Course Record

CLEVELAND - (May 22, 2005) - At Sunday's 28th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and 10K, more than 7,000 runners participated and the event highlight was a new women's 10K course record by Asmae Leghzaoui from Morocco in 31 minutes and 10 seconds. The previous record was 31:43 by Sally Barsosio of Kenya. Leghzaoui was followed by Japan's Masako Chibo (32:27) and Russia's Albina Ivanova (32:32).

In the marathon, Cleveland runner Fred Kieser, 34, was the winner in 2:22:00, followed by 2004 champion Alexander Belavin from Russia who ran 2:23:18.

"I thought it would be cool for someone from Cleveland to win Cleveland," said Kieser, a veteran marathoner and Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. "It is very special to win at home."

The women's marathon was won by Donna Palisca from Killeen, Tex. with a time of 2:54:53, while Laura Fuduric from Strongsville was second in 2:59:43.

Kenyans dominated the men's 10K as Julius Kibet won in 28:44 with Reuben Chebii second (28:58) and Isaac Arusei third (29:30).

For the first time in its 28 year history, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K hosted a half-marathon. The men's winner was Rich Wisneski of Stow with a time of 1:17:03. Saulius Leonavicius from Germantown, Maryland placed second with a time of 1:17:23.

Ohioans led the women's half-marathon as Hannah Purdy won with a time of 1:21:18. Jill Aaron from Westlake was second in 1:27:17. As the inaugural running of the half-marathon, the winning times were course records.

Ideal weather conditions led to a surge in last minute registrations for the 28th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K. With temperatures in the 50s, more than 7,000 runners showed up at the starting line for the marathon, the 10K and the inaugural half-marathon. This is the most registered runners the race has seen since the mid-90s and represents nearly a 50 percent increase over 2004.

For more results, visit: ClevelandMarathon.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.