Posted: January 16, 2006

Athletics: Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Half Post Banner Year

17,779 registrants make for record-breaking attendance, performances

HOUSTON, Jan. 15, 2006 –– The 2005 Houston Marathon men’s division winner, Kenyan David Cheruiyot, 34, proved that last year’s victory was not beginner’s luck as he triumphed in what became a neck-and-neck race to the finish line, securing his second win of the Chevron Houston Marathon in 2:12:02. Eight seconds behind him, finishing in second place, was countryman Wesly Ngetich, 22, who was the leading contender in the half marathon until yesterday when he pulled out to enter the full marathon. Russian Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova, 44, secured an early and wide lead in the women’s division, winning in a time of 2:32:25 – just one second off of the master’s course record – even after being forced to walk during the last two miles due to a foot injury.

With a record prize purse of $172,900, an unprecedented 17,779 runners competed in the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K, breaking last year’s record and reaching the field limit in both the marathon and half marathon races. Runners also will raise a record amount for charities with the total expected to exceed $1 million – at least $200,000 more than last year.

Kenyan Nicodemus Malakwen, 24, broke away in the second mile of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon to set a new course record with a time of 1:02:07. In second place, was Brian Sell, 27, from Rochester Hills, Mich. With his personal record time of 1:02:39 and second-place finish overall, Sell won the USA Men’s Half Marathon National Championship, which was being hosted as part of the Aramco Half Marathon. “It’s good to see that we’re (American runners) making progress to competing again on a world level,” said Sell.

Asmae Leghzaoui, 29, from Morocco, pulled ahead in mile eight to finish as the top woman in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon with a time of 1:11:56. Seconds behind her were Dorota Gruca, Poland, and Adriana Pirtea, Romania.

One of the world’s fastest wheelchair athletes, Saul Mendoza, 38, of Mexico, rolled in 1:43:11 to secure first place in his division for the third time to start his season. Houstonian Ramiro Bermudez, 46, secured first place in the half marathon wheelchair with a time of 59:54 – his fourth win in the Houston half.

Race Director Brant Kotch expressed appreciation for the event’s 5,000 volunteers and quarter million spectators in a banner year. “The record-setting attendance and performances this year underscore the fact that Houston, as a world-class city, and the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon, as world-class events, are absolutely teamed up in a winning partnership,” said Kotch. “Every year since the Houston Marathon’s inception in 1972, the community and volunteers here have banded together to increase the magnitude of this international event; with results like today’s, the city should be very proud.”

Astronaut Bill McArthur was un-officially the 17,780th participant in the day’s three races, “running” the half marathon on a treadmill from the International Space Station. Coming in at 1:54:32, McArthur said he “felt wonderful” – even if he wasn’t a threat to the elite runners.

The 5K women’s division was dominated by local contenders, with athletes from Houston taking the top three winning spots including Jessica Word, 30, in first place, Helen Grant, 42, in second and Rebecca Marvil, 47, in third. Scott Gall, 31 from Cedar Falls, Iowa, finished first in the men’s division with a time of 16:01. Less than 30 seconds behind were Ray Hunt, 40 from Deer Lodge, Mont., and local Spring resident Quenton Cassidy, 18.

The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, is the nation’s premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from across the U.S. states and more than 40 other countries. The Chevron Houston Marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the Ultimate Guide for Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston’s largest single-day sporting event.

More information and complete race results are available online at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.

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