Posted: January 30, 2006

Athletics: Course Record Broken, Marathon Champions Run With The Wind

ING Miami Marathon Draws Record Field Of 10,000, Miami Spectators Come Out In Masses To Support World Class Event

MIAMI (January 29, 2006) – Under blue Miami skies and a sea of orange spectators in front of American Airlines Arena and Bayfront Park, more than 10,000 runners and walkers turned out for the 4th Annual ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon. The early morning start marked the largest marathon and half marathon in the history of South Florida and the cool winds and 68 degree starting temperature led to a course record in the women’s marathon. The 2006 edition of the race included one of the country’s largest kid’s races, the ING Run For Something Better, and more than 50 athletes with disabilities, including the Achilles Freedom Team, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who participated on wheelchairs.

Continuing the history of Latin American champions, Ruben Garcia, 35, of Mexico, broke the tape with a 2:18:15 and claimed his title as the 2006 champion. Garcia beat out returning champion Elias Rodrigues Bastos, of Brazil to earn $5,000. The 31 year old came up short and beat out fellow countryman Jose Guttembergue Ferreira by 7 seconds with a time of 2:19:43 and a prize of $3,500. Ferreira was awarded $2,500 and finished third with a time of 2:19:50.

On the women’s side, Hiromi Ominami of Japan took a sizeable lead in front of the pack on the way to her championship. For the second year in a row, the women’s course record was broken by more than three minutes, earning the champion $8,500. With a time of 2:34:11, Ominami, beat out last years defending champion and former record holder Sandra Ruales Mosquera. Mosquera, from Brazil, finished in 2:37:18, earning her $3,500. Rounding out the top three, was Wioletta Kryza, 37, of Poland, who crossed the finish line with a time of 2:39:10, collecting $2,500.

With brand new ING Cheering Zones in place throughout Miami, race organizers made a big push to draw thousands of spectators to watch the race. At the Omni Center in Downtown and Peacock Park in Coconut Grove, fans were given food, drinks and giveaways to help support runners during their long trek. The zones were full of people waving bright orange “GO” signs and banging thundersticks as runners passed through some of the most scenic portions of Miami-Dade County.

In the half-marathon, the open field produced top finishers with the exception of former Olympian Ronnie Holassie of Miramar. Holassie won with a time of 1:08:42 to beat out Tom Kutter, 25, of Loganville, GA, who finished third in 2005. Kutter’s time of 1:09:49 placed him just ahed of local Miami runner Gabriel Rodriguez, who got beat down the stretch and finished in 1:10:12.

The women’s half marathon included several elites but was won by an open runner, Alicia Cevallos, 26, of Ecuador. Cevallos finished with a time of 1:19:52 and beat out Takami Ominami, 30, twin sister to women’s marathon winner. With a time of 1:21:01, Ominami edged defending champion Debbi Kilpatrick of USA who finished 12 seconds behind in 1:21:13. Kilpatrick also took home the Masters Championship as well.

The 2007 ING Miami Marathon will take place on Sunday, January 28, 2007. A record field of 12,000 is expected as the race continues to grow throughout South Florida and the world.

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