Posted: May 22, 2006

Athletics: Local Runners Shine at the 29th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

Over 7,800 participate in three races

CLEVELAND - (May 21, 2006) - Local runners shined thru the rain and wind to take second, third and fourth in men's and women's full marathon and first thru fifth in women's half marathon at Sunday's 29th annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

Nineteen-year-old Andrew Carnes of Canton, Ohio, finished second in the marathon behind Eric Hartmark, 28, of Rochester, Mich. who won the event with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 25 seconds ($1000). Carnes completed the 26.2 mile race in 2:29:15. In third (2:33:11) was Michael Seymour, 30, of Akron.

Megan Burns, 42, from Virginia Beach took first prize in the women's marathon with a 2:50:24 ($1000). Local women, Debbi Kilpatrick-Morris, 42, of Strongsville, Abby Cominsky, 23, of Middleburg Heights, and Cindy Kasper, 33, of Stow, finished second, third and fourth respectively.

The half-marathon, which is in its second year, garnered a new men's course record at 1:12:56, set by Mark Misch, 33, of Xenia, Ohio.

The women's half-marathon was dominated by local runners, with 23-year-old Kate Steklachich of Cleveland winning in 1:26:42, and second thru fifth place were also filled with local women.

The 10K race, which draws professional runners, saw Kenyans win both the men's and women's 6.2 mile race. Julius Kiptoo, 28, finished first in 29:41 ($1500) and Jemima Jelegat, 21, was the fastest woman in 32:19 ($1500).

A unique world record was set this year on Cleveland's course, Amy Winters, who finished the women's marathon in 3:26:03 to set a new world record for female amputees. Winters, a 33-year-old mother of two from Meadville, Penn., sustained injuries in a 1994 motorcycle crash and completed the race with a specialized prosthesis from her knee down.

There were 7,887 participants registered to run, walk or wheel in one of the three races that were part of the 29th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

Find full results at: ClevelandMarathon.com

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.

Tag and Save Tag and save this article to your Del.icio.us favourites. What is Del.icio.us?

Comment on this story.

Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest