Posted: June 1, 2006

Athletics: Records Fall at 8th Annual Saddleback Memorial Half Marathon & 5K

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. - (May 29, 2006) - Nearly 3,500 race participants, from 85 cities, 24 states, 3 countries, laced up their shoes on Memorial Day Weekend to compete and to celebrate life in the most popular Saddleback Memorial Half Marathon & 5K in its eight-year history.

On a warm day, half-marathon winner Nick Arciniaga of Fountain Valley led a deep field of past champions to a record time of 1 hour, 10 minutes, 8 seconds. Arcinaga pushed the pace from the beginning and went unchallenged to the tape. For the second consecutive year, Sal Bautista finished second (1:11:07).

The women's half-marathon winner was 3-time champion and member of the U.S. marathon team at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Mary Akor in 1:24:39.

The defending 5K champion and local resident Martin Pennell was especially happy with the newly designed course. His winning time of 15:14 was a full 42 second faster than his time on the 2005 course which included the very challenging grade on Laguna Hills Drive.

With perennial favorite Ceci St. Geme out with an injury, the women's 5K field was led by Christine Appell from Huntington Beach in 18:07.

The two-day event helped raise $100,000 to benefit heart programs at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center and The Ray of Life Foundation, dedicated to saving the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims by providing public access to Automatic External Defibrillators (AED).

The event kicked off with a Community Expo on Sunday that included the popular Yellow Book USA Kids Races, live entertainment and plenty of family fun.

The festivities continued on Monday, Memorial Day with the Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk. Thousands lined the streets to cheer on family, friends, colleagues and other participants.

8th Saddleback Memorial Half Marathon & 5K - Laguna Hills, CA, Monday, May 29, 2006

MEN
1) Nick Arciniaga, CA, 1:10:08*
2) Sal Bautista, CA, 1:11:07
3) Rick Herr, CA, 1:12:53
MM1) James Sheremeta, 42, CA, 1:14:21
*course record (previous record, 1:10:17, Jason Delaney, 2005)

WOMEN
1) Mary Akor, CA, 1:24:39
2) Jill Greer, 41, CA, 1:30:43
3) Sara Gilles, CA, 1:30:54

5K
MEN
1) Martin Pennell, CA, 15:14

WOMEN
1) Christine Appell, CA, 18:07

For more information and complete results, visit: MemorialHalfMarathon.com.

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

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