Posted: April 17, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Verran, Cheruiyot Race to a Rare Tie at LaSalle Bank Columbus Half Marathon

Converse women's winner; thousands brave un-spring-like conditions in Ohio From Stacey Stathulis COLUMBUS, Ohio - (April 14, 2007) - Two professional runners, defending champion Daniel Cheruiyot, 33, of Kenya and Clint Verran of Lake Orion, Mich. battled for 13.1 miles at the 4th LaSalle Bank Columbus Half Marathon on Saturday before finishing the road race in a rare tie. Both athletes posted a 1 hour, 6 minute, 1 second finish time after an all-out, neck-and-neck sprint to the finish line in deteriorating weather. Verran, 31, drafted off Cheruiyot's left shoulder throughout the race, but the Hansons-Brooks athlete was unable to completely overtake Cheruiyot in the final stretch. Both men crossed the finish line at the same moment - according to both electronic timing and eyewitness accounts. "This was the kind of race we hoped for from our elite runners. It was exciting for the fans to watch two runners battle for 13 miles at a five-minute-per-mile pace," said David Babner, president of John Bingham Racing. "Columbus offers all the runners a fair, but challenging race course. There was a lot of buzz and excitement out there today that gave everyone a boost." The women's race also saw a close competition with only 18 seconds separating the winner and runner-up as Melissa Converse, 29, of Blacklick, Ohio defended her 2006 title to edge Jackie Rzepecki, 28 of Rochester Hills, Mich., 1:22:18 to 1:22:36. In spite of colder than normal spring weather in central Ohio, nearly 4,500 total participants ran or walked in the LaSalle Bank Columbus Half Marathon (3,538), the Commit To Be Fit 5K (891) and the Capital Kids Mascot Chase (157 children ages 12 years and younger). Among them were Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman who completed the 5K in 33:20, placing 13th in his age group (50-54) and Steve Shepard, Senior Vice President of LaSalle Bank's Commercial Division in Columbus, who finished his half-marathon debut in 2:01.53, averaging 9:19 per mile. For race results, go to: ColumbusDistanceClassic.com. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest