FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Julius Kosgei Wins 2012 GO! St. Louis Marathon
Jackie Pirtle-Hall Captures the
Women's Marathon Title, Breaks Course Record
Daniel Kirwa Sets New Half Marathon Record
Alexandra Blake Wins Women's Half Marathon
ST. LOUIS (MO) – April 15, 2012 – Julius Kosgei, 32, from Searcy, AR
captured his first GO! St. Louis Marathon title with a time of 2:28:38. On
a day when start temperatures were above 67 degrees and runners fought
strong winds, Kosgei edged Jerry Faulkner, 30, from Edmond, OK by 15
seconds. Faulkner, finished with a time of 2:28:53. On the women's side it
was another first time GO! St. Louis champion – Jackie Pirtle- Hall, 29,
from Saint Charles, MO., established a new women's course record, posting a
time of 2:42:03, eclipsing Megan Earney's record of 2:51:20, set in
2009. Beth Woodward, 36, from Orrville, OH finished second with a time of
2:59:11.
In the Half Marathon race, Daniel Kirwa, 25, from Searcy AR set a new half
marathon course record with a time of 1:05:01. Kirwa broke Mario Macias,
record of 1:05:09, set in 2010. He was followed by second place finisher
Benson Chesang, 29, who posted a 1:08:54 mark. Chesang is the brother of
two-time half marathon champion Mathew Chesang (2007 – 2008). Finishing
third in the half marathon was Abraham Rutto, 29 from West Des Moines, IA
with a time of 1:09:05.
In the women's half marathon race, Alexandra Blake, 29 from Tuscon, AZ was
the first women to cross the line with a time of 1:20:52. Blake finished
ahead of local product Sunny Gilbert, 33 from Ellisville, MO, who posted a
1:24:24 time. Third place was captured by Jessica Koster, crossing the line
in 1:25:13.
In the 12th running of the GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend,
more 8,737 finished the half marathon and more than 1,598 finished the
marathon. The event also included a 4-person marathon relay, with more than
500 teams competing. In all more than 25,000 participants, had registered
in 10 different events, over the two-day weekend of fitness races. The GO!
St. Louis 5K, Read, Right & Run Marathon, Children's Fun Runs and Mature
Mile, which were set to take place on Saturday were canceled due to severe
weather in the area.
The GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend is an event that was created for
all ages and fitness abilities and features a marathon, half marathon–
presented by PNC Bank, Marathon Relay – presented by Lockton Companies, 5K
Run/Walk , GO! St. Louis Read, Right and Run Marathon® - presented by
Express Scripts, Children's Fun Runs and a Mature Mile. The GO! St. Louis
Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is Missouri's largest fitness event.
Top Results
Marathon – Men's Division
Julius Kosgei, 32, Searcy, AR – 2:28:38, $1,500
Jerry Faulkner, 30, Edmond, OK – 2:28:53, $750
Magnus Holmstron, 32, Jefferson City, MO – 2:33:03, $500
Marathon – Women's Division
Jackie Pirtle-Hall, 29, Saint Charles, MO – 2:42:03, $1,500*
Beth Woodward, 36, Orrville, OH – 2:59:11, $750
Heather Backer, 37, Crest View Hills, KY – 2:59:29, $500
Half Marathon – Men's Division
Daniel Kirwa, 25, Searcy, AR – 1:05:01, $1,000*
Benson Chesang, 29, Lawrence, KS – 1:08:54, $500
Abraham Rutto, 29, West Des Moines, IA – 1:09:05, $400
Half Marathon – Women's Division
Alexandra Blake, 29, Tuscon, AZ – 1:20:52, $1,000
Sunny Gilbert, 33, Ellisville, MO – 1:24:24, $500
Jessica Koster, 24, St. Louis, MO – 1:25:13, $400
*Course Record Bonus - $500
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