FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santucci, Burka Win DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Titles
Assefa, Jepchirchir UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon Champions;
6th Edition Draws Event Record 23,458 Marathon and Half-Marathon Entrants.
At the 6th DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday morning,
Clara Santucci of Dilliner, PA and Gebo Burka of Ethiopia won race titles
in convincing fashion, clocking 2 hours, 32, minutes, 25 seconds and
2:16:30 respectively. In the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon
Kenyan Sophy Jepchirchir shattered the event record with her 1:11:37, while
Ethiopian Hebtamu Assefa won a close race in 1:02:45. Under calm, overcast
conditions with a light drizzle early, an event record 23,458 marathoners
and half-marathoners and 1,250 FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay teams
raced through downtown Pittsburgh and 13 neighborhoods.
"What a great day to run in the City of Champions! We had a record event
field today and a new women's half-marathon event record, and it was so
exciting to see local runner Clara Santucci win the women's marathon," said
Patrice Matamoros, race director of the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh
Marathon. "We thank our sponsors, all the Runners of STEEL, the spectators
and the city for making this day and event so special."
The women's 26.2 mile race featured a back-and-forth duel between Clara
Santucci and Ethiopian Yeshimebet Bifa. The pair hit the halfway point as
one in 1:16:47. They ran together until mile 20 when Santucci, 27, began to
pull away and by mile 23 she had 35 seconds on Bifa. The West Virginia
graduate continued to build her lead and cruised to the win by 2 minutes
and 20 seconds over Bifa. Santucci, who became the race's first U.S. female
champion since 2009 (Kristen Price), also took home $15,000 ($8000 as race
champion, $4500 as top American, $1500 for a 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials
qualifying time and $1000 as top Pennsylvanian).
"Yeshimebet made a strong move right before the big bridge and hill and I
knew it was coming up having run this course for training. I thought, 'if
you want to go, then go, I'll save my energy.' It means a lot to me to win
close to home. The DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is a growing
race and the American Development Program is a great initiative. It was a
great weekend; I love it and couldn't ask for anything better," stated an
enthused Santucci, claiming her first career marathon victory.
In the men's marathon, Gebo Burka, 26, took over the race after 11 miles as
the 2014 LA ASICS Marathon winner rattled off low five minute miles to pull
away from field. He later slowed in the final miles, but went unchallenged
to the tape more than a minute ahead of runner-up and top American Fidele
Jefferson of Flagstaff, AZ who finished in 2:17:37. Burka won $9000
overall.
Two-time defending men's champion James Kirwa dropped out early in the
race.
"It is a difficult course and I went out in 2:10-11 pace for a chance at
the event record," commented Burka after the race. "After 35 kilometers my
stomach wasn't feeling good and my hamstring was tight, so I slowed down to
hope to still get the win."
In the women's half-marathon, Kenyan Sophy Jepchirchir went from the gun as
the 20-year-old fronted the field and ran a solo race, averaging 5:28 per
mile to the finish line in an event record 1:11:37. She shattered, by 56
seconds, the previous course record of 1:12:43 by Fatuma Sado (ETH) set in
2012.
The men's half-marathon was also a duel with Habtamu Assefa of Ethiopia and
Emmanuel Bor of Kenya battling each other until the home stretch before
Assefa, 29, outkicked Bor, 1:02:45 to 1:02:46. Their times are the #2 and
#3 all-time men's performances at the event. First American was Christian
Thompson of Wyncote, PA, who placed 7th in 1:05:55.
6th DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon
Pittsburgh, PA, Sunday, May 4, 2014
MEN
1) Gebo Burka (ETH), 2:16:30, $9000+
2) Fidele Jefferson (USA/ AZ), 2:17:37, $12,000#
3) Tewodros Asfaw (ETH), 2:18:50, $4000
4) Takele Gebreliul (ETH), 2:19:26, $2500
5) Joseph Mutinda (KEN), 2:19:28, $1500
6) Negash Duki (ETH), 2:21:26, $1000
7) Tesfaye Dube (ETH), 2:22:15, $500
8) Jed Christiansen (USA/PA), 2:22:41, $3500*
+includes $1000 first Pennsylvanian
#includes U.S.-only money and 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying bonus
*U.S.-only money, part of the American Development Program
MASTERS MEN (40 and older)
1) James Hommes, 43, PA, 2:37:44, $1000
WOMEN
1) Clara Santucci (USA/PA), 2:32:25, $15,000+
2) Yeshimebet Bifa (ETH), 2:34:45, $6000
3) Meseret Basa (ETH), 2:40:41, $4000
4) Tezata Dengersa (ETH), 2:42:02, $2500
5) Jane Vongvorachoti (USA/NY), 2:44:51, $5500#
6) Aregash Gubae (ETH), 2:47:16, $1000
7) Mira Tuominen (FIN), 2:54:04, $500
+includes U.S.-only prize, 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying bonus
and Pennsylvania resident prize money
#includes U.S.-only money and 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying bonus
MASTERS WOMEN (40 and older)
1) Kathleen Jobes, 44, PA, 2:54:47, $1000
6th UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon
MEN
1) Habtamu Assefa (ETH), 1:02:45, $6500
2) Emmanuel Bor (KEN), 1:02:46, $4000
3) Reuben Limaa (KEN), 1:03:36, $3000
4) Eliud Ngetich (KEN), 1:03:56, $2000
5) Diriba Degefa (ETH), 1:05:00, $1000
6) Amos Sang (KEN), 1:05:19, $500
7) Christian Thompson (USA/PA), 1:05:55, $250
WOMEN
1) Sophy Jepchirchir (KEN), 1:11:37*, $6500
2) Hirut Damte (ETH), 1:13:24, $4000
3) Heather Lieberg (USA/MT), 1:15:53, $3000
4) Sallie Ford (USA/FL), 1:17:32, $2000
5) Jennifer Bigham (USA/PA), 1:19:24, $1000
6) Milka Mejdoub (ETH), 1:21:21, $500
7) Elizabeth Perry (USA/PA), 1:21:32, $250
*course record (previous record, 1:12:43, Fatuma Sado (ETH), 05/06/12)
Participants and spectators are encouraged to share photos and their
enthusiasm for race weekend via Twitter with the following hashtags:
#RunHomePgh and #PghMarathon.
About the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon
Organized by the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc., the DICK'S
Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is a world-class event with more than
30,000 runners. The 2014 event will showcase runners from across the
country with ties to the City who will "Run Home to Pittsburgh" on Sunday,
May 4. The race ignites the spirit of Pittsburgh, spanning 13
neighborhoods, boasting 9 festivals and featuring music-by-the-mile. For
more information, go to: PittsburghMarathon.com
About the American Development Program
The American Development Program is an initiative designed to increase
exposure and racing opportunities for emerging American professional
runners. The program will offer complimentary entry, travel assistance and
prize money throughout the organization's year-long calendar of events,
including the DICK's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, UPMC Health Plan
Pittsburgh Half Marathon, GNC Live Well Liberty Mile and EQT Pittsburgh Ten
Miler. For more information, go to:
PittsburghMarathon.com/American_Development_Program
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