FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Gorgeous Day for Race Domination at Rock 'n' Roll DC
· Mizael Carrera wins men's half marathon in 1:06:17; Bethany Sachtleben
wins for women in 1:19:45
· Olympian Alfreda Alevaro Reyes, took the men's marathon title in
2:30:05; Martha Nelson, defending champ, wins in 2:58:09 for the women
Washington, DC – March 12 – Washington DC has always been a city of beauty,
but on Saturday, at the fifth edition of the Rock 'n' Roll DC Marathon & ½
Marathon, the nation's capital was especially scenic for 24,000 runners who
turned out in gorgeous spring-like conditions to take part in the race.
After a heartfelt rendering of the national anthem within sight of iconic
monuments like the Washington Monument, runners started out down the broad
expanse of Constitution Avenue that runs alongside the National Mall.
Both the marathon and the half marathon were held together, and the two
lead packs quickly separated according to event.
Mizael Carrera, a Puerto Rican living in Addison, Illinois absolutely
dominated the half marathon, clocking one hour, 6 minutes, and 17 seconds
to break the tape in front of RFK stadium with a wave of the hand. The
24-year-old had a huge day, setting a 2-minute PR and winning the race with
a huge margin over second-place finisher, Carlos Jamieson (1:07:53). Third
place was awarded to Andrew Brodeur who was overcome by Jamieson in a
sprint finish to the line.
”The race felt good,” said champion Carrera afterwards. "I ran it alone,
and didn't run 1:05 like I had hoped, but I'm happy with it.” Carrera, who
before today, held a 1:08:08 half-marathon PR, is setting his sights on a
2:19 marathon so that he can represent Puerto Rico at the Summer Olympics
in Rio. When asked how it felt to run pretty much the entire race alone,
Carrera shrugged his shoulders and flashed a smile. "I was in great shape
going into the race. It was fine. The only hard part for me was the big
hill [at 10K], but I'm pleased with how I did.”
The first woman to cross the half marathon was Bethany Sachtleben who
covered the 13.1 miles in 1:19:45, which is an average of 6:06 per mile.
Sachtleben broke the finish-line tape wearing an "old school” yellow tee
shirt that read "Mason Women's Soccer.” Today's victory was a thrilling
experience for the 24-year-old champion from Manassas, Virginia. "Today was
amazing,” she said. "These Rock and Roll races are always a blast. There is
so much support out there. I loved the course, especially when I passed the
Georgetown Running Club. They pumped me up when I needed it.”
Second place in the women's half went to Kerry Allen (1:20:10).
The third-place finisher, Hannah Eckstein (1:20:28), came across the finish
wearing a "Run for St. Jude” tee shirt. "I have had some family members who
have battled cancer and wanted to chip in to show my support,” Eckstein
said. The 23-year-old, who works in Washington DC said she found out about
the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after seeing an ad for it on the
Metro. "I wanted to make today count,” she said. Eckstein ran her debut
today and said she owes to her coach and members of the Georgetown Running
Club. "It's such a great team,” she said of them.
The men's marathon went to the ultimate ringer, Alfredo Arevalo Reyes, a
Guatemalan citizen who won in 2:30:05 while holding his country's flag over
his head. Reyes, an Olympian who boasts a 2:12 marathon PR, signed up to
race yesterday and led from start to finish. "I have never run in a Rock
'n' Roll race before, and I have to say this was the most fun I've ever had
in a marathon,” he said through a translator. Second and third place were
awarded to Steve Chu (2:34:11) and Dirian Bonilla (2:37:25).
The first woman to cross the marathon finish line was last year's champion,
Martha Nelson, who smiled when she saw her 2:58:09 finishing time. "I'm a
born and bred Washington DC native, so it's really nice to win this race,”
she said afterwards. "The bands and the support on the course were great.
It can get pretty lonely out there as a marathoner, so these kinds of
things help.” Lori Nedescu (2:59:56) came in behind Nelson, while third
place was awarded to Katie Moran.
A 5K was also held on Saturday. Dickson Mercer (16:10) was the men's winner
and Kendahl Melvin (20:56) prevailed in the women's division.
True to the spirit of all Rock 'n' Roll races, runners and their families
got their funk on at the Toyota Rock 'n' Roll Concert when Tower of Power
took to the stage at RFK Stadium.
About Rock 'n' Roll DC Marathon & ½ Marathon
The 2017 Rock 'n' Roll DC Marathon & ½ Marathon is set for March 11, 2017.
Presale for next year's event is at $59 for the marathon and $50 for the
half marathon. Presale is open until March 20. Live bands and musicians
will entertain participants as they run through our nation's capital. The
race concludes with a finish line festival and headliner at the Toyota Rock
'n' Roll Concert Series: Tower of Power headlined this year's festival. A
two-day Health & Fitness Expo kicks off the weekend on Thursday and Friday.
The Expo is free and open to the public and will feature the latest in
running apparel, nutrition products, and all runner needs. For more
information about Rock 'n' Roll DC, please visit RunRocknRoll.com/dc or
follow us on Twitter @RunRocknRoll.
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