Ann Stechschulte Alyanak, 1997 Bluffton High School graduate and standout female athlete, now of Bellbrook, was the first female to cross the finish line of today's (Oct. 16) Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon.
Alyanak came out on top in a time of 2:41:53. Angie Turner of Columbia, Mo., placed second and qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2:45:01. Alyanak had qualified for the Trials at a previous race. Ludmila Stepanova of Russia placed third in 2:46:26.
Prize money awarded for the full Marathon was $3,000 for first place; $1,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place in both the men's and women's races.
Ohioans won both the men and women's divisions in the 2011 Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon, and the event became Ohio's largest 26.2 mile footrace this year.
The 32-year-od Marathon had 4,729 finishers, pushing it past other Ohio marathons including The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon and the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon for total number of finishers in 2011.
Additionally the 1/2 Marathon had 9,887 finishers, the highest number in the six years it has been a part of the race weekend.
A total of 17,000 people registered for both events this year, up from 15,000 in 2010. The combined events have sold out for five straight years.
Matt Folk of Perrysburg won the event in 2:19:47 - narrowly missing qualifying for the 2012 USATF Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying standard of 2:19:00. This was Folk's second win in Columbus. The win marked the fifth year in a row an Ohioan won the Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon.
In his debut marathon, 23-year-old Paul Robinson of Flagstaff, Ariz., led most of the way before succumbing to Folk at mile 23 and posted a time of 2:20:30. Peter Kemboi of Kenya, placed third in 2:21:12.
Nationwide Insurance 1/2 Marathon Race
Jason Ordway snuck in to win the 2011 Nationwide Insurance Columbus 1/2 Marathon when the leader Abdelaziz Atmani of Morocco failed to make the turn to the finish line. Ordway won in a time of 1:05:11. Atmani quickly got back on course and placed 2ne in 1:06:19. Ryan Kienzle of Canton placed third in 1:06:37.
An event record was set in the female 1/2 Marathon by Mariska Kramer of the Netherlands in a time of 1:13:52. Twins Kara and Tara Storage placed second (1:16:14) and third (1:17:44), respectively.
Prize money awarded for the 1/2 Marathon was $1,500 for first place; $1,000 for second place and $750 for third place in both the men's and women's races.
Wheelchair Race
Chad Johnson of Charlestown, Ind., had a repeat win in the marathon wheelchair division in a time of 1:47:14. Jeff Fisher of Medina placed second in 2:29:
The sold-out, record registered field of 17,000 marathon and 1/2 marathon runners and walkers enjoyed the support of tens of thousands of spectators and more than 100 live bands and other entertainment along the course which includes parts of Columbus, Bexley, German Village, Short North, OSU campus, Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and Victorian Village.
The 32nd annual Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon and 1/2 Marathon will take place Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. For more information on www.columbusmarathon.com.
TOP FINISHERS
Marathon Male o Matt Folk, Perrysburg, OH o Paul Robinson, Flagstaff, AZ o Peter Kemboi, Kenya
Marathon Female o Ann Stechschulte Alyanak, Bellbrook, OH o Angie Turner, Columbia MO o Ludmila Stepanova, Russia
