Record field of over 11,000 participants in weekend events including inaugural half-marathon
SALT LAKE CITY – (June 3, 2006) – Under a clear blue sky and a backdrop of shining snow-capped mountains, a world-class international field led a record number of runners Saturday at the third annual Salt Lake City Marathon. The inaugural Salt Lake City Marathon Half Marathon got off to a blistering start, with Utah resident Dennis Simonaitis setting the course record at 1 hour, 10 minutes, 41 seconds.
Nearly 2,500 runners participated in the 26.2-mile race that wound thru Utah’s capital, with Kenyan Joseph Nguran finishing first in 2:16:42 with countryman Philip Tarus second at 2:17:59 and Ethiopian Demissu Ashebir third in 2:18:25. Utah resident Hobie Call took fourth place overall (2:24:07) and was the first U.S. finisher.
In the new half-marathon, Simonaitis, 43, of Draper, Utah, led almost 3,000 runners. Another 3,000 runners competed in the 5K race, and nearly 2,000 cyclists participated in the 2nd annual Bike Tour. Rounding out a full day of events, nearly 600 kids aged 5-12 ran in the Intermountain Kids Marathon, racing to the marathon finish line at The Gateway Plaza.
In the marathon, it would take 31-year-old Joseph Nguran nearly half the Salt Lake City Marathon to get to the front, but once he did there was no stopping him. Nguran took the lead just past the 13-mile mark and extended it to the tape, finishing in 2:16:42.
Nguran was cheered loudly as he sprinted to a crowded Gateway finish more than a minute ahead of the next male runner.
“I really pushed hard the last half of the race; I’m so very happy,” he said.
The win – worth $12,000 – was Nguran’s second in as many races. He was also a winner in Barcelona, barely three months ago. His time there – 2:12:36 – was also a career best.
In the women’s marathon, Ukraine’s Ilona Baranova surprised the favorite, Ethiopian Worknesh Tola, to take first. The 34-year- old waited 22 miles to make her move, just before Liberty Park, the start of the 5K race earlier in the day, leaving Tola far behind by the time she crossed the finish line in 2:38:06.
The new Half Marathon started along side the full Marathon at 6:45am. The course followed the full marathon course until it broke away at Sugarhouse Park and met back up with the full course just before Liberty Park and ended at the Gateway. Winner Simonaitis was closely followed by fellow Utahan Neal Gassman who finished just over 1:11:00. Emily Jameson of Taylorsville won the women’s half in 1:19:24.
The week’s events culminated Saturday evening with an awards ceremony and post-race concert, where the third annual Human Spirit Award was presented to Linda Wiggins for her generosity and courage. Although currently undergoing chemotherapy for the fifth time, she still found the strength to participate in the 5K and raise funds for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. As a member of Hometown Heroes, Wiggins personally matches all donations she and her husband receive.
3rd Salt Lake City Marathon
Salt Lake City, UT, Saturday, June 3, 2006
MEN
1) Joseph Nguran, Kenya, 2:16:42, $12,000
2) Philip Tarus, Kenya, 2:17:59, $8000
3) Demissu Ashebir, Ethiopia, 2:18:25, $5000
4) Hobie Call, USA/UT, 2:24:07, $3000
5) Jonathan Ndambuki, Kenya, 2:25:08, $2000
WOMEN
1) Ilona Baranova, Ukraine, 2:38:06, $12,000
2) Werknesh Tola, Ethiopia, 2:42:01, $8000
3) Delillah Asiago, Kenya, 2:45:52, $5000
4) Carol Cabanillas, USA/UT, 2:57:27, $3000
5) Jordan Vaughn, USA/NM, 3:08:47, $2000