Basweti Defends, Kosgei Wins SunTrust Richmond Marathon
Event record field of 15,723 highlights 32nd edition; first-ever Runner's World Marathon Challenge

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By Scott Schricker
Posted Monday, 16 November, 2009

From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA

RICHMOND, Va. - (November 14, 2009) - Jynocel Basweti, 22, of Kenya took first place on Saturday morning at the 32nd SunTrust Richmond Marathon for the second consecutive year in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 28 seconds, beating his 2008 finish time by four minutes, while countrywoman Salome Kosgei, 29, who entered at the last minute, surprised spectators with her 26.2 mile debut victory in 2:40:51.

In the second McDonald's Half Marathon, two new course records were set as Nicholas Kurgat, 30, of Kenya won the men's division in 1:06:02 and Ethiopian Alemtsehay Misganaw, 29, defended her race title in 1:16:34, a two minute improvement from last year's time.

In the accompanying HCA Virginia 8K, Elkanah Kibet, 23, of Kenya and Teyba Naser, 23, of Ethiopia were the race champions in 22:47 and 26:31 respectively.

An all-time record of 15,723 runners participated in this weekend's events. The SunTrust Richmond Marathon and the McDonald's Half Marathon both drew record-breaking number of event entries - 5,188 and 5,572 respectively. The HCA Virginia 8K had a total of 4,564 runners, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kid's Run on Friday evening drew in 399 participants.

Among the SunTrust Richmond Marathon registrants were more than 200 participants in the first-ever Runner's World Marathon Challenge. The Marathon Challenge is an exclusive 16-week training plan created by Runner's World's Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso. All 14 of the magazine's editors also ran in Saturday's marathon.

On top of an all-time high number of participants, spectators also crowded the streets cheering and handing out water and snacks to the runners. "The atmosphere is great. The bands and people cheering along the way really do make a difference," said McDonald's Half Marathon participant Trish Tait of Fredericksburg, Va.

Good friends Bob Curtin, Jr., Hampton, Va., and Gladys Sopko, Williamsburg, Va., also participated in the McDonald's Half Marathon. Sopko, a first-time participant running in honor of her two granddaughters, said, "I loved it! I would rate it a 10."

"We danced at all the music stops. We got a workout just dancing," said Curtin.

The 2010 SunTrust Richmond Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, November 13.

32nd SunTrust Richmond Marathon
Richmond, VA, Saturday, November 14, 2009

MEN
1) Jynocel Basweti (KEN), 2:18:28, $2500
2) Michael Wardian (USA / VA), 2:25:13, $1500
3) Tim Young (USA / VA), 2:25:19, $750
4) Tom Haxton (USA / PA), 2:28:18, $500
5) Jon Molz (USA / VA), 2:28:33, $250

WOMEN
1) Salome Kosgei (KEN), 2:40:51, $2500
2) Divina Jepkogei (KEN), 2:44:25, $1500
3) Ilona Barvanova (RUS), 2:47:04, $750
4) Emily Ward (USA / VA), 2:58:48, $500
5) Kate Hudson Walker (USA / VA), 2:59:45, $250

2nd McDonald's Half Marathon
MEN
1) Nicholas Kurgat (KEN), 1:06:02*, $1000
2) Jared Abuya (KEN), 1:08:26, $500
3) Matthew Barresi (USA / VA), 1:08:38, $250
4) Jay Wyss (USA / VA), 1:09:00, $150
5) David Moore (USA / PA), 1:10:51, $100
*course record (previous record, 1:06:50, Derese Deniboba (ETH), 2008)

WOMEN
1) Alemtsehay Misganaw (ETH), 1:16:34*, $1000
2) Elena Orlova (RUS), 1:16:59, $500
3) Maria Busienei (KEN), 1:17:56, $250
4) Sara Petrick (USA / FL), 1:20:03, $150
5) Elizabeth Knize (USA / VA), 1:21:16, $100
*course record (previous record, 1:18:34, Alemtsehay Misganaw (ETH), 2008)

20th HCA Virginia 8K
MEN
1) Elkanah Kibet (KEN), 22:47, $1000
2) Peter Matelong (KEN), 22:50, $500
3) Julius Kogo (KEN), 22:55, $250
4) Julius Kiptoo (KEN), 23:19, $150
5) Kipyegon Kirui (KEN), 23:24, $100

WOMEN
1) Teyba Naser (ETH), 26:31, $1000
2) Hellen Jensutai (KEN), 26:57, $500
3) Alissa McKaig (USA / NC), 27:33, $250
4) Jessica Minty (USA / NC), 27:57, $150
5) Tatyana Mironova, 41, RUS, 28:57, $100

Deeper results at: www.richmondmarathon.com

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