Chelimo, Wardian Win OBX® Marathon
Course and all-comers state records set in marathon and half-marathon

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By Aaron Tuell
Posted Monday, 19 November, 2007

OUTER BANKS, N.C. - (November 11, 2007) - Over 3,600 runners competed in the 2nd OBX® Marathon and Gateway Bank Half Marathon on Veterans Day Weekend, and the weather on race day, Sunday, November 11 was postcard perfect. Sunny skies and lightly crisp fall air made for an enjoyable event and a competitive athletic stage.

This year, 50 elite runners from across America and as far away as Africa vied for prize money totaling over $26,000. Lilian Chelimo of Kenya won the women's marathon in 2 hours, 45 minutes, 16 seconds, and for her, the Outer Banks offered not only a challenging race, but a beautiful place to visit. The marathon course took runners through maritime forest, past the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Jockey's Ridge State Park and the Roanoke Sound.

Mike Wardian of Arlington, Va. earned the men's title in a course record 2:24:16. An impressive feat as Wardian just had competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials the weekend before in New York City. Robert Marchinko of Salisbury, N.C. was runner-up in 2:25:05 and also won the USATF State Championship. Luanne Coulter of Charlotte, N.C. was the women's USATF state champion in 2:56:27 (third female overall).

In the half-marathon, the top performances were fast as Samuel Kosgei of Kenya set an all-comers state record with his 1:02:34, while countrymen Daniel Kipkoech and Jynocel Basweti were second (1:03:20) and third (1:03:38), respectively. In the women's race, Ethiopia's Zemedkun Gebre Belainesh edged Kenya's Irene Mogaka, 1:13:55 to 1:14:07.

2nd OBX Marathon
Kitty Hawk to Roanoke Island, NC, Sunday, November 11, 2007

MEN
1) Michael Wardian (VA), 2:24:16*, $1000
2) Robert Marchinko (NC), 2:25:05, $1500
3) Brian Grudowski (IL), 2:28:01, $250
4) Philip Cheruiyot (KEN), 2:28:22, $200
5) John Piggott, 42, VA, 2:32:48, $600
*course record (previous record, 2:27:26, Philip Cheruiyot (KEN), 2006)

WOMEN
1) Lilian Chelimo (KEN), 2:45:16, $2500
2) Jenny Deweese (NC), 2:55:20, $1500
3) Luanne Coulter, 46, NC, 2:56:27, $2300
4) Donna Anderson, 41, SC, 2:59:34, $750
5) Emily Ruth (NC), 3:15:47, $450

2nd Gateway Bank Half-Marathon
MEN
1) Samuel Kosgei (KEN), 1:02:34*, $2000
2) Daniel Kipkoech (KEN), 1:03:20, $1000
3) Jynocel Basweti (KEN), 1:03:38, $750
4) George Towett (KEN), 1:04:30, $500
5) Wilson Chepkwony (KEN), 1:06:18, $250
*course record (previous record, 1:06:23, MacDonald Ondara (KEN), 2006)

WOMEN
1) Zemedkun Gebre Belainesh (ETH), 1:13:55*, $1000
2) Irene Mogaka (KEN), 1:14:07, $500
3) Maria Busienei (KEN), 1:16:36, $250
4) Heather Lee (CAN), 1:19:10, $650
5) Lori Stich-Zimmerman (TX), 1:20:12, $100
*course record (previous record, 1:16:11, Margaret Karie (KEN), 2006)

For more race results, visit: www.OBXMarathon.org

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