Ordway, Prince Win 29th Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon
Ngetich, Alyanak shatter event records in Nationwide Better Health Columbus 1/2 Marathon; event reaches record participation of 11,500

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Posted Monday, 20 October, 2008

From Sarah Irvin

COLUMBUS, Ohio - (October 19, 2008 ) - On a near-perfect marathon weather day on Sunday morning, Josh Ordway of Fairborn, OH won the 29th Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 3 seconds.

Ordway, who also earned $2500, bested Kenyan Joshua Koros who finished second in 2:25:34. In the women's marathon race, Dani Prince of Bloomington, IN had a commanding win in 2:48:56. The runner-up was Molly Watcke of New Bremen, OH in 2:54:44.

For the second straight year, new event records were posted in the 3rd Nationwide Better Health Columbus 1/2 Marathon. Joseph Ngetich of Kenya won the 13.1 mile race in 1:04:10, shattering the old mark by T.J. Lentz by more than 5 minutes. Countryman Emmanuel Korir finished 17 seconds later at 1:04:27.

On the female side, Ann Alyanak of Bellbrook, OH also crushed the old record by more than 5 minutes with her 1:14:46 to claim the first prize ($1000), while Sara Vergote of Toledo, OH came in a little more than 2 minutes later at 1:16:48 to place second.

The addition of the handcycling division lowered chair racing times even more for the 2008 Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon. For the third year in a row, Kevin Hosea of Loveland, OH placed first in 1:37:16. This year, Hosea was in the handcycle division and dropped more than 15 minutes from his previous chair racing time. Jeff Fisher of Medina, OH placed first in the wheelchair division in 1:48:54. Prize money awarded in both the handcycle and chair racing divisions was $1250 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place.

The race record field of 11,500 marathon and ½ marathon runners and walkers enjoyed great spectator support and more than 50 live bands and other entertainment along the all-new course. Additionally, approximately 400 Ohio National Guard men and women serving in Kuwait ran the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon Shadow Run in Kuwait.

The 30th Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon and ½ Marathon will take place Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon retains its place as one of the 25 largest marathons in the United States.

29th Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon
Columbus, OH, Sunday, October 19, 2008

MEN
1) Josh Ordway (OH), 2:23:03, $2500
2) Joshua Koros (KEN), 2:25:34, $1000
3) Peter Vail (CO), 2:26:05, $750

WOMEN
1) Dani Prince (IN), 2:48:56, $2500
2) Molly Watcke (OH), 2:54:44, $1000
3) Leah Shouey (PA), 2:55:51, $750

3rd Nationwide Better Health Columbus Half Marathon
MEN
1) Joseph Ngetich (KEN), 1:04:10*, $1000
2) Emmanuel Korir (KEN), 1:04:27, $750
3) Brandon Bauer (OH), 1:06:12, $500
*course record (previous record, 1:09:32, T.J. Lentz, 2007)

WOMEN
1) Ann Alyanak (OH), 1:14:46*, $1000
2) Sara Vergote (OH), 1:16:48, $750
3) Melissa Converse (OH), 1:17:50, $500
*course record (previous record, 1:20:27, Jill Scully, 2007)

Complete results and more at: www.ColumbusMarathon.com

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