Two Runners Set Race Records and 10,700 Compete in the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

ATLANTA, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Two champions in the elite field of runners and wheelchair racers of the second annual ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon set race records on the marathon course today. Oleg Marusin of Russia won the men's open division of the marathon in 2:18:50, cutting off 27 seconds of the time set last year by Kenyan Joseph Chirlee. Chirlee, who lives in Acworth, Ga., won the men's open division of the half marathon this year in a time of 1:06:43.

The men's marathon winner is a 10,000-meter runner who was competing in just his fourth marathon. Marusin took the lead beyond the 13-mile mark in Decatur and coasted to the record finish. "I was sure of myself that no one would follow too closely. I was comfortable. I am very happy that I won, but I am not completely satisfied with my time. I thought I would do better."

Lawrenceville, Ga. resident Janet Cherobon successfully defended her title as the women's open division of the half marathon, winning in 1:13:48. Setting a race record, she trimmed 2:48 from her mark in the inaugural half marathon last year.

The women's open division of the marathon was won by Alena Vinitskaya (Belarus) in 2:41:13. She was 12 seconds faster than the time set last year by Valentina Levushkina of Russia, who finished second today in the marathon, 2:06 behind Vinitskaya.

The event had 10,711 total athletes finish both the marathon and half marathon courses today. Of that total, 2,142 marathoners completed the 26.2-mile course and 8,569 finished the half marathon. Unlike the record heat in the inaugural race, chilly temperatures in the 40s and gusty 10-20 mile- per-hour winds greeted the runners and wheelers Sunday.

"I'm impressed that so many runners came out; they came from all over the country," said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, referring to participants who came from 48 states and the District of Columbia. "ING does a great job of partnering with the city and the local business community. So we are thrilled about that too. This promotes health and wellness and community engagement in a way that very few races do. So congratulations to ING."

Both of the wheelchair half marathon champions, Kirge Schabort (men's open division) and Amanda McGrory (women's open division) successfully defended their titles from 2007. Schabort, who resides in Cedartown, Ga. came in at 51:16, while McGrory, from Champaign, Ill., finished with a time of 1:02:21.

Results of ING Neighborhood Challenge competition for the best cheering zone along the 26.2-mile marathon course will be announced in early April. The top three Cheering Zones will be awarded grants of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 from ING to support neighborhood fitness initiatives. Next year's ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, April 5, 2009.

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Source: Georgia Marathon LLC

CONTACT: Jenny Schmitt of Peloton Sports, +1-404-421-8323,
jenny@pelotonsports.net, for Georgia Marathon LLC

2008-03-30 16:38:09 0322595 PRNEWSWIRE