FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Raises
More than $8 Million for Nationwide Children's Hospital in Seven Years
Five Americans qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials at today's event
(COLUMBUS, OH - Oct. 21, 2018) - The 2018 Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon featured a field of more than 15,000
participants and, over the past seven years, has raised more than $8
million for the hospital.
Following were highlights of the day:
- Nearly $1.3 million and counting was raised for Nationwide Children's
Hospital during the 2018 event; for a total of more than $8 million raised
since the partnership with the event started in 2012;
- Five Americans qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, including the first
four females in the marathon (beating the 2:45 qualifying time) and the
second place male 1/2 marathon winner;
- Columbus's own Christina Murphy won the women's marathon division for the
second time
- A field of more than 15,000 participated from 46 different states and 16
countries;
- 24 Nationwide Children's Hospital Patient Champions and their families
were along 24 miles; one mile was the Angel Mile and was dedicated to the
angels of Nationwide Children's who have already run their race; and one
mile was the Encore Mile for the more than 160 Patient Champions from
previous races.
"It was just incredible to drape American flags around the shoulders of the
runners who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. And even better, three
of the five who qualified are Ohioans," said Darris Blackford, Race
Director. "But the main inspiration is always our Patient Champions at
every mile. They have fought overwhelming odds and are a visual reminder of
the life-saving work that Nationwide Children's Hospital does for children
in Central Ohio and around the country and the globe. It's our great honor
to partner with them."
TOP FINISHERS
Marathon Male
- Elijah Rugut, Kenya 2:22:46
- Josh Ordway, Springboro, OH 2:23:32
- Brent Martin, Wooster, OH 2:24:21
Marathon Female
- Christina Murphy, Columbus 2:40:43
- Anne Flower, Lexington, KY 2:42:24
- Emma McCarron, Mansfield, OH 2:43:20
1/2 Marathon Male
- James Ngandu, Kenya 1:03:42
- John Raneri, New Fairfield, CT 1:03:49
- Kiprop Mutai, Kenya 1:05:41
1/2 Marathon Female
- Vicoty Chepngeno, Kenya 1:12:38
- Kaitlyn Peale, Portland, OR 1:13:29
- Grace Kahura, Boulder, CO 1:14:20
1/2 Marathon Wheelchair Male
- Casey Followay, Wooster, OH 1:03:34
- Matt Davis, Bowling Green, KY 1:03:37
- Joey Gibbs, Ocala, FL 1:24:11
Marathon - Wheelchair Male
- Christian Clemmons, Champaign, IL 1:53:58
- Steven Smith, Plover, WI 1:59:18
- Yen Hoang, Vancouver, WA 2:15:26
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE 2018 EVENT
THE PEOPLE
- 24 Miracle Mile Patient Champions who have shared their stories to
inspire
- 3,000 volunteers making this marathon possible
- More than 15,000 athletes come from 46 states (we are only missing
representation from Alaska, Louisiana, Rhode Island and the ever-elusive
North Dakota!)
- Nearly 100 bands and entertainers add extra cheer
- 25-member marathon team and 10-member marathon board of directors
that have put in approximately 10,000 hours of planning
- Approximately 60,000 people attend the Health & Fitness Expo
- Approximately 100,000 spectators cheer on athletes on Race Day
- Participants in the 1/2 Marathon range in age from 12 years of age
(we have five registered) to 83 years of age; participants in the full
range in age from 16 years old to 77 years old (from Kildare, Ireland!).
- Participants in the full marathon hail from USA, Brazil, Canada,
China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, South
Africa and the UK. Participants in the half marathon hail from the USA,
Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Kenya and Taiwan
- 85 elite athletes are entered in the full and the 1/2 marathon
- Nearly 1,000 Children's Champions raise money for Nationwide
Children's Hospital through the event
- 53 participants are running the race on their birthday!
THE SUPPLIES
- More than 125,000 White Castle cups of water to quench thirst
- 100,000-plus cups of Lemon-Lime Gatorade (approximately 11,600
gallons of Gatorade) when water just doesn't cut it
- 14,000 bananas, 10,000 apples, 30,000 bottles of water, 12,000
peanut butter sandwich cracker 6-packs, 12,000 packets of string cheese,
18,000 Zone Perfect bars, Sunbelt Bakery granola bars, 2900 Whirly Bird
bags of granola, 18,000 Haribo Halloween gummies, 16,000 cartons of Smith's
Chocolate Milk, 12,000 bagels
- 600 portable bathrooms for relief
- 24,000 Clif Shot energy gels to refuel (chocolate, raspberry and
citrus flavored!)
- 96 portable generators to power the course
THE COURSE
- 1 Angel Mile to honor, remember and celebrate the angels of Nationwide
Children's who have already finished their race
- 1 Encore Mile, for the patients who lined the 2012 - 2017 Nationwide
Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon course
- 20,000 feet of fencing (nearly 4 miles) along various parts of the course
- 201,600-watt sound system to rev up runners at the Start Line
- 20 Clif Bar and New Albany Walking Club members
- 27 permits throughout five different police jurisdictions to close down
26.2 miles of roads
- Approximately 10,000 lbs. of discarded clothes donated to Goodwill
Columbus
THE CAUSE
- Nationwide Children's Hospital has more than 1.2 million patient visits
annually and stays true to its mission of providing care regardless of the
family's ability to pay.
- As a result of the partnership between the Columbus Marathon and
Nationwide Children's Hospital seven years ago, more than $8 million has
been raised to support the life-saving work of Nationwide Children's
Hospital.
About The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
The 40th annual Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon and 1/2
Marathon will take place Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. More than $8 million has
been raised for Nationwide Children's Hospital since it became the title
beneficiary of the event in 2012. For more information, visit
www.columbusmarathon.com.
For more information on today's race and full race results, visit
www.columbusmarathon.com.
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