Press Release - SunTrust Richmond Marathon - 11/10/01

For Immediate Release:
November 10, 2001

Contact:  Scott Schricker
No. 19/01	(804) 218-9689 

 
 

Race Records Fall:
               Reuben Chesang smashes old standard in winning 
                  largest-ever SunTrust Richmond Marathon;
                      17-year-old captures NTELOS 8K


RICHMOND, VA -  Kenya's Reuben Chesang pulled away at Mile 21 and cruised 
to a race record in winning today's 24th SunTrust Richmond Marathon in a 
time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 49 seconds.  His time smashed the old race 
record of 2:19:16 set by Robbie Pecht in 1981.  On the women's side, 
Russian Dorota Gruca distanced herself from the field early and easily won 
in a time of 2:36:16, the second-fastest women's time ever posted in the 
Richmond Marathon (Irina Suvorova, 2:31:25 in 2000).

Chesang broke away from a pack that included third place finisher and 
fellow countryman Simon Cherokony.  Russian Mikhail Khobotov surged into 
second to challenge Chesang and finish in 2:18:10.  Cherokony crossed the 
line in 2:23:23, ahead of Bassirima Soro (2:24:21) and three-time Richmond 
Marathon winner Tim Covington (2:25:25).

In the NTELOS 8k, 17-year-old Kenyan Shadrack Kosyei set a new race record 
in beating two-time defending champ Leonard Mucheru in a time of 22 
minutes, 36 seconds.  Mucheru clocked in at 22:47.  On the women's side, 
Sterling, Virginia's Caroline Zajac-Tynan finished with a time of 26:16 to 
easily outdistance Kenyan Grace Njoki (27:11).

A total of 2,657 runners registered for this year's SunTrust Richmond 
Marathon, breaking last year's record of 2,622.  Another 2,550 athletes 
registered for the NTELOS 8k, breaking last year's race record of 2,282 
entries.  This year, both races featured a new, downhill finish into 
Richmond's historic Shockoe Slip and adjacent to the city's new canal walk 
and the James River.

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