FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan C. Harmeling
(813) 254-7866
A Strong Field Leads to
New Course and Masters Records
February 6, 2005 (TAMPA) – Today's 2005 Bank of America Marathon measured
up to the Gasparilla Distance Classic Association's expectations with
perfect weather and record performances.
A crescent moon and temperatures in the high 40s welcomed over 3,500
marathoners and half marathoners to the 5th Running of the Bank of America
Marathon & Half Marathon (formerly Hops Marathon).
At the end of the day, a new course record was set in both the Open Men's
and Women's Division, and also in the Masters' Divisions.
Marathon Champion Zepherinus Joseph was the first to cross the Finish Line
and set a new course record with a time of 2:18:48. From Saint Lucia, the
Jacksonville resident battled the entire marathon course with Russian
Masters runner Oleg Strijakov. In the end, Zepherinus won out and beat the
old course record of 2:27:35 by nine minutes, taking home 1st Place Prize
Money of $2,250.
Because of a $40,000 Prize Purse with $30,000 dedicated to Masters runners,
the day definitely belonged to those that were 40 and over. After marathon
champion Zepherinus, came Strijakov ($8,000), current USATF Masters
Marathon Champion Dennis Simonaitis ($3,500), Moroccan Driss Dacha
($2,000), Russian Fedor Ryzhov ($1,000) and Kenyan Jackson Kipnk'ok ($500).
Strijakov, Simonaitis, Dacha and Ryzhov also took home Open Prize Money.
In the women's division, it was again all about the Masters competition.
Late entry, Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova won both the Open and Masters
Divisions and set another new course record with a time of 2:38:18. The
previous course record set in 2004 by Floridian Bea Marie Altieri was
2:57:15.
Following the Russian athlete was Dutch athlete Anne Van Schuppen, current
USATF Masters Marathon Champion Janet Robertz, another Russian, Alevtina
Naumova and Smithville, MO resident Beverly Owen.
On the women's side, because the first five to cross the Finish Line were
all Masters competitors, they also were the winners of the Open Division
taking home Open Prize Money as well as Masters money, making Sunday,
February 6, 2005 a pretty good day.
The first local finishers in the marathon were Lisa Valentine of Tierra
Verde, FL (2:55:20) and Muchapiwa Mazano of Tampa (2:43:44).
In the Bank of America Half Marathon, Tampa resident Steve Martel won with
a time of 1:12:56. On the women's side, 2004 Champion Shannon Hovey from
Simsbury, CT returned to Tampa and successfully defended her title with a
time of 1:20:34.
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