FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kipkemei Defends Title To Win Men's Race, Jerotich Uses Strong Second Half
To Cruise To Women's Win At 2024 Tbk Bank Quad Cities Marathon
MOLINE, IL - Abraham Kipkemei (Kenya) used a late race surge to pull into
the lead and never looked back. He won the 2024 TBK Bank Quad Cities
Marathon in 2:21:33, a 37-second margin of victory. Lenah Jerotich (Kenya)
made her move just before the halfway point. She led by 22-seconds at the
midway mark, before opening a big lead in the final miles. Her winning time
of 2:38:06 was over 8-minutes ahead of the runner-up. The race was run
under cloudy skies, with light rain, humidity, and temperature around 70F.
In the early stages, Kipkemei was in group of three with Wilfred Kimitei
(Kenya) and Solomon Kagimbi (Kenya). The group opened with a 32:30 10K and
clipped through the halfway point at 1:09:25. Kipkemei slowly built his
lead with his closing miles. Kimitei kept the race close and was second in
2:22:10. Kagimbi was just back in third place at 2:23:41. The course record
of 2:14:04 was not challenged, set by Kiplangat Terer in 2013.
Taggart VanEtten (Morton, IL) ran in fourth place throughout the race
including the finish line. He recorded a 2:35:03. It was the third time he
has place fourth at the QCM (2021, 2022, 2024). Artur Mueller (Davenport,
IA) moved up several spots during the race, ultimately placing fifth
overall with a solid 2:35:43.
Kipkemei was the master's winner, while Mueller claimed runner-up honors.
Troy Fleisher (Knoxville, IL) was a close third with his 2:37:34. Kipkemei
set the course record last year for master's at 2:16:37.
Mercy Lagat (Kenya) was the early leader in the women's race, running the
opening 10K in 36:06, 28 seconds in front of Jerotich. It was Jerotich that
moved into the lead by the midway point with a 1:17:37 half split, 22
seconds in front. By mile 20, the Jerotich lead was just over four minutes.
Jerotich's effort was the eighth best in the history of the QCM. The course
record of 2:30:29, by Damaris Areba (Kenya) from 2022, remained intact.
Polina Hodnette (Chicago, IL) ran in third place the entire race. Her
finish time was 2:56:23. It was her second straight year occupying the
third position on the podium. Melissa Taylor (Bettendorf, IA) was fourth
overall in 3:20:15, while Grace Breitbach (Peoria, IL) rounded out the
top-five with her 3:22:40.
Sarah Vermillion (Eldridge, IA) recorded a 3:24:21 to take top master's
honors. Adrienne Morgart (Platte City, MO) was second just 24 seconds back.
Soyoung Cho (Coralville, IA) was third with a 3:52:14. The master's record
is 2:42:00, set in 2012, by Tatyana Byelovol (Ukraine).
The top local men were Mueller, Phil Young (Davenport, IA) in 2:41:02 and
Paul McShane (Bettendorf, IA) in 2:46:58.
The top local women were Taylor, Vermillion, and Kim Mann (East Moline, IL)
in 3:29:53.
Three open relays claimed top honors Sunday. Running Wild Elite captured
the men's division with a course record of 2:18:49. Augie Doggies was the
women's relay winner in 3:19:09. Running Wild Elite won the co-ed division
in 2:45:56.
MARCOS, SKOPEC CLAIMM BIG WINS IN MEL FOSTER CO. HALF MARATHON
Jaime Marcos (Champaign, IL) and Gabby Skopec (Coralville, IA) were big
winners in the Mel Foster Co. Half Marathon.
Marcos won for the second straight year. Marcos was 12 seconds off the lead
at 10K with an opening of 32:17. He battled back during the second half of
the race to move into the lead and build on his advantage before finishing
in 1:07:32. Mike Gille (East Moline, IL) ran strong to place second in
1:09:06, just ahead of Lucas Keifer (Burlington, IA) in third at 1:09:16.
The men's record of 1:04:47, by Colin Mickow (Naperville, IL) was set in
2019.
In the women's half, Skopec opened with a 37:52 10K and was leading by 1:15
at that point, before eventually winning by a 4:35 advantage. Olivia
Dietzel (Dickeyville, WI) finished second overall in the half with a
1:25:03, while Anne Terranova (Glendale, WI) rounded out the podium with a
1:26:46. The course record for the women's half is 1:14:23, set in 2014, by
Laura Batterink (Evanston, IL).
The top local men were: Gille, Zachary Gray (Davenport, IA) in 1:16:59, and
Aaron Golding (Moline, IL) in 1:17:52.
The top local women were: Kasey Froeschle (Davenport, IA) in 1:31:21,
followed by Maddie Himmelman (Bettendorf, IA) in 1:35:13, and Kelly Griffin
(Moline, IL) in 1:35:20.
TOP FINISHERS AT THE 2024 QCM:
MEN'S MARATHON
1. Abraham Kipkemei Kenya 2:21:33
2. Wilfred Kimitei Kenya 2:22:10
3. Solomon Kagimbi Kenya 2:23:41
4. Taggart VanEtten Morton, IL 2:35:03
5. Artur Mueller Davenport, IA 2:35:43
WOMEN'S MARATHON
1. Lenah Jerotich Kenya 2:38:06
2. Mercy Lagat Kenya 2:46:38
3. Polina Hodnette Chicago, IL 2:56:23
4. Melissa Taylor Bettendorf, IA 3:20:15
5. Grace Breitbach Peoria, IL 3:22:40
MEN'S MASTERS MARATHON
1. Abraham Kipkemei Kenya 2:21:33
2. Artur Mueller Davenport, IA 2:35:03
3. Troy Fleisher Knoxville, IL 2:37:34
WOMEN'S MASTERS MARATHON
1. Sarah Vermillion Eldridge, IA 3:24:21
2. Adrienne Morgart Platte City, MO 3:24:45
3. Soyoung Cho Coralville, IA 3:52:14
MEN'S LOCAL MARATHON
1. Artur Mueller Davenport, IA 2:35:43
2. Phil Young Davenport, IA 2:41:02
3. Paul McShane Bettendorf, IA 2:46:58
WOMEN'S LOCAL MARATHON
1. Melissa Taylor Bettendorf, IA 3:20:15
2. Sarah Vermillion Eldridge, IA 3:24:21
3. Kim Mann East Moline, IL 3:29:53
MEN'S HALF MARATHON
1. Jaime Marcos Champaign, IL 1:07:32
2. Mike Gille East Moline, IL 1:09:06
3. Lucas Keifer Burlington, IA 1:09:16
WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON
1. Gabby Skopec Coralville, IA 1:20:28
2. Olivia Dietzel Dickeyville, WI 1:25:03
3. Anne Terranova Glendale, WI 1:26:46
MEN'S LOCAL HALF MARATHON
1. Mike Gille East Moline, IL 1:09:06
2. Zachary Gray Davenport, IA 1:16:59
3. Aaron Golding Moline, IL 1:17:52
WOMEN'S LOCAL HALF MARATHON
1. Kasey Froeschle Davenport, IA 1:31:21
2. Maddie Himmelman Bettendorf, IA 1:35:13
3. Kelly Griffin Moline, IL 1:35:20
MARATHON RELAY CHAMPIONS, OPEN DIVISION
Running Wild Elite Men's Relay 2:18:49 - Course Record
Running Wild Elite Co-Ed Relay 2:45:56
Augie Doggies Women's Relay 3:19:09
MEN'S 5K
1. Devon Byers Ironwood, MI 17:27
2. Jay Schalk Davenport, IA 18:40
3. John Prineas Iowa City, IA 18:42
WOMEN'S 5K
1. Racel Webster 21:55
2. Tammy Kallback Dubuque, IA 22:40
3. Lori Long Cedar Rapids, IA 23:57
MEN'S MILE
1. Jay Schalk 5:11
2. Brian Doerrfeld 5:15
3. Nick Murray 5:19
WOMEN'S MILE
1. Eleanor Goodin 6:46
2. Lynn Merli 6:53
3. Hannah Durbin 7:08
MEN'S 10K
1. Matt Gagen 34:24
2. Andrew Strasser 36:49
3. Tyler Nels 39:23
WOMEN'S 10K
1. Emma Debaene 47:33
2. Megan Gillen 49:21
3. Ashley Kowalski 49:52
###
|