Press Release - Sun Trust Richmond Marathon - 11/15/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           Contact:  Scott Schricker
November 15, 2003                                         (804) 218-9689


                            RONO DOES IT AGAIN!
   Kenyan breaks own course record in winning second straight SunTrust 
                  Richmond Marathon, takes home VW Beetle

RICHMOND, VA - Kenya's Elly Rono took control of the race early and cruised 
to an event record in winning today's 26th SunTrust Richmond Marathon in a 
time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 36 seconds.  That bested the old record he 
set last year by 26 seconds.  On the women's side, Poland's Dorota Gruca 
won in a time of 2:44:22, almost three and a half minutes ahead of South 
Carolinian Donna Anderson.

Running just 13 days after his fourth place finish at the New York City 
Marathon, the 33-year-old Rono broke from the rest of the field at Mile 6 
and the result was never in doubt thereafter.  Russian Andrey Kvznetov 
finished more than 11 minutes back at 2:26:43, followed by Richmond native 
David Spiller (2:27:51), John Boen (2:30:03) and Antony Gitay (2:30:05).

Along with pocketing $2,500 for his first place finish, Rono's course 
record meant that for the second year in a row he was also awarded a 
one-year lease on a brand-new Volkswagen Beetle as part of the race's New 
Beetle Chase.  It was Rono's third taste of victory in Richmond as he also 
won the 2001 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k.

The NTELOS 8k was won by 20-year-old Kenyan Joseph Mwai, who held off 
Canadian Matthew Kerr to win in a time of 23 minutes and 21 seconds.  Kerr 
finished 4 seconds back.  On the women's side, Russia's Jou Lia Gromova 
edged out countrywoman Tatyana Petrova at the line in posting a winning 
time of 25:47.

A total of 3,595 runners registered for this year's SunTrust Richmond 
Marathon, breaking last year's record of 3,432.  The NTELOS 8k had 4,037 
total entries, smashing last year's race record of 2,790 entries.

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