Richmond Marathon

Kenyan Elly Rono won Saturday's Sun Trust Richmond Marathon in Virginia by four minutes with a 2:16:02 finish, demolishing the record set last year of 2:17:49. Rono, who said he had no idea he would run the race that fast, kept up a 5:08 pace, and with a few miles left went for the record and the prize money that went with it.

General News Richmond Times Dispatch

Nov 10, 2002

Maggie Chan-Roper won her first marathon by capturing the women's championship in Saturday's SunTrust Richmond race in 2:37:53 - the third-fastest time in the event's 25-year history. She beat an elite field, finishing more than 2½ minutes ahead of runner-up Alena Vinitskaya (2:40:26) and nearly 10 in front of third-place finisher Irina Suvorova (2:47:29).

General News Richmond Times Dispatch

Nov 10, 2002

Kenyan-born runner Elly Rono, now living in Duluth, N.C. won the Richmond Marathon by more than four minutes in 2:16:02. "I had no idea I could run that time," said Rono. His miles were steady at a 5:08 pace, hitting the halfway mark at 1:07:22. At the end of the race, he was able to cheer on some friends and running-mates, and offer advice to some female athletes. Rono now has his eyes on Boston.

General News Richmond Times Dispatch

Nov 11, 2002

Kenya's Elly Rono won the Richmond Marathon on Saturday in a record 2 hours, 16 minutes, 2 seconds. The 32-year-old Rono broke the mark of 2:17:29 set last year by countryman Reuben Chesang. Rono earned $2,500 for the win and the use of a Volkswagen Beetle for a year for breaking the record. Kenya's James Mutuse was second in 2:20:19. Maggie Roper of Provo, Utah, won the women's race in 2:37:53.

General News Times Dispatch

Nov 11, 2002