Marusin, Vinitskaya, Chirlee and Cherobon Win ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

March 31, 2008

From Running USA wire/From Jenny Schmitt

Three event records fall; more than 10,700 participants on new course for 2nd edition

ATLANTA - (March 30, 2008) - Three champions in the professional field of the second ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon set event records on Sunday. Oleg Marusin of Russia won the men's marathon in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 50 seconds, cutting off 27 seconds of the time set last year by Kenyan Joseph Chirlee. Chirlee, who lives in Acworth, Ga., opted not to defend his marathon title and won the men's half-marathon this year in 1:06:43.

Lawrenceville, Ga. resident Janet Cherobon successfully defended her half-marathon title, winning in 1:13:48. Setting an event record, the Kenyan trimmed 2:45 from her mark in the inaugural half-marathon last year.

"The weather was perfect except the wind. The course was a little hillier than last year, but there were more down hills. I ran a good time so that was good," she said in chilly, overcast conditions following her race.

The women's marathon was won by Alena Vinitskaya of Belarus in 2:41:13. She was 12 seconds faster than the time set last year by Valentina Levushkina of Russia, who finished second in the marathon this year, 2:06 behind Vinitskaya.

Vinitskaya was unsure of her ability to run in the ING Georgia Marathon, initially, due to a recent injury to her Achilles tendon. "I was injured in Sacramento, but now I am better," said Vinitskaya, who ran the race with special inserts in her shoes to alleviate the pain. "It's a good course for running. The crowds were great; they give you a lift to keep going."

2nd ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon Atlanta, GA, Sunday, March 30, 2008

MEN

1) Oleg Marusin (RUS), 2:18:50, $5000

2) Jonathan Ndambuki (KEN), 2:21:22, $3000

3) Kassahun Kabiso (ETH), 2:21:59, $1750

WOMEN

1) Alena Vinitskaya (BLR), 2:41:13, $5000

2) Valentina Levushkina (RUS), 2:43:19, $3000

3) Rima Dubovik (UKR), 2:50:34, $1750

Half-Marathon

MEN

1) Joseph Chirlee (KEN), 1:06:43, $1500

2) Tamrat Ayalew (ETH), 1:07:23, $750

3) Jared Abuya (???), 1:07:35, $250

WOMEN

1) Janet Cherobon (KEN), 1:13:48, $1500

2) Mary Akor (USA / CA), 1:15:13, $750

3) Meseret Kotu (ETH), 1:18:58, $250

Complete results at: INGGeorgiaMarathon.com