Translation missing: en.tags.0Press Release

A Spectacular Day of Running and Celebration at the 21st GORE-TEX ® Philadelphia Marathon

24 Nov, 2014 (Mon)
Philadelphia Marathon
Credit : AmandaD_TX

Past champion and rookie marathoner take first place in the full marathon

PHILADELPHIA (November 23, 2014) — There was plenty of excitement among the crowd of more than 60,000 that lined the race course to cheer on a field of over 30,000 registered participants for the 2014 GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon. Amid excellent weather conditions, Dan Vassallo of Peabody, MA captured first place in the 2014 GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon with a time of 2:17:28. In the women’s division, Leonora Petrina, a recently naturalized

U.S. Citizen living in Bayport, NY who originally hails from New Zealand, took the top spot with a time of 2:40:00. The GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon was Petrina’s first full marathon. Several top runners, including Vassallo and Petrina, qualified to enter the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials marathon event based on their times.

“It was a banner day for the GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon,” said Race Director Desiree Peterkin- Bell. “Having a past winner and a first-time marathoner take the top spots in the full marathon was a great highlight for this year’s Race Weekend. As usual, our amazing fans helped keep the excitement going all day long — from the moment the runners began until the last participants crossed the finish line.”

Pennsylvania Governor-Elect Tom Wolf was among those in the crowd, helping to cheer on runners , including his daughter Sarah who competed in the full marathon. The Governor-Elect joined Mayor Michael Nutter and Race Director Desiree Peterkin-Bell at the start line this morning to high five runners as they started the race.

“It was so inspiring to see more than 30,000 runners accomplish their goals today,” said GORE-TEX® Running Footwear Global Leader Kirk Christensen. “It takes dedication and commitment to make it happen and GORE-TEX® Running Footwear was proud and honored to be here today to support them in reaching their goal.”

Marathon

Men’s champion Dan Vassallo was familiar with the marathon course coming into today’s race — he has participated in four Philadelphia Half Marathons and two Philadelphia Marathons, including the 2014 race. In 2010, Vassallo captured the first place win in the Philadelphia Marathon with a time of 2:21:58. Birhanu Kemal of New York, NY came in second place with a time of 2:17:52. And in third place, Abiyot Endale of Ethiopia (currently living in Bronx, NY) crossed the finish line with a time of 2:18:46.

“I love the Philadelphia course and the fan support,” said Vassalo. “ I like this city and I always have.”

The Women’s field was rounded out by two runners, Lauren Philbrook of State College, PA, who finished second with a time of 2:42:06, followed by Shitaye Gemechu of Ethiopia (currently training in Hebron, KY), who clocked in at 2:42:37.

“I was hoping to place in the top five,” explained 2014 GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon women’s champion Leonora Petrina. “Slowly, I kept picking up pace and then realized that I was in first place.”

Rich Burke of Morristown, PA took the top spot in the Men’s Masters division with a time of 2:29:32, and Tina Husted took the title in the Women’s Master division when she finished in 2:46:56.

Half Marathon

Fans along Benjamin Franklin Parkway erupted as Kiprono Kurgat crossed the finish line, taking the top spot in the GORE- TEX® Philadelphia Half Marathon men’s division with a time of 1:03:59. Etaferahu Temesgen of Silver Springs, MD took first place in the women’s division, clocking in at 1:12:50.

Christian Mercier of Quebec, Canada took the title in the Men’s Master division with a time of 1:12:09, as Kathleen Jobes of Bethlehem, PA finished with a time of 1:22:46.

Results

MARATHON

Men’s Division Marathon

  • Dan Vassallo, Peabody, MA, 2:17:28
  • Birhanu Kemal, New York, NY, 2:17:52
  • Abiyot Endale, Bronx, NY, 2:18:46
  • Christopher Zablocki, Essex, CT, 2:19:20
  • Philippe Viau-Dupuis, Canada, 2:20:42

Women’s Division Marathon

  • Leonora Petrina, Bayport, NY, 2:40:00
  • Lauren Philbrook, State College, PA, 2:42:06
  • Shitaye, Gemechu, Hebron, KY, 2:42:37
  • Rachel Hyland, Andover, MA, 2:44:56
  • Melissa Hardesty, Cary, NC, 2:45:23

Men’s Masters Division Marathon

  • Rich Burke, Morristown, NJ, 2:29:32
  • Daniel Gercke, Brooklyn, NY, 2:38:15
  • Greg Nash, Boulder, CO, 2:42:19

Women’s Masters Division Marathon

  • Tina Husted, Columbus, OH, 2:46:56
  • Denise Robson, Canada, 2:50:38
  • Jutta Merilainen, Canada, 3:03:00

Men’s Wheelchair Marathon

  • Ricardo Corral, East Elmhurst, NY, :45:53

HALF MARATHON

Men’s Division Half Marathon

  • Kiprono Kurgat, Chapel Hill, NC, 1:03:59
  • Kimutai Cheruiyot, Chapel Hill, NC, 1:04:05
  • Chris Kwiatkowski, Arlington, VA, 1:04:43
  • Rachid Ezzounio, Hebron, KY, 1:04:51
  • Habtamu Arga, Colorado Springs, CO, 1:04:56

Women’s Division Half Marathon

  • Etaferahu Temesgen, Silver Springs, MD, 1:12:50
  • Maegan Krifchin, Syracuse, NY, 1:12:57
  • Susan Jerotich, Chapel Hill, NC, 1:14:44
  • Hannah Davidson, Fayetteville, NY, 1:15:04
  • Rachel Schneider, Washington, DC, 1:17:04

Men‘s Masters Half Marathon

  • Christian Mercier, Canada, 1:12:09
  • Terrance Shea, Lewisburg, PA, 1:12:49
  • Eric Shafer, Pittsburgh, PA, 1:14:28

Women Masters Half Marathon

  • Kathleen Jobes, Bethlehem, PA, 1:22:46
  • Jenny Clague, United Kingdom, 1:24:16
  • Doreen McCoubrie, Malvern, PA, 1:25:34

Men’s Wheelchair Half Marathon

  • Scott Burns, West Chester, PA, 1:16:09

*For more information on the qualifying standards for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, visit the USATF’s website.

The GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon weekend attracts more than 30,000 runners, 60,000 spectators, and 3,000 volunteers. Race Weekend features the GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, November 23; the Rothman Institute 8K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 22, and a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22. Race participants pass many of Philadelphia’s famous attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston qualifier. The GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon was designated as the USATF Mid-Atlantic Association’s Marathon Championship Race for 2014. Take the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun, beauty, history and excitement by visiting www.philadelphiamarathon.com. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook (facebook.com/philadelphiamarathon), Twitter (philly_marathon) and Instagram (philly_marathon) to stay up to date with the latest GORE-TEX® Philadelphia Marathon news.

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