Posted: July 29, 2007

Athletics: Cook And Flamino Capture Victories At The San Francisco Marathon(Tm)

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - (July 29, 2007) - Running in San Francisco's natural mid-summer air conditioning, Andrew Cook of Denton, Tex. and Yolanda Flamino of Rochester Hills, Mich. won convincing titles at The San Francisco Marathon today, as more than 17,000 runners celebrated the 30th birthday of the venerable race. The 26.2-mile run, which included two companion half marathons and a 5K run/walk, made history as the largest marathon event ever held in San Francisco. Cook, 26, successfully defended his 2006 SFM title with a finishing time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 57 seconds. Flamino, 30, scored a first victory on the hilly SFM course in 2:43:41. Both victors ran away from their competitors early in the race. Cook was accompanied by Michael Wardian (Arlington, Va.) for the first nine miles, but could not match Cook's strong pace on the return leg of an out-and-back tour of the Golden Gate Bridge. "After I got the lead, I tried to stay calm, and just maintain 5:20 to 5:30 (per mile) pace," said Cook. "I tried to conserve my energy at the end and not push too hard. My dad was here watching. He said 'you're bib number one; you better go out there and perform.' I'm happy it worked out for me today." In overcast and relatively cool conditions, Cook bettered his winning time from last year by 49 seconds. He has a personal best of 2:19:48, set last year, which qualified him for the upcoming U.S. Men's Olympic Trials Marathon race in New York City on November 3. Wardian, 33, finished second in 2:28:50. He is also headed to New York City to compete in his second U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Justin Zanotti, 23 (East Lansing, Mich.) finished third in 2:32:18. Zanotti a 2006 conference 10,000-meter champion at Michigan State University, was competing in his first marathon. Competing in only her second-ever marathon, Flamino won the women's race by maintaining the lead wire to wire. She recorded a personal record, bettering her previous best of 2:45:19 set at last year's Chicago Marathon. "My strategy was to use the flat over the first two miles to get on pace," said Flamino. "Then I tried to keep it up in the hills. We did a lot of hill work leading up to this race. My goal was to try to get a little more marathon experience before the [women's] Olympic marathon trials race." Chloe Glare (Menlo Park, Calif.) was runner-up female for the second consecutive year. Glare's finishing time was 2:57:21. Alyssa Shaw (Coeur d' Alene, Idaho) placed third in 3:08:14. Mike Moore, 44 (Walnut Creek, Calif.) won the masters (age 40 and over) men's title in 2:32:49. Carolyn Koszalka, 43, of Collierville, Tenn. was the female masters winner in 3:13:44. Linda Somers Smith, age 46 (Arroyo Grande, Calif.) won the accompanying "elite" half marathon, which covers the second half of the full marathon course in 1:18:21. Kelly Fermoyle, 21 (St. Paul, Minn.) was the male elite half marathon victor in 1:08:08. Somers Smith, a 1996 U.S. Olympian and five-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, used the race as a tune-up for October's Chicago Marathon, where she hopes to qualify for her sixth trials with the U.S. trials "A" standard.. "It was a test," said Somers Smith. "I figured if I could run 6-minute pace here, I was on pace with my Chicago training." Somers Smith ran her very first marathon in San Francisco in 1983. "There sure were a lot more people out here than the last time I ran it," she commented. A record number of people to be sure. "We've worked hard to get where we are today," said Race Producer Peter Nantell of West End Management. "Participants from all over the country and around the world tell us that they love our event. That's our guiding light." About The San Francisco Marathon(tm) The San Francisco Marathon(tm) enjoys success as the premier summertime marathon in the U.S. San Francisco's blend of natural beauty, big city charm, and perfect mid-summer running temperatures, make marathon running in San Francisco a truly magical experience. Race events include a full marathon, two half marathons (choose a half), 5K, and Progressive Marathon. The event's unique Cause to Run program has raised $2 million for over 100 local charity organizations since 2003. The 2007 San Francisco Marathon is sponsored by JetBlue Airways, Saturn, WaMu, Cytomax, Hint Water, CLIF Bar, Athletic Endurance, and Organs 'R' Us. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest