Beijing Olympians Take Top Two Spots in Women’s Field
Philadelphia, PA – September 21, 2008 –Under clear skies outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a record field turned out for the 31st annual ING Philadelphia Distance Run. Yirefu Birhanu of Ethiopia and Lilya Shobukhova of Russia finished competitively, leading the field of more than 13,300 runners and walkers.
Birhanu, 22, negotiated the 13.1 mile course through Philadelphia’s streets in a time of 1 hour, 1 minute, 22 seconds.
"It feels really good to win, especially running a fast time," said Birhanu. "It was good to see a lot of fast times from the other runners, the flat course really helped me keep a rhythm."
Birhaun pulled away late from perhaps the most tightly contested pack of front runners in the Distance Run’s history, barely edging fellow Ethiopians Terefu Zwedie who ran 1:01:23, while Girma Tola finished third in 1:01:26.
Kenyan McDonard Ondara came in fourth at 1:01:32. Kenya's Valentine Orare (1:01:37) and Boaz Cheboiywo (1:01:34) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
The men's pack turned south on to Kelly Drive after crossing the Schuylkill River over Falls Bridge, still tightly packed as they had been from the start of the race. With nine runners clustered in the lead pack as late as the 15k mark, the middle of the race was just as close as the finish.
On the women’s side, Shobukhova took the over the last mile of the race on the way to her victory. With a time of 1:01:21, she beat out the marathon world champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, who finished second in 1:10:31. Fellow Kenyan Irene Limika took third in 1:10:50.
This was just the second marathon for Shobukhova, after finishing 5th in the 5000 meter race at the Beijing Olympics last month.
“It’s a very meaningful place for me,” Ndebera said. “I came here to run fast and I’m happy with my performance. I look forward to running in Philadelphia next year.”
The 13.1-mile city course started and finished at Eakins Oval, adjacent to Philadelphia Museum of Art, and made its way through downtown Philadelphia until looping back along Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Schuylkill River. Participants were treated to live music at nearly every mile on the course, which entertained and motivated them to stay energized and finish strong.
The 2008 edition of Philadelphia’s Classic Half Marathon included four kid’s races and approximately 30 athletes with Team McGraw, an official race charity benefiting the foundation named after Phillies’ legend Tug McGraw. McGraw's former Phillies teammates Larry Christenson and Greg "The Bull" Luzinski kicked off the run with Team McGraw.
“I have a lot of respect for all the people of all ages out here competing,” said Lusinski, owner of Bull's Barbecue at Citizens Bank Park. “Today’s effort was a tremendous success and with his son Mike running a time of 1 hour and 28 minutes, no doubt Tug would have been proud.”
Matt Byrne, 29, and Abby Dean, 37, took top local honors as the first male and female finishers from the City of Philadelphia. Both earned $1,000 for their efforts. When asked how they would spend their first prize winnings, each answered with an identical response: “Pay off some bills.”
After the today race 36 runners have run in all 31 distance runs, however this is the first year for ING as title sponsor of the annual half marathon.
“As a financial services company, ING sees the parallels between distance running and financial planning,” said Joe Loparco ING Director of External Communications. “It’s about starting small, setting goals, continuously improving and staying committed for the long-run.”
The 2009 ING Philadelphia Distance Run will take place on Sunday, September 20. For more information, please visit www.ingphiladelphiadistancerun.com
Start of the ING Philadelphia Distance Run
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Men’s Winner Yirefu Birhanu of Ethiopia
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Women’s’ Winner Lilya Shobukhova of Russia
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Event Photos, all courtesy of Victah Sailor
Race Results
Place/Name/Age/Country/Time/Prize Money
MEN’S FIELD
1. Yirefu Birhanu, 22, Ethiopia, 1:01:22, $3,500
2. Terefu Zwedie, 25, Ethiopia, 1:01:23, $2,000
3. Girma Tola, 33, Ethiopia, 1:01:26, $1,500
4. McDonard Ondara, 23, Kenya, 1:01:32, $1,000
5. Valentine Orare, 25, Kenya, 1:01:33, $750
WOMEN’S FIELD
1. Liliya Shobukhova, 30, Russia, 1:10:21, $3,500
2. Catherine Ndereba, 26, Kenya, 1:10:31, $2,000
3. Irene Limika, 29, Kenya, 1:10:50, $1,500
4. Nriah Asiba, 27, Kenya, 1:10:58, $1,000
5. Aziza Ayilu, Ethiopia, 23, 1:11:06, $750
MASTERS (40+ YRS)
MEN
1. Gideon Mutisya, 40, Kenya, 1:09:15, $1,000
2. Scott Lebo, 42, Pottstown, PA, 1:11:33, $500
3. Thomas Dever, 51, Terre Haute, IN, 1:12:42, $250
WOMEN
1. Doreen McCoubrie, 46, Malvern, PA, 1:20:15, $1,000
2. Kelly Dworak, 46, Wysox, PA, 1:22:04, $500
3. Eileen Patrick, 40, Ruxton, MD, 1:22:48, $250
WHEELCHAIR
1. M Tony Nogueira, 40, Glen Ridge, NJ, 48:19
1. F Jacqui Kapinowski, 45, Point Pleasant, NJ, 1:17:06
TOP PHILLY FINISHERS
MALE
1. Matt Byrne, 29, Philadelphia, PA, 1:07:47, $1,000
FEMALE
1. Abby Dean, 37, Philadelphia, PA, 1:17:50, $1,000
About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 120,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand. In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.
About Elite Racing Inc.
Based in San Diego, Calif., Elite Racing, Inc. is a division of Competitor Group, Inc., which includes endurance sports publishing leaders Competitor Magazine and Triathlete Magazine. Elite Racing produces world-class road racing events for runners and walkers throughout the United States. Its signature Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series began in 1998 with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. Over the past 10 years, the sports marketing and management company has grown to manage a total of seven marathons and half marathons including the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon, the Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathons in Virginia Beach, Va. and San Jose, Calif., and the ING Philadelphia Distance Run. Events feature live bands on entertainment stages and cheerleaders at every mile along the course and attract between 13,000 and 37,000 participants.
In addition, Elite Racing also produces the Carlsbad 5000. Known as the “world’s fastest 5K,” the Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world best times at the 3.1-mile distance and welcomes over 10,000 runners and walkers to the streets of Carlsbad, Calif. annually. For more information about Elite Racing’s events visit EliteRacing.com.
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