Event record field enjoy annual Thanksgiving tradition
From Tracy Lott, Atlanta Track Club
ATLANTA - (November 27, 2008) - Michael Green, 32, of Troy, Ala. was the first runner to cross the finish line of 2008's The Weather Channel Atlanta Half Marathon with an official gun time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, 23 seconds on Thursday. Green and runner-up Andrew Fuller of Rome Ga. battled through the 11th mile of the race before Green pulled ahead to victory. Green, who won the 2006 half-marathon, is currently training for the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, Ala. coming up on December 13.
"This (The Weather Channel Atlanta Half Marathon) is an awesome event," commented Green. "I'll be back as many years as I possibly can."
In the women's race, Stephanie Herbst-Lucke, 42, of Atlanta crossed the finish line in 1:17:01. "I wasn't really sure what was going to happen in the race. My plan was to run between tempo and race pace," commented Herbst-Lucke. This was Herbst-Lucke's first time running The Weather Channel Atlanta Half Marathon; however, she is no stranger to the Atlanta road racing circuit. Herbst-Lucke was the 2008 AJC Peachtree Road Race female Masters winner as well as the first female American and Georgian to cross the finish line.
With over 10,500 registered runners, 2008 was a record-setting year for The Weather Channel Atlanta Half Marathon, which is organized by the Atlanta Track Club. Prior to 2008, the largest field of registered runners for The Weather Channel Atlanta Half Marathon was in 2000 with close to 7,800 registered runners. To help accommodate the increase in runners, this was the first year that starting corrals and a wave start were used for the half-marathon.
Justin Leach, 21, of Powder Springs, Ga. was the winner of The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon in 2:39:52. This was Leach's first marathon. When asked about his race Leach commented, "The first twenty miles were fine, but the last six (miles) were all hills which made it tough."
Jacquelyn King, 24, of Douglasville, Ga. was the first female marathoner to cross the line in 3:14:57. This was King's second marathon.
"We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day for The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon," stated Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club. "All of the finishers should be proud of their accomplishment."
29th The Weather Channel Atlanta Half Marathon - Atlanta, GA, Thursday, November 27, 2008
MEN
1) Michael Green, 1:07:23
2) Andrew Fuller, 1:07:53
3) Wallace Campbell, 1:09:37
WOMEN
1) Stephanie Herbst-Lucke, 1:17:01
2) Jill Horst, 1:18:03
3) Allison Kreutzer, 1:20:45
46th The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon
MEN
1) Justin Leach, 2:39:52
2) Tyrone Harris, 2:44:11
3) Scott Lowe, 2:44:32
WOMEN
1) Jacquelyn King, 3:14:57
2) Anca Dumitrescu, 3:18:16
3) Amy Marcotte, 3:23:04
Full race results at: AtlantaTrackClub.org.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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