>Loren men's race champion; Wenger wins American Trail Championship
By Holly Laubacher, Pacific Sports
AVALON, Calif. - (March 13, 2010) - At the 33rd Catalina Marathon, under near perfect conditions and sunny skies on Saturday morning, triathlete Heather Fuhr, 42, of Encinitas, California set a women's course record of 3 hours, 7 minutes, 1 second, while Joshua Loren of Wilmington, Delaware won the men's race in 3:02:05. Fuhr, the 1997 Ironman world champion, shattered Danelle Ballengee's mark of 3:15:20 from 1997.
The "#1 Off Road Marathon" course did not disappoint this year as the 23 miles of trail were hard and fast with spectacular views of the ocean and even a few roaming buffaloes. This unique event allows athletes an "inside look" into the interior of historic Santa Catalina Island, running from Two Harbors to Avalon across a mostly uninhabited landscape.
The Catalina Marathon is a favorite of first-timers and veterans, locals and international athletes alike. The climb to an elevation of 1,600 feet and the laid-back atmosphere of the Island turn the marathoners into a tight-knit community of athletes. "Year bars" hang from hats of dedicated runners; five of whom have run the race in all of its 33 consecutive years.
In addition to the Marathon, the winners of the 5K and 10K were Milan Mali (18:24) and Sherri Elerby(22:01) and Mike Ruhe (38:04) and Jessica Routt (47:56), respectively.
Jack Caress, President and CEO of Pacific Sports, commented that this year's race had "perfect weather, maybe the best conditions ever for this race. It was great to see a new record set on this outstanding course."
The Catalina Marathon serves as the final leg of the American Trail Championship (ATC) and the 52.4 Pacific Challenge. The American Trail Championship is the combination of last month's Buffalo Run Half Marathon (also on Catalina Island) and the Catalina Marathon, and the 52.4 Pacific Challenge includes these two races plus February 7th's Rose Bowl Half Marathon.
2010's American Trail Championship champion was Catalina Island resident Michael Wenger, age 17. His Buffalo Run (1:38:03) and Catalina Marathon (3:29:27) times combined for a winning result of 5:07:30.
This year's 52.4 Pacific Sports winner was Allen Turrieta of San Diego, who finished all three races in 6:40:50.
33rd Catalina Marathon
Avalon, CA, Saturday, March 13, 2010
MEN
1) Joshua Loren (DE), 3:02:05
2) Rance Myers (AZ), 3:04:47
3) Justin Heinze (NJ), 3:12:40
WOMEN
1) Heather Fuhr, 42, CAN / CA, 3:07:01*
2) Josie Jacques-Maynes (CA), 3:42:47
3) Terry Quick, 46, CA, 3:52:14
*course record (previous record, 3:15:20, Danelle Ballengee (USA / CO), 1997)
For full results, go to: www.PacificSportsLLC.com.
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