Press Release, March 2, 2008
Little Rock Marathon Committee
Little Rock, Arkansas

“The members of the Little Rock Marathon Committee would like to offer our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Adam Nickel, 27, of Madison, Wisconsin, the runner who died following his completion of today’s Little Rock Marathon” said race director, Gina Marchese-Pharis. “After collapsing at the finish line, the medical team addressed the needs of the runner, and he was then transported to UAMS for continuing treatment,” said Marchese-Pharis. “In addition, it is the policy of the medical staff who donate their time, talent and resources, to meet all of the needs and emergencies of those that attend and participate in this annual event.”

Tamrat Ayalew, a native of Ethiopia, who now lives in Marietta, Georgia, and Hellen Rotich, a native of Kenya who now lives in Austin, Texas, won the men’s and women’s categories of the sixth annual Little Rock Marathon held today in Little Rock, Arkansas. The sixth annual event featured a new course, a more than $20,000 cash purse for the top winners and Little Rock’s first bare foot runner in the 5K race. The Little Rock Marathon also holds bragging rights for the world’s largest finisher’s medal according to Runners Word Magazine, which measures 6 1/4″ x 4 1/2″.

Ayalew, 33, posted a time of 2:24:46. This was his seventh marathon and fourth win. He found the Little Rock Marathon course very challenging and had not expected it to be so hilly. His best marathon time was 2:12:00 however; he was very happy with his performance and knew that he had it won at mile 24. Says Ayalew, “All he can think about now is running the Boston Marathon in April.” Rotich, 28, was running her second marathon and takes home a second 1st place title with a time of 2:50:33. She previously won the San Antonio Marathon in 2007 and is a graduate of Harding University in 2005. She stated that she was so happy to have won the Little Rock Marathon and that it was like coming home.

Rotich may run the Maui marathon in September but doesn’t feel that she is ready for Boston. She thanks God for her strength and stated that at mile 18 she looked up and said, “Let me go for it.” Ayalew’s and Rotich’s times were the first for this year’s course, which was altered to accommodate a growing number of registrants.

The Little Rock Marathon awarded a purse worth more than $20,000 in cash and prizes to top finishers in male and female divisions of the marathon, half marathon, master’s marathon and master’s half marathon. First place in the marathon received $2,000 each, second place received $1,500 each, third place received $1,000 each, fourth place received $750 each and fifth place received $500 each.

In the half marathon, first place received $750 each, second place received $500 each and third place received $250 each. In the master’s marathon (age 40 and older), first place received $500 each, second place received $250 each and third place received $100 each. In the master’s half marathon, first places received $250 each, second place received $200 each and third place received $100 each.

Rounding out the top five in the Men’s division of the marathon were (2) William Serem with a time of 2:25:08, (3) Richard Kandie with a time of 2:29:07, (4) Gilbert Kiptoo with a time of 2:29:26 and (5) Krzysztof Balbyga with a time of 2:32:34.

Rounding out the top five in the Women’s division of the marathon were (2) Leah Thorvilson with a time of 2:52:29, (3) Melissa Gillette with a time of 3:08:57, (4) Bethany Walker with a time of 3:14:02 and (5) Debbie Cropper with a time of 3:16:14.

Richard Vaughn won the marathon wheelchair division with a time of 4:36:31 followed by (2) Asish Bahakta with a time of 4:56:05.

In the men’s marathon masters division Titus Mutinda placed first with a time of 2:33:43 followed by (2) Daniel Hay with a time of 2:52:52 and (3) Jim George with a time of 2:59:52. In the women’s marathon masters division Kris Huff placed first with a time of 3:20:54 followed by (2) Jill Sandoval with a time of 3:30:29 and (3) Danna Middleton with a time of 3:30:30.

In the men’s division of the half marathon Ezkyas Sisay placed first with a time of 1:07:24, followed by (2) Sammy Kiplagat with a time of 1:07:25 and (3) Raphael Kuto with a time of 1:07:31. In the women’s half marathon division Whitney Kerth placed first with a time of 1:23:31 followed by (2) Joy Johnson with a time of 1:30:23, and (3) Peggy Panzer with a time of 1:31:52.
In the 5K men’s division, the winner was Aaron Armstrong with a time of 18:34, (2) Peter Zaragari with a time of 18:48, and (3) Wil Norris with a time of 19:16. In the women’s division of the 5K Haley Filat placed first with a time of 23:20, followed by (2) Ann Works with a time of 24:00, and (3) Joan Brucha with a time of 24:16.

The 7th annual Little Rock Marathon is set for March 15, 2009. For more information go to Little Rock Marathon.