Spirit of Columbus Half Marathon

(Columbus, OH, 08-31-0 ) Nearly 700 runners waited an extra half hour to start the Spirit of Columbus Half Marathon as athletes had to be transported from the finish line area to the starting line in the point-to-point race. Once the race was underway a number of Ohio top athletes and a number of foreign elite runners battled for the $25,000 prize money offered by Toyota in this gradual downhill course.

A pack of twelve Kenyan and Ethiopian runners pulled away from the local runners at the start and continued to open up their lead. The pack would split the final half of the race. Kenya’s Stephen Koech who won the Crim 10 Miler a week early would hit the finish line first in 1:02:19 to capture the $5,000 prize money. Ethiopia’s Alene Reta took home the runner up money in 1:02:42. Kenya’s Edward Muge (1:03:02) finished third.

Ashland University’s cross country coach, Nick Cordes was the top American to finish as he placed tenth in 1:07:13. Westerville’s Matt DeLeon (1:09:48) was the top local finisher as he finished thirteenth.

Ethiopia’s Sebele Mariam took home the women’s top prize money with her 1:13.04 clocking. Kenya’s Jane Muia (1:13:11) finished a close second. Kenya’s Leah Kiprono (1:16:26) finished third.

Ohio’s Becki Michael (1:18:58) was the lone American to take home elite prize money with her seventh place finish to win $375. Pickerington’s Elizabeth Trapp (1:22:07) finished eight to lead the local runners across the finish line.

Cincinnati’s T. J. Lentz (1:10:54) finished fifteenth overall on his way to the master gold and $1,000. Dayton’s James Beyer (1:12:12) finished second. Columbus’ Matthew Whitis (1:14:24) was the top local master finishing fourth.

Hilliard’s Sandy Hundley (1:29:54) won the women’s master top prize while Shepherdsville, Kentucky’s Roberta Meyer (1:30:58) took home the silver.

Check out the complete results on: http://www.runohio.com/results

A number of race pictures will be posted at: http://www.runohio.com/show/galleries