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Basweti Wins Again, Kosgei New Champ for 2009 SunTrust Richmond Marathon

By Brenda Barrera
Richmond, VA
November 15, 2009
For the Washington Running Report

(Photo above: Michael Wardian is the runner-up in the marathon.)

The nor'easter that blew into Virginia, prompting Governor Kaine to declare a sate of emergency, blew out to sea just in time, leaving an overcast sky with temperatures in the 50s, for this year's record setting SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald's Half-Marathon, and HCA Virginia 8K held on Saturday, November 14.

Defending champion Jynocel Basweti (22) from Kenya (photo left) won the SunTrust Richmond Marathon in 2:18:28, improving on his 2008 time by almost four minutes. The runner-up, Michael Wardian (35) from Alexandria, VA, was fresh off his bronze medal performance at the 50K World Championships held on October 31 in Gibraltar. Wardian finished in 2:25:13, just six seconds ahead of Tim Young (22) from Fredericksburg, who crossed the line in 2:25:19.

"I ran my own race and was consistent, working my way up," said Wardian, the 2008 USATF Ultra Runner of the Year, making this his 13^th marathon for 2009.

In the women's race, Salome Kosgei (29) from Sleepy Hollow, NY made her marathon debut and won handily with a time of 2:40:51.  Kenyan Divina Jepkogei, (24) took second place in 2:44:25 followed by Ilona Barvanova (23) from Russia, who rounded up the top three with her 2:47:04 finish.

Arlington's Kate Hudson Walker (in photo) could not stop smiling after her finish. "I just knocked 15 minutes off my PR!" exclaimed the new mother who trains with the Capital Area Runners. A familiar face among the finishers was 2004 champion Tammy Slusser (44) from Monroeville, PA who ran 3:06:38, placing her third among the masters.

One of the popular aspects of this event is that runners appreciate the size of the field and know they can get into it on shorter notice in contrast to some of the mega-races that fill up and close early. Jim Noone (65) from Fairfax, VA was training to run the Steamtown Marathon but could not compete and then was unable to get into the Marine Corps Marathon. So he ran this race for the first time and placed second in his age group with a 3:38:59 finish. "This is not a bad course and it has a nice downhill," said Noone, who achieved his goal of breaking 3:40.

This year's marathon had a record number of finishers, 5,188. Next year's marathon is set for Saturday, November 13, 2010.

2009 SunTrust Richmond Marathon

Top Finishers

Men

1. Jynocel Basweti, 22, NM/KEN - 2:18:28  $2,500

2. Michael Wardian, 35, Alexandria, VA - 2:25:13  $1,500

3. Tim Young, 22, Fredericksburg, VA - 2:25:19 $750

4. Tom Haxton, 28, Philadelphia, PA - 2:28:18  $500

5. Jon Molz, 23, Richmond, VA - 2:28:33 $250

Top Master: Jorge Pardo 40, Brooklyn, NY - 2:34:08

Women

1. Salome Kosgei, 29, Sleepy Hollow, NY - 2:40:51 $2,500

2. Divina Jepkogei, 24, NC/KEN - 2:44:25 $1,500

3. Ilona Barvanova, 37, OR/RUS -2:47:04 $750

4. Emily Ward, 27, Richmond, VA - 2:58:48 $500

5. Kate Hudson Walker, 31, Arlington, VA - 2:59:45 $250

Top Master: Gina McGee, 45, Johnstown, PA - 3:00:10

 

MCDONALD'S HALF MARATHON

A new course record was set in the McDonald's Half Marathon, as Kenyan Nicholas Kurgat (30) broke the finish line tape in 1:06:02.  Another Kenyan, Jared Abuya (32), was the runner-up in 1:08:26, followed by Matthew Barresi (26) from Falls Church, VA in 1:08:38.

Barresi (left), who ran for American University and now competes on the Pacers/Brooks Racing Team, did not know Jay Wyss, who ran for Virginia Commonwealth, before the race but afterward the two seemed like old teammates as they shook hands and commented on conditions during the first half of the race. "The wind was killing us," noted Wyss.

In the women's race, Alemtsehay Misganaw (29, photo below) from New York, NY outran Elena Orlova (39) from Russia 1:16:34 to 1:16:59. Maria Busienei (24) from Kenya came in almost a minute later to claim third place with her 1:17:56 finish. Misganaw, who finished in second place last weekend at the Race to End Women's Cancer Half Marathon in DC with a faster time of 1:13:54, did not have to worry about that winner, Teyba Naser, at this race as Naser opted for the 8K.

Among the finishers were many runners who participated in the Sports Backers Training Programs. Coach Sandy, a wound and ostomy nurse, found it a natural fit to help other runners achieve their goals. "This is just another way of helping people take care of themselves," she paused, then added how pleased she was that all of her intermediate team crossed the finish under their projected two-hour time.

 

2009 McDonald's Half Marathon

Top Finishers

Men

1. Nicholas Kurgat, 30, NC/KEN - 1:06:02 $1,000

2. Jared Abuya, 32, VA/KEN - 1:08:26 $500

3. Matthew Barresi, 26, Falls Church, VA - 1:08:38 $250

4. Jay Wyss, 24, Richmond, VA - 1:09:00 $150

5. David Moore, 24 State College, PA - 1:10:51 $100

Top Master: Thomas Dever, 52, Terre Haute, IN - 1:16:03

Women

1. Alemtsehay Misganaw, 29 New York, NY - 1:16:34 $1,000

2. Elena Orlova, 39, MD/RUS - 1:16:59 $500

3. Maria Busienei, 24, WY/KEN - 1:17:56 $250

4. Sara Petrick, 22, Apollo Beach, FL - 1:20:03 $150

5. Elizabeth Knize, 27, Midlothian, VA - 1:21:16 $100

Top Masters: Jeannie Arnold, 40, Mechanicsville, VA - 1:28:46

 

HCA VIRGINIA 8K

It was a Kenyan sweep in the men's race as Elkanah Kibet (23) claimed first place with his 22:47 finish followed just three seconds later by Peter Matelong (20) with a time of 22:50. Five seconds later Julius Kogo (24) crossed the finish line in 22:55.

The top local finisher was University of Richmond's Matt Llano (photo) who ran 23:24 for 6^th place finish.

In the women's competition, Teyba Naser (23) from Ethiopia took the top honors with her 26:31 victory. Kenyan Hellen Jensutai (27) finished in second place with a time of 26:57. Alissa McKaig (23) from Blowing Rock, NC rounded out the top three with her 27:33 finish.

McKaig, who hails from the Midwest and recently joined ZAP Fitness, is still getting adjusted to the different terrain, "There aren't any big hills in Indiana," she said afterward. McKaig is gearing up for USATF National Club Cross Country Championships.

 

HCA Virginia 8K

Overall finishers

Men

1. Elkanah Kibet 23, AL/KEN -22:47 $1,000

2. Peter Matelong, 20, GA/KEN -22:50 $500

3. Julius Kogo, 24, NC/KEN - 22:55 $250

4. Julius Kiptoo, 32, NC/KEN - 23:19 $150

5. Kipyegon Kirui, 29, NC/KEN - 23:24 $100

Top Masters: Alexey Korobov, 41, Hebron, KY - 25:51

Women

1. Teyba Naser 23, NM/ETH - 26:31 $1,000

2. Hellen Jensutai, 27, NC/KEN - 26:57 $500

3. Alissa McKaig, 23, Blowing Rock NC - 27:33 $250

4.  Jessica Minty, 25, Blowing Rock, NC - 27:57 $150

5. Tatyana Mironova, 40, Hebron, KY - 28:57 $100

Top Masters: Larisa Mikhaylova, 40, Hebron, KY - 33:10

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