Eggleston, Bekele Win Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon

Event record 18,000 participants at third edition in City of Bridges

By Karen Fredette

PITTSBURGH - (May 15, 2011) - With a temperature in the 60s, and a drizzle that didn't dampen runners' spirits, the 3rd running of the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon and the FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay was underway. The City of Bridges hosted an event record field of 18,000 registered participants as well as cheering crowds all along the marathon route.

Men's champion Jeffrey Eggleston was the elite rabbit, hired to set the pace for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying "A" standard of 2 hours, 19 minutes. The role kept him in the second pack through most of the race. At mile 18, his role as rabbit was complete, and the Flagstaff, Arizona resident moved ahead to join the leaders, a pack comprised exclusively of Kenyans and Ethiopians, including Isaac Birir, David Rutoh, Teklu Deneke and Tariku Bokain. At mile 25, the 26-year-old American made his decisive move, pulling away to finish 29 seconds in front of Rutoh, with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 40 seconds.

"It was a great race, a great day, and a great U.S. victory for one of the country's top ten American male marathon runners, Jeffrey Eggleston," race director Patrice Matamoros said.

In the women's marathon, Delelecha Yihunlish Bekele of Ethiopia won the day in 2:35:36. She was followed by countrywomen Serkalem Abrha and Dengersa Tezeta and Alemtsehay Misganaw, who turned in a top marathon debut of 2:38:57, but was disqualified because she was registered for the half-marathon. Two American women achieved the Olympic Trials Qualifying "B" Standard: Natasha Labeaud of Flagstaff, AZ and Lauren Philbrook of State College, PA.

Nicholas Kurgat of Kenya and Malika Mejdoub of Morocco won the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon in 1:03:38 and 1:14:26, respectively.

3rd Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon
Pittsburgh, PA, Sunday, May 15, 2011

MEN
1) Jeffrey Eggleston (USA / AZ), 2:16:40, $6500
2) David Rutoh (KEN), 2:17:09, $4000
3) Tariku Bokain (ETH), 2:17:43, $2000
4) Isaac Birir (KEN), 2:17:54, $1000
5) Teklu Tefera Deneke (ETH), 2:18:33, $500

MASTERS MEN (40+)
1) Eric Laughlin, 41, OH, 2:35:25, $1000
2) James Hommes, 40, PA, 2:37:31, $750 (includes state prize money)
3) Michael Murphy, 40, FL, 2:39:18, $250

WOMEN
1) Delelecha Yihunlish Bekele (ETH), 2:35:36, $6500
2) Serkalem Abrha (ETH), 2:39:14, $4000
3) Dengersa Tezeta (ETH), 2:40:07, $2000
4) Alice Ndirangu (KEN), 2:41:31, $1000
5) Natasha Labeaud (USA / AZ), 2:42:53, $500
7) Lauren Philbrook (USA / PA), 2:45:13, $1000 (top state)

MASTERS WOMEN (40+)
1) Cheryl Collins-Gatons, 44, PA, 2:57:07, $1500 (includes state prize money)
2) Tammy Slusser, 46, PA, 3:09:02, $500
3) Sherri Martin, 49, PA, 3:17:44, $250

3rd UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon

MEN
1) Nicholas Kurgat (KEN), 1:03:38, $2500
2) Ketema Nigusse (ETH), 1:03:57, $1000
3) Kipeyegon Kirui (KEN), 1:04:22, $500
4) Tesfaye Assefa Dube (ETH), 1:04:23, $350
5) George Towett (KEN), 1:05:45, $250

WOMEN
1) Malika Mejdoub (MAR), 1:14:26, $2500
2) Aziza Aliyu (ETH), 1:14:27, $1000
3) Megan Wright (CAN), 1:15:07, $500
4) Divina Jepkogei (KEN), 1:15:15, $350
5) Irina Mashkantseva (RUS), 1:15:42, $250

Complete results and more at: www.pittsburghmarathon.com 

Special thanks to
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director.
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
http://www.runningusa.org