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Race Recap: P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Marathon

Posted January 16th, 2007 at 8:00 PM by Kevin McGinn

Section: News & Results, Marathons

January 14, 2007 marked the 4th annual P.F. Chang’s Rock n’ Roll Arizona Marathon. The racing event consists of a full 26.2 mile marathon as well as a 13.1 mile half-marathon. Live music is also another major component of the event, with bands stationed at each mile of the course. Over 70 bands show-up to entertain the crowd in addition to 40 high school cheerleading squads for over 30,000 runners each year. The occasion has been named, by Governor Janet Napolitano, Arizona’s best special event.

Terefae Yae has taken back the crown this year after losing to fellow Ethiopian, Shimelis Mola, in his previous appearance. Yae, finishing with a time of 2:14:13, was barely able to edge out second place finisher Fikadu Degefu, clocking in at 2:14:16, by making his move during the final sprint of the race and snatching up victory. Andrei Gordeev was not far behind in third, ending the race with a time of 2:14:27.

While the results of the men’s marathon were mostly without surprise, the women’s race concluded with the withdrawal of Shitaye Gemechu, the winner each year since the event began four years ago. The competitor was reported as suffering from stomach illness, forcing her out of the race at around mile 14.

This year’s winner in the women’s marathon was not as surprising, however. First time participant in the Arizona race, Adanech Zekiros, beat out the second place time, by Salomie Getnet, by almost four minutes. Zekiros’ time was the second best in the history of the women’s event. The two completed the race at 2:31:43 and 2:35:12 respectively. Both women were each expected to deliver a magnificent performance.

Aside from providing entertainment, the affair serves local commerce and acts as a major charity fundraising event. A net gain of over $5.8 million went to 13 official charities. The inaugural 2004 race brought over $40 million to the local economy; no figures for this year are currently available.

Marathon Results:

Top 5 Men’s Marathon Results

1, Terefae Yae, 25, Ethiopia, 2:14:13, $20,000
2, Fikadu Degefu, 34, Ethiopia, 2:14:16, $10,000
3, Andrei Gordeev, 31, Belarus, 2:14:27, $6500
4, Shimelis Mola, 24, Ethiopia, 2:14:51, $4000
5, Girma Tola, 30, Ethiopia, 2:16:19, $3000

Top 5 Women’s Marathon Results

1, Adanech Zekiros, 24, Ethiopia, 2:31:43, $20,000
2, Salomie Getnet, 20, Ethiopia, 2:35:12, $10,000
3, Maria Portilla, 33, Peru, 2:37:40, $6500
4, Mulu Seboka, 22, Ethiopia, 2:42:44, $4000
5, Susan Loken, 42, Phoenix, 2:47:09, $3000

Wheelchair

Tyler Byers, 24, Reston, Va., 1:57:28, $600

Notable Local Competitors

Men

David Allison, 36, Phoenix, 2:30:35, $1,000
Ron Hyde, 47, Scottsdale, 2:34:31, $500

Women

Susan Loken, 42, Phoenix, 2:47:09, $1,000
Rhonda Riley, 24, Tempe, 3:01:38, $500

Half Marathon Winners (no prize awards for half-marathon)

Male – Morten Bostrom, 24, Flagstaff, Ariz., 1:06:33
Female – Liz Wilson, 38, Eugene, Ore., 1:18:37