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Awol Wins Closest-Ever Richmond Marathon;
Smith, Ackerly 1-2 for Women

Posted November 12th, 2007 at 6:53 AM by Emmy Stocker

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Awol_Mohamed_2007_Richmond_Marathon_Win With a lunge at the tape, Mohamed Awol, an Ethiopian living in New York City, won the SunTrust Richmond Marathon here today in the most exciting finish in the event’s 30-year history.

“It took the most concentration of any marathon I’ve run,” said Awol, 29, who finished the 26.2-mile race in 2:20:20, one-tenth of a second ahead of David Cheromei, 28, a Kenyan, living in Lynchburg, VA.

Awol and Chermoei broke away from the pack and ran side by side for the last several miles, but it was Awol who claimed the $2,500 first place check. Wesley Chelule, 33, a Kenyan, living in Mobile, Alabama, was third at 22:22:56.

Smith_Casey_2007_Richmond_Marathon_Win In the women’s race, Richmond’s 18-year-old wunderkind Casey Smith beat last year’s SunTrust Marathon winner Maureen Ackerly by almost four minutes, finishing in 2:44:57. “I’m ecstatic,” said Smith, who qualified for berth in the United Stated Women’s Olympic Marathon Team Trials in Boston in April. “I’ve been working so hard for this, and I had some injuries, but I never gave up.”

Ackerly, 38, a Richmond lawyer and mother of two, ran her personal best but fell just short of her goal to qualify for the Olympic trial in front of her hometown crowd. She finished in 2:48:38, a personal best, but just shy of the 2:47 qualifying time. Elena Paramonova, a Russian living in Florida, was third in 2:51:10.

In the NTELOS 8K men’s race, Rod Koborsi, 24, of Washington, D.C., was first (22:40) ahead of Abiyot Endane, 21, an Ethiopian friend of Awol’s who also lives in New York, (22:49). Samuel Kosgei, 21, a Kenyan living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was third (22:55).

Caroline Chepkorir, 20, a Kenyan living in Boyersford, PA, was first (26:20); Julie Culley, 26, of Arlington, VA, was second, (26:53); and Maria Busienel, 22, a Kenyan living in Charleston, WV, took third place (27:29).

The 30th running of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon set records for marathon, 8k and total entries. Over 5,100 registered for the marathon, 6,000 for the NTELOS 8k and, with the more than 600 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run, a record total of 11,742 were signed up.

PHOTO: Mohamed Awol defeats David Cheromei at 2007 SunTrust Richmond Marathon (courtesy photo via Race Results Weekly).

PHOTO: Casey Smith wins 2007 SunTrust Richmond Marathon (courtesy photo via Race Results Weekly).

Race recap via: Richmond Marathon Race Organizers