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Lead Stories: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Ayalew, Henehan Win 32nd Marine Corps Marathon

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 9:00 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

It has been since the mid-1990s since Tamrat Ayalew ran a 2:12 marathon, the Hoffa International Marathon.

Now 33, Ayalew has slowed considerably over the years but he was fast enough Sunday to earn the Middendorf Trophy, the top prize for winning the 32nd Marine Corps Marathon. He crossed the finish line ahead of 21,226 starters and over 20,600 finishers in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 20 seconds, exactly two minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, two-time defending champion Ruben Garcia of Mexico City.

Ayalew has been racing the roads of America for the past two years as a member of the Foot Solutions Racing Team out of Atlanta as he seeks political asylum from his native Ethiopia. His ultimate goal is to become an American citizen; Sunday’s goal was to be triumphant in the nation’s fourth-largest 26.2-mile race.

“I didn’t do well last year,” said Alayew, who ended up eighth here last year and became only the second Ethiopian to capture Marine Corps. “I decided after that race that I wanted to win.”

Kristen Henehan of Silver Spring, Md., meanwhile, approached Marine Corps as more of a fun run. She did turn serious, however, with a half-mile remaining, pulling away from her nearest competitor and friend Lisa Thomas for a 2:51:14 in her marathon debut. Thomas, who said she was “very disappointed,” followed her across the line just 26 seconds later in a personal-best performance by more than three minutes.
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