Photo By Art McCafferty
CLEVELAND (5/22/05) -- More than 7,000 runners enjoyed sunny skies, cool temperatures, a revised course and first-year half-marathon at the 28th annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and 10K.

It was a day for politicians to talk about Cleveland, their hopes, dreams and wonderment seeing runners from 44 states and six foreign countries in their fair city. The turnout was up almost 50 percent from 2004.

Runners were drawn by the fellowship, challenge and more than $16,000 in purses. But there was more. Cleveland's sparkling waterfront, parks, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, shopping, architecture and more are signs of a city that's battled back from a once-sour image to become a great place to spend a weekend. Ask the couple hundred Michigan runners who came this year.

The 10K is now Cleveland's trophy race. Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco won first-place money with a new women's course-record 31:10 clocking. Kenyan Julius Kibet was the men's champ in 28:44.

Marathon winners were Fred Kieser of Cleveland (2:22:00) and Donna Palisca of Killeen, Tex. (2:54:53). Half-marathon crowns went to Bill McHenry of Medina, Ohio (1:14:29) and Hanna Purdy of Cleveland (1:21:18).

Congratulations to Jack and Ralph Staph, who have sheperded this legendary run for 28 years. MR