Orlova Takes Back Women's Title
Photo: Josephat Ongeri, winner of the 29th Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Bank Marathon

DETROIT / WINDSOR (October 29, 2006) - Bright sunshine and crisp temperatures greeted runners, walkers, and wheelers for the 29th annual Detroit Free Press /Flagstar Bank Marathon presented by WDIV Local 4. More than 15,800 participants in the marathon, marathon relay, New Balance Half Marathon and St. John Health 5K enjoyed the sunshine after Saturday's downpours. Mother Nature still had an effect, though, as a strong and gusty East wind whipped up whitecaps on the Detroit River and became a stiff head-wind for marathoners and half- marathoners heading toward the Ford Field finish.

Surprise winner Josephat Ongeri, 27, of Kenya ran 2:18:22 to defeat the 2005 winner Andrei Gordeev, 33, of Belarus, by just 4 seconds. Ongeri trains with a group of Kenyans in Hamilton, Ontario which includes 2004 winner Joseph Nderitu. Elena Orlova, 36, of Russia repeated her 2004 win with a time of 2:41:26, more than two minutes faster than defending champion, Wioletta Kryza, 38, of Poland.

Josh Cassidy, 21, Oakville, Ontario, successfully defended his 2005 Wheelchair Championship in 2:03:05. Cassidy also won the Wheelchair division of the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort International Marathon just one week earlier.

Tracy Lokken, 41, of Marquette, Michigan, was the top master and the first Michigan runner of any age to cross the finish line. Lokken's 2:27:58 was nine minutes faster than master runner-up Paul Aufdemberge. Julie Harding, 42, of Lindsborg, Kansas, took the women's masters prize with a 3:02:32.

In the half-marathon race, it was a Michigan sweep with Jake Crowe, 24, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, winning the open race in 1:12:25. Suzanne Larsen, 29, of Fenton, Michigan, ran a 5:45 underwater mile on her way to the 1:21:13 winning time. David Watkins, 45, Birmingham, Michigan (1:16:25) and Julie Winter, 45, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (1:30:38) were the top masters.

Photo: Thomas Preiss starts off on the final leg for the Front Line Racing Team, which finished second overall. Tom's 32:49 time was the fastest final leg in the 5-Person Relay.

The names may not be serious, but the competition is very serious among the five-person relay teams. Green Eggs and Ham (Ryan Rau, Patrick Wehrman, Ian Forsyth, Aaron Metler, Chad Wines) crossed the finish line in 2:25:27 to win the men's open divion of 31 teams. The Front Line Racing Team (Matthew Yacoub, Mark Good, Thomas Preiss, Andy Hass, Steve Walke) was just behind in 2:27:07. The Running Redskins (Jill Huff, Amy Morgan, Kerry Malczewski, Lisa Paquette,Tracey Deal) were first among 62 teams in the women's open division in a total time of 3:22:40.

Ryan Sheehan, 23, of Rochester Hills, Michigan won the St. John Health 5K in 17:11 and Denisa Costescu, 30, of Novi, repeated as women's winner in 19:56.

Detroit's marathon has been the fastest growing marathon in the U.S. for five consecutive years and the number of sponsors is growing, too. Among the new sponsors are Armada Oil. the Consulate General of Canada, Fusion Medical, Kar's Nuts, LifeForceV, M-Care, Michigan Paralyzed Veteerans of America, New Balance, and Smuckers.

The Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Bank Marathon's Run for a Reason partners with the following charities and organizations: Think Detroit PAL, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, The Buonicontit Fund to Cure Paralysis, the Detroit Institute of Opthalmology, Habitat for Humanity Oakland County, Marathon Mission of Michigan, National Multiple Schlerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, St. Jude Heroes, Run for the Children - National Association for Children of Alcoholocs, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, Girls Rock, Inc., JustUs Families, Justice for Children - Michigan, Autism Society of America, Oakland County Chapter, American Liver Foundation - Michigan Chapter, and Karmanos Cancer Institute.

For complete results see michiganrunner.net/results/searchable.html.