Largest field in South Florida history has perfect conditions
File photo

MIAMI (January 27, 2008) - Cool morning breezes and thousands of spectators ushered in the momentous start of the 2008 ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon(R) at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami. The field, which included US Olympic marathoner Brian Sell and teammates from the Hansons Brooks Distance Project, was the largest in the history of the race and South Florida running with 10,452 athletes making it to the start. After the half marathoners finished their race, thousands of children lined up for the Final Mile of their marathon, running the last leg of their 15-week marathon with Olympian Gigi Fernandez through the ING Run for Something Better youth program.

PR Racing Miami, organizers of the event, expected a fast half- marathon with 62 degrees start temperature and an overcast day. Sell from Rochester Hills, Michigan, qualified for the Olympic Team in November and used the Miami race to begin training for the Summer Games in Beijing. The finish line area, adorned in the race's signature orange, also featured red, white, and blue as Sell crossed the finish line with a time of 1:03:46. As expected, Sell shattered the course record set by 2007 champion Jared Nyamboki. Nyamboki, who led the 2007 Boston Marathon for 17 miles, pulled out with an injury early. However, 5 other men in the field beat the previous record, including four other members of the Hansons team. Joseph Sitienei, a Kenyan running out of Atlanta, took second place with a time of 1:05:14, edging out Hansons runner Mike Morgan, also of Rochester Hills, by two seconds. Other runners who beat the record included Hansons teammates Todd Snyder, Mike Reneau, and Luke Humphrey.

The women's half marathon included several open field runners with fast times. The winner, Yolanda Fernandez of Colombia, beat a four- year-old course record by more than one minute with a time of 1:16:01. Kathleen Jobes of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who entered as one of the few elites, took second with a time of 1:18:05. Behind her, another open field runner, Carmen Martinez of Puerto Rico, ran one of the five fastest times in race history, finishing in 1:18:40.

For the full marathon, another Olympian took home the title in what was a competitive race until the last mile and a half. Jose Garcia, who will represent Guatemala in Beijing, beat out the field with a strong push at the end of his race. Garcia, who finished in 2:17:43, was followed by a late entrant, Samuel Kiprotich, who pushed him to the end. Kiprotich, from Kenya but living in Mexico, finished in 2:18:14 and was almost caught at the end by Ethiopian Demesse Tafera who ran a 2:18:29.

Kelly Lijleblad, a world-class American runner and triathlete from Boulder Colorado, trailed second place finisher Nedezha Tuptova of Russia through Mile 16. Liljeblad took the lead and ran through the finish at 2:47:13 beating Tuptova who finished in 2:48:09. Carol Rowe of Richmond, Utah, took third place by beating a group of elite athletes and finishing in 2:50:08.

After the winners came through, the crowd gathered for what was the most exciting and emotional portion of the race. With thousands of runners and spectators at the finish line, more than 3,500 children got on the course to take part in the ING Run for Something Better Final Mile, one of the largest children's races in the United States. The 15- week program is implemented in Miami-Dade County Schools, promoting physical fitness and goal-setting to children to help prevent childhood obesity and foster confidence. Olympians Gigi Fernandez and Frank Shorter as well as local figures joined the children as they completed their marathon on race morning. As the children crossed the finish, cheering fans and the top runners from the day's events, including Sell and his teammates, welcomed them. The program, which is funded by ING and the Fit Miami Foundation, has garnered national acclaim and served as a model for similar programs in major school districts nationwide, including Atlanta and San Francisco.

Registration for the 2009 ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon(R) opens on Tuesday, January 29 at 6 AM EST. Participants can register for as lows as 50% off for each race. Organizers of the race, which US Road Sports and Entertainment Group recently acquired, expect the event to grow to more than 15,000 runners under new ownership. The 2009 race is scheduled for January 25, 2009. For more information call 305-278-8668 or logon to www.INGMiamiMarathon.com.

About PR Racing, Inc.

PR Racing is a Miami-based health and fitness event management firm that produces the largest road race in South Florida, the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon(R), as well as the Publix Escape to Miami Triathlon and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Running Series. PR Racing has established world class destination events that draw thousands of international participants to Miami-Dade County creating more than $86 million in positive impact on business, tourism and community wellness. PR Racing prides itself in creating opportunities for the community to live healthier and happier lives through participation in fitness events .