Running Country: New Course Highlights 12th Annual Event – Day of PRs in men\’s races for Kellum, Maag; Women Riativa, Portis take first – Country stars and celebrities participate in Nashville\’s running celebration

Nashville, TN – April 30, 2011 – On a cool Saturday morning that grew into a sunny Nashville afternoon, more than 30,000 runners toed the start line for the 12^th annual Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan.

American Idol star Danny Gokey kicked off the event by performing the national anthem for thousands of spectators and inspiring the runners moments before the starting gun. The Weather Channel's Stephanie Abrams, Survivor "Gabon" contestant Marcus Lehman and country music star Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio all participated in the half-marathon. Great American Country host Suzanne Alexander also completed the 13.1-mile distance.

The men's marathon race was dominated by two international elite competitors. David Kellum, 28, of Kenya was a last minute addition to the race, and trailed Colombian Edwin Romero for the first 10 miles before taking the lead and he never looked back, winning with a personal record time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 41 seconds.

"I'm very glad to PR, the weather was good and I liked the course. I was a little worried for the first few miles, because I could see Romero ahead of me and had to work hard to catch up," said Kellum, who resides in Kennesaw, GA. "But I felt strong and am happy to come away with a win. I'm ready to come back next year and improve my time again."

The women's race saw a closer finish, as Ruby Milena Riativa of Colombia and Nashville local Laura Portis came down the final stretch just one minute apart. Riativa would take first place, with a time of 2:50:00, and Portis finishing second in 2:51:24. For Portis, who recently qualified for the Olympic Trials in Houston, the race was a successful return to Music City where she placed  9^th overall in 2010.  

"The heat kind of got to me, but it was a fun course with lots of energy," she said. "The new course is great and it was nice to run through East Nashville."   

In the half-marathon, 23-year-old Michael Maag of Brooklyn, NY took an early lead and held strong, finishing in 1:08:25. It was a great day for Maag, who took first place in his debut over the 13.1-mile distance.

The half-marathon winner's podium was a familiar spot for past champion Jill Horst of Georgia, who won in 1:20:45. The 32-year-old Horst beat her previous first place time of 1:21:32 from 2010.

"I felt really good," she said. "I like it warm, so this was perfect weather for me. The course seemed a lot different and a little hillier, but miles 9 through 12 were really fast. It was pretty tough."

In its 12^th year, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan debuted a redesigned course and new finish line on the north end of LP Field. Starting in scenic Centennial Park, the course winded through Nashville's most historic sites like the Parthenon, world-renowned Music Row and historic Lower Broadway before an expansive finish line festival and concert featuring Biggest Loser star turned country star Dan Evans.

Country legends Montgomery Gentry will take the stage at Bridgestone Arena for a post-race concert Saturday evening.

The Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan returns to Nashville on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

For more information, visit Competitor.com.

Full Marathon

Pl   Name                                   Age        Hometown                        Pace                      Time                     Bib

1.       David Kellum                    28           Kenya                                   5:16                        2:17:41                  7             

2.       Scott Wietecha                 29           Goodlettsville, TN            5:30                       2:24:10                  6

3.       Edwin Romera                  24           Columbia                             5:33                        2:25:16                  2

4.       Giovanny Amador            27           Columbia                             5:58                       2:36:08                 3

5.       Matthew Lavine               37           Gages Lake, IL                   6:11                        2:41:48                  2282

6.       Jordon Wilson                   24           Fort Collins, CO                 6:13                        2:42:39                  1097

7.       Tim Kaiser                         27           Louisville, KY                    6:26                        2:48:44                 2264

8.      Michael Martin                   41            New Freedom, PA            6:31                        2:51:34                  2265

9.       Alex Moore                         27           Nashville, TN                     6:34                        2:52:00                 1104

10.   Stephen Logan                   23           Sayreville, NJ                    6:39                        2:54:05                 1038

 

Women

Pl   Name                                   Age        Hometown                        Pace                      Time                     Bib

1.       Ruby Milena Riative           27           Columbia                             6:30                       2:50:00                 101

2.       Laura Portis                       24           Nashville, TN                     6:33                        2:51:24                  103

3.       Mernie Staehly                  33           San Antonia, TX                6:50                       2:58:53                 102

4.       Beth Reed                          27           New York, NY                     7:10                        3:07:47                 1154

5.       Amy Simonetta                 39           Monroe, LA                         7:18                        3:11:13                   1189

6.       Corey McClay                     28           St. Louis Park, MN           7:22                        3:13:06                  1102

7.       Jennifer Forkenbrock        35           Lawrence, KS                     7:26                        3:15:46 3053

8.      Elizabeth Schwartz           34           Austin, TX                           7:30                      3:17:06                  2285     

9.       Kelcey Carlson                  36           Raleigh, NC                        7:30                       3:17: 28 2253

10.   Stephanie Mayer                 29           Durham, NC                       7:33                        3:25:45                  216

 

Half -Marathon

Men

Pl   Name                                   Age        Hometown                        Pace                      Time                     Bib

1.       Michael Maag                    23           Brooklyn, NY                      5:14                        1:08:25                 1420

2.       Josh Yelsey                        28           Chicago, IL                          5:37                        1:13:34                  1583

3.       Brandon Gillingham            23           Bellevue, PA                      5:39                        1:13:52                  1687      

4.       Brian Shelton                     32           Cookeville, TN                   5:40                       1:14:13                   1629

5.       Caleb Morgan                    23           Calhoun, TN                       5:40                       1:14:13                   1735

6.       Justin Patterson               27           Nashville, TN                     5:44                        1:15:06                  1424

7.       Florian Barbe                     28           Auburn Hills, Ca               5:48                       1:15:58                  1659

8.      Said Ahmed                        23           Cleveland, TN                    5:54                        1:17:12                   1737

9.       Woody Mathis                   23           Atlanta, GA                         5:55                        1:22:11                   6691

10.   Ryan Gadsey                      19            Brentwood, TN                  5:59                        1:18:20                  1535

 

Women

Pl   Name                                   Age        Hometown                        Pace                      Time                     Bib

1.       Jill Horst                             32           Rome, GA                            6:10                        1;20:45                  500

2.       Alexa Hinton                     30           Nashville, TN                     6:18                        1:22:32                  1901

3.       Samantha Mazer              25           Nashville, TN                     6:24                        1:23:54                  1806

4.       Kaitlin Shaw                      22           Rome, GA                            6:32                        1:25:31                  1845

5.       Courtney Terrell               28           Nashville, TN                     6:35                        1:26:21                  1895

6.       Carly Shanon                    16            West Plains, MO               6:40                       1:31:55                  1782

7.       Kara Diamond-Hussman    33         Denver, CO                         6:40                       1:27:32                  1618

8.      Christine Lewis                 34           Bridgeport, OH                 6;49                        1:29:13                  32721

9.       Sara Stegall                     32           Nolensville, TN                 6;51                        1:30:30                 2524

10.   Stacey Bailey                     35           Temple, AZ                         6:51                        1:29:51                  1637

 

 

About the Country Music Marathon

A Competitor event, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon will celebrate its 12th annual running in Music City on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Featuring many of Nashville's best live bands on 28 stages along the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses, the musically themed road annually attracts 35,000 runners, walkers and junior racers.  Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, April 28 and includes the ING KiDS ROCK Nashville and a post-race concert Saturday night at the Bridgestone Arena. 

The Nashville Convention Center is home to the free Health & Fitness Expo which is open to the public as all race participants pick up their race number, browse through fitness related products, enjoy free samples and interactive clinics. For more information, please visit www.nashville.competitor.com or follow us on Twitter @runrocknroll.

 

Amana Miyamae  – Kim Dettwiller