RUNNING USA – Morales, Alboucrek Win 13.1 Marathon Fort Lauderdale – Third edition draws event record 2,712 runners; inaugural Karhu 5K

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – (November 14, 2010) – Cobi Morales continued his dominance in the 13.1® Marathon Fort Lauderdale Presented by Spirit Airlines by winning his second title in three years, while 2004 ING Miami Marathon champion Stacie Alboucrek won her first half-marathon in more than four years.

The third edition saw a record 2,712 runners ranging in age from 8 to 81 years old take off on a temperate 62-degree Sunday morning. The course wound through downtown Fort Lauderdale and signature Las Olas Boulevard and then headed along the beach before ending at picturesque South Beach Park.

Morales, a 36-year-old who won the inaugural event in 2008 and was runner-up to Pedro Gonzalez last year, finished in 1 hour, 14 minutes, 59 seconds, more than three minutes ahead of runner-up Bryan Huberty.

"It's hard to be in shape the same day three years in a row," said Morales, who lives in Miami. "The winner last year, he's injured. More than winning, that's a bigger accomplishment for me – being out here healthy and injury-free. My spirit as a runner told me to just go have fun and do the best I can. That's the bottom line. I did the best I could and I came up with a win again."

Morales took the lead early and ran solo most of the way. "I let everyone go in the first 400 meters, and then I put on a surge and took control of the race," he said. "I just took off and never looked back."

Alboucrek's winning time of 1:22:21 was only a minute off Julia Mallon's 2009 course record despite a long hiatus she has had from competitive running that began in 2007 with the birth of her second child. A scheduled return last year was delayed by a bout with plantar fasciitis, and the 43-year-old came into Sunday's race with only a 5K under her belt.

"I'm just coming back and I'm a lot older," she said. "I'm lucky to be able to do it. I'm very competitive and hopefully an inspiration for other runners."

The Fort Lauderdale full-time mom ran with second place finisher Yolanda Mercado (1:23:47) for the first 8.5 miles, and then pulled away for good.

The 13.1® was a prep race for Alboucrek's hopeful return to the 2011 ING Miami Marathon on January 30, a race where she has medaled twice – including a third-place finish in 2005.

Mathieu Girard (1:19:12) finished third behind Morales and Huberty in the men's division on Sunday, while Megan Nedlo was the third (1:25:32) woman to cross the finish line.

Ben Baldanza, president & CEO of presenting sponsor Spirit Airlines, ran the half-marathon in 1:54:16, good for 61st place out of 148 runners in the 45-49 age division.

Edward Cooning, 36, completed the eight-city 13.1® series in Fort Lauderdale with a 2:03:07. The Indianapolis resident has run in the Los Angeles, Miami Beach, New York, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis and Atlanta events over the last year. Dallas will join the series in 2011.

Adam Chambers (22) and Elaine Serrano (44) won the inaugural, companion Karhu 5K in 16:58 and 20:55, respectively. The Karhu 5K had 501 participants.

Sunday's event was a part of a South Florida humanitarian effort that will raise $100,000 through global organization World Vision for the rebuilding effort in Haiti. Runners participating with Team World Vision donated a portion of their entry fees for work in the Caribbean country.

The 13.1® Fort Lauderdale is the first of two Florida running series that will continue into 2011: the Big 3 (13.1 Fort Lauderdale, ING Miami Marathon – Jan 30, 2011, 13.1® Miami Beach – March 6, 2011) and the Florida 4 (the Big 3 plus the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay – March 13, 2011).

3rd 13.1® Marathon Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 14, 2010

MEN
1) Cobi Morales (FL), 1:14:59
2) Bryan Huberty (FL), 1:18:02
3) Mathieu Girard (FL), 1:19:12

WOMEN
1) Stacie Alboucrek, 43, FL, 1:22:21
2) Yolanda Mercado, 40, FL, 1:23:47
3) Meagan Nedlo (FL), 1:25:32

Visit www.131marathon.com/13_1_Fort_Lauderdale.htm for complete results and more.

 

RUNNING USA