Illinois Marathon Men’s Race Ends In Tie

The tenth annual Christie Clinic Illinois men’s marathon Saturday ended in a tie. Tesfaalem Mehari of Colorado Springs and Wilson Chemweno of Kenya both finished in 2:21:03.  The first place $3000 prize was added to the second place $1300 prize, and the two men will split it evenly. William Fladland of Anoka, Minnesota finished third, just five seconds back.

On the women’s side, Misiker Demessie finished first with a time of 2:38:15. She won by about three minutes over Jackie Pirtle-Hall of St. Charles, Missouri. Last year’s women’s winner, Rachel Brewer of Tuscola, finished fifth.

Fredrick Kiprono of Terre Haute, Indiana won the half marathon in 1:06:54, and Kristina Aubert of Chicago won the women’s half marathon with a time of 1:14:04. Erika Holroyd of St. Louis was the women's 10k winner in 40:58, and Brian Bundren from Mahomet was the 10k overall winner with a time of 34:47.

Joey Gibbs won the wheelchair half marathon in 59:30, and Katrina Gerhard won the women's whellchair half marathon with a time of 59:39. Boston Marathon wheelchair champion Tatyana McFadden and fellow University of Illinois wheelchair athlete Amanda McGrory both crossed the finish line in 1:00:06, with McGrory edging McFadden for second place in the women's wheelchair half marathon.