June 20, 2009 - Wisniewski, Cheseto set marathon and half marathon records

ANCHORAGE – After 22 years, the Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, has a new record-holder at the 26.2-mile distance. Michael Wisniewski, 30, from Anchorage, captured the men’s title in the 36th annual event, blazing to a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 29 seconds, breaking the 1987 record of current race director Michael Friess, who ran 2:24:44 in 1987. The women’s marathon title went to Paris, Ontario, native Natasha Yaremczuk, 29, who finished in 3:04:35, beating runner-up Kirsten Kolb by over 16 minutes. Kolb, from Anchorage, was the top Alaskan woman, thereby earning Alaska Airlines round-trip tickets, along with Wisniewski. Wiesniewski, who last year set the current course record in the half-marathon at 1:11:46, saw that broken by University of Alaska Anchorage runner Marko Cheseto, who finished the 13.1-mile race in 1:09:24. The half-marathon event record is still held by former Olympian Don Clary, who ran 1:08:18 on the old course in 1995. Cheseto, a recent two-time NCAA Div. II All-American in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, led a parade of Seawolves in the top five of the half-marathon, with teammate Alfred Kangogo placing second (1:14:08), All-American skier Lex Treinen placing third (1:17:45), and cross country standout Paul Rottich placing fifth (1:18:39). The women’s half-marathon went to another familiar face in local running circles as former marathon winner Esther Jurasek won in 1:28:34, almost six minutes better than runner-up April Nelson, also from Anchorage. Seawolf cross country standout Hallidie Wilt, from Unalaska, won the women’s 5.6-miler in 34:12, while Edmund Burke, of Burtonsville, Md., took the men’s race in 29:05. Wiesniewski, who last year moved to Alaska from Minnesota, has now added the Mayor’s title to recent victories in the Alaska 10-K Classic and the Alaska Heart Run. Kenyan David Kiplagat, a three-time All-American with the UAA cross country and track teams, finished runner-up in the men’s marathon in 2:29:39, running that distance for the first time. More former Seawolves also had success, with Vernon Campbell coming in eighth overall (2:49:13), and Auston Ellis placing ninth (2:51:53). The Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, is a joint production of the UAA Dept. of Athletics and the Municipality of Anchorage. Over 3,000 racers – representing 46 states and 16 countries – finished the 2009 event, including the marathon, half-marathon, 5-miler, youth cup and relay events. COMPLETE RESULTS

      Michael Wisniewski


       Natasha Yaremczuk

	Marathon 'goes green' in 2009

ANCHORAGE (June 4, 2009) - For three and a half decades, the Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon has promoted healthy bodies, and now the race is doing its part to promote a healthy planet as well. In conjunction with the University of Alaska Anchorage’s sustainability efforts, race organizers on Thursday announced several changes that will cut waste and be more earth-friendly. This year’s Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, is set for Saturday, June 20. “After administering events such as this for 20 years, you understand that while they are all for a good cause, there is no doubt they have an impact on our environment,” said race director Michael Friess. “With the emerging alternatives in terms of sustainable products and online communication, it only makes sense to implement these kinds of changes immediately.” Friess said the biggest changes will be the conversion to bio-degradable cups – 84,000 of them – and trash bags, along with the elimination of printed materials in favor of online info and registration. Some of the other efforts include: • the elimination of balloons, which will be replaced by re-usable decorations • recycling containers at aid stations and the finish line • event posters printed on 100 percent recycled paper • encouraging the public, with the help of the Municipality of Anchorage and People Mover, to make use of free bus service to and from race sites • the addition of an educational booth for the UAA Sustainability Office at the June 18-19 Marathon Expo at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel “Our assistant race director, Mandy Kaempf, really took on this project and moved it forward, along with the help of the sustainability office and the folks at Green Alaska Solutions,” Friess added. “Because of the hard work of a few people, the racing experience for our thousands of participants will be positively enhanced, while minimizing the impact on Alaska.” Race registration is ongoing at MayorsMarathon.com, while bib pick-up is scheduled for the expo June 18-19.