Runner hired as pace-setter wins Pittsburgh Marathon
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The men's marathon winner was Jeffrey Eggleston with a time of 2:16:40. -
Bekele Delelecha of Ethiopia was the women's winner with a time of 2:35:34.
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Jeffrey Eggleston was guaranteed $1,000 Sunday morning as long as he fulfilled his obligations as the Pittsburgh Marathon's pace-setter for the American male Olympic qualifier hopefuls. Eggleston did his job well, and then he kept going -- all the way to finish line and the bank.
Eggleston, a 26-year-old native of Rochester, N.Y., was the surprise winner of the race with a time of 2:16:40. It was Eggleston's third marathon and his first victory. Making the win all the sweeter is his total payday of $9,000.
Eggleston pockets the winner's share of $6,500, the $1,000 pace-setter fee and $1,500 for being the top American male to meet the Olympic Trials qualifying time standard of 2:19:00.
As a young runner hoping to make a living as a marathoner, Eggleston said the incentives and prize money help athletes like himself pursue their dreams.
"It's huge that the sponsors stepped up and did that," said Eggleston, a former runner at the University of Virginia. "That helps us develop in our sport. If they didn't do that maybe I wouldn't be able to compete the way I am."
Eggleston was 29 seconds better than second-place finisher David Rutoh of Kenya. Tariku Bokain came in third place.
Yihunlish Bekele Delelecha of Ethiopia was the women's winner with a time of 2:35:36. Serkalem Abrha and Kezeta Dengersa, both of Ethiopia, finished second and third. Alemtsehay Misganaw, also of Ethiopia, crossed the finish line behind Delelecha, but she was disqualified because she had registered for the half marathon.
Misganaw forfeited $4,000, the second-place share of the prize money.
Race director Patrice Matamoros spoke with Misganaw and said her explanation was that she was on a runner's high and did not realize she bypassed the turn for the half marathon until she was six miles past the intersection.
Nicholas Kurgat of Kenya broke the course record for the half marathon with a time of 1:03:03. Kurgat's time was more two minutes better than the previous record, which was set by Baldwin native Ryan Sheehan last year when he ran 1:05:13. Sheehan came in eighth place Sunday.
First Published May 16, 2011 12:00 am
