THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503190161
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
On a crisp, cloudless morning at the 23rd annual Shamrock Marathon, Tim Covington outraced the wind and Bonnie Barnard-Lopez outlasted local favorite Leslie Fedon-Willis.
Covington, competing in only his second marathon, won the 26.2-mile event that takes runners along a scenic stretch from the Boardwalk to Fort Story to the indoor finish line at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. He completed the course in 2:23:20, and Ethiopian runner Alem Kahsey finished second in 2:26:19.
``I came down here for a workout,'' said Covington, a first-time runner in the Shamrock from Richmond who hopes to qualify for the Olympic Trials. ``I like to train for 10Ks, so I like to get the distance in. . . . I like shorter races, but this marathon stuff might be changing my goals.''
The Shamrock, rated by Runners World as one of the nation's top 20 marathons, attracted nearly 1,600 competitors. Winners received $1,000.
Covington, 28, also won this year's Elizabeth River Run and the Richmond Marathon. The former Virginia Tech runner led comfortably the last 12 miles - which, he said, had its disadvantages.
``I was breaking wind for all the racers,'' said Covington, sitting on a cooler afterward to take a breather. ``The wind was pretty brutal at times. It wasn't as bad in some spots, but then there was the Boardwalk. I don't like wind, and this was pretty bad.''
Virginia Beach's Fedon-Willis, runner-up for the second consecutive year, trailed Barnard-Lopez by only inches with only 3 miles remaining. But Barnard-Lopez surged ahead to win it at 2:40:42 to Fedon-Willis' 2:41:47.
``This is all because of Leslie,'' gushed Barnard-Lopez fiddling with the clover medallion around her neck. ``Right before Leslie came up behind me, my mind was fading. Then I saw Leslie was on my tail, and I said, `OK, you've got to win this.'
``I had a stronger second half because of Leslie,'' she admitted. ``So much of this is mental, you know.''
The event attracted thousands to the Pavilion, where fans could also browse through the sports and fitness expo in the next room where vendors sold everything from running tights to sports bras to socks that prevent blisters. The St. Patrick's Day theme inspired many to post Irish flags on their caps, and one race walker received cheers for the clover antennas sprouting from her head.
In the open 8K, Mark Croghan of Columbus, Ohio, took first in 22:57. Laura Mykytok of Hershey, Pa., led the women in 26:17. Mykytok, competing despite a bout with bronchitis, made a dash to the hospital afterward.
``I only do one road race a year,'' said Croghan, a two-time NCAA champion in the 3,000 steeplechase from Ohio State. ``I was hoping to be in the top five, top six, but at the end, I was right there.''
Nick Rose won his fourth consecutive Masters 8K in 24:22, calling the wind, ``the toughest since I've been here. But you mustn't let it defeat you.''
Rose, from Bristol, England, holds the Masters record of 23:13, set in 1992.
Canadian Maureen De St Croix earned her first Masters win, finishing the 8K in 29:21.
De St Croix is used to running in sub-zero temperatures, so for her, the 8K was like a day at the beach.
``This is the first time in weeks,'' she joked, ``that these legs have seen sunshine.'' MEMO: For marathon results, see microfilm, page C14. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT, Staff
Runners clump together at the start of the Masters 8K before the
Shamrock Marathon on Saturday.
by CNB