Top ofUtah Utah Top of
Marathon Marathon 2012 2011
HIGHLIGHTS
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FEATURES
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RESULTS
John Zsiray/Herald Journal
Jake Krong (No. 1) and Jonathon Cotter (No. 3) talk prior to the start of the 14th annual NordicTrack Top of Utah Marathon at Hardware Ranch on Saturday morning. Krong ended up winning the race, while Cotter was third. Former Utah State standout Jason Holt, far right, was fourth.
Loaded women’s field Fowler wins second title, Krong first By Jason Turner sports writer
Several runners from all around the Beehive State absolutely shined in what turned out to be by far the strongest women’s field in the history of the NordicTrack Top of Utah Marathon. Cynthia Fowler and Janae Richardson made sure the 14th installment of the race had a distinct Weber State feel to it. Fowler and Richardson powered their way to first and second place on the women’s side Saturday at Merlin Olsen Park. They also clocked in with the second- and fifth-fastest times in the history of the TOU Marathon, to boot. “Congratulations to Cynthia,” Richardson said. “She’s a machine, man. She doesn’t feel pain and she’s an awesome runner. We’re good friends, actually. We ran together at Weber State, so I’m happy for her, Jennifer Meyers/Herald Journal too. ... We bleed (WSU) purple. Cynthia Fowler, of Farmington, crosses the finish line of the Top That’s how we roll.” Fowler, the 2006 TOU chamof Utah Marathon Saturday. Fowler, the 2006 champion, won the pion, now holds the second- and women’s competition with a time of 2:45:51.
third-fastest times in the history The Salt Lake City resident of Logan’s lone marathon. The pulled way from former BYU 31-year-old flirted with Nan All-American 10,000-meter Kennard’s course record of 2 runner Jonathan Kotter between hours 44, minutes, 10 seconds the 18th and 19th miles and for quite awhile before clocking ended up covering the 26.2in with a time of 2:45:51. mile course in 2:22:12. “I’m It’s the so first time TOU MARATHON excited, in four so tries Krong TOP 3 MEN OVERALL excited 1. Jake Krong, Salt Lake City 2:12:12 has won a to run 2. Jimmy Grant, Montana 2:29:35 marathon. that “Man, 3. Jon Kotter, Salt Lake City 2:31:05 fast,” I’ve had a Fowler great three TOP 3 WOMEN OVERALL 1. Cynthia Fowler, Farmington 2:45:51 weeks up said. “I 2. Janae Richardson, Ogden 2:49:29 here,” he knew 3. Allie Scott, Salt Lake City 2:53:40 said. “I what the thought record was coming into the last year coming up here and race, but I thought, ‘Oh, I think running a fast time in the half that’s a little bit too fast to beat.’ marathon was fun, but to sweep So to be that close to it, I’m so the half marathon and marahappy about it.” thon in a short stretch is pretty Men’s champion Jake Krong special. I just love these races, was equally as pleased as I love coming up here, they’re Fowler and why not? After all, beautiful courses and I’ve been it’s been a very gratifying sumfortunate to have good weather mer for the 29-year-old. Three and good health and run fast weeks ago Krong captured the both times.” TOU Half Marathon crown with a time of 1:06:03. See LOADED on E8
Several local runners among top placers Foster, Furse are among the leaders By Curtis Lundstrom For The Herald Journal
faster, so I got hooked.” Furse has competed in six marathons and six ultra-marathons, A plethora of local runners were and won the 25-29 age division, among the top finishers in the 14th besting fellow Logan resident Will Huff by nearly four minutes after annual NordicTrack Top of Utah Huff placed third in the division marathon Saturday, in both the with a time of 2:43:26. men’s and women’s divisions. RepresentJoe Furse ing Wellsclaimed the TOU MARATHON ville, John title as top Jenkins finCache ValTOP 3 LOCAL MEN ley resident 1. Joe Furse, Logan 2:39:37 ished second with a sixth2. Will Huff, Logan 2:43:36 in the 35-39 place finish 3. John Jenkins, Wellsville 2:55:06 division with a finish of overall, 2:55:10. finishing the TOP 3 LOCAL WOMEN “It feels 26.2-mile 1. Mandy Foster, Logan 3:04:22 race in 2 2. Lisa Watts, Nibley 3:16:01 awesome,” hours, 39 3. RaLee Eck, Smithfield 3:16:21 Jenkins said. “That was minutes and my goal coming in was anything 40 seconds. Furse led five rununder three hours. I felt better than ners with Cache Valley ties that I thought I would at the end, and eclipsed the three-hour barrier. finished as strong as I could. The “That feels pretty good,” Furse time to train is the hard part.” said. “I haven’t had many good In preparation for the marathon, races this year, so it feels good to Jenkins said he would wake up come out and perform well. I ran as early as 5 a.m., and had to get in high school, and after a church mission I ran the St. George Mara- back in shape after he stopped running after graduating high school. thon. I felt like I could have run it
He ran a Ragnar race, which he said “reignited” his love for the sport, and this was his fourth time running the Top of Utah. Keith Anderson of Richmond finished less a minute behind Jenkins, coming in at 2:55:57 to win the 50-54 division. Anderson started running in 1987 in a dynamic fitness class, and has done more than 30 marathons in those 25 years. “It feels pretty good to be up there in that age group,” Anderson said. “Last year I had an injury that I was nursing, so it was nice to not be injured and run this. The conditions were perfect, had a nice tailwind from mile 12 to 14 and it couldn’t have been much better.” In the women’s division, a trio of Cache Valley residents finished the race in less than 3:30. Leading the way was Mandy Foster, a Logan native, who won the 25 to 29 age division with a time of 3:04:22. “I’m just happy to finish right now,” Foster said. “I think I prefer the rain temperatures from last year over this year. It started to Jennifer Meyers/Herald Journal feel warm, but it’s a good day. Mandy Foster, of Logan, crosses the finish line of the Top of Utah Marathon Saturday at Merlin Olsen Park. Foster was
See LOCAL on E8 the top local finisher on the women’s side.