Sergio Reyes successfully defended his back-to-back Flying Pig Marathon titles by winning the 2014 Flying Pig in a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 21 seconds, his third straight victory in Cincinnati and fourth overall.
For the weekend, a record 36,131 participants registered for events over the three days. The field represented all 50 states and 19 countries.
The breakdown of participants for the weekend events: Full marathon, 4,731; Border Energy Half Marathon, 12,422; City Dash 4-person relay/Paycor Corporate 4-person relay, 2,732; Toyota 10K, 4,103; Tri-State Running Company 5K, 5,631; Kids Marathon presented by EY, 3,905; Pigabilities, 171; Flying Piglet Fun Run, 572; IAMS Flying Fur Run, 596; Little Kings Mile, 1,268.
Reyes, 32, of Palmdale, California, won his first Flying Pig in 2009 before today’s three-peat. “Generally I try to keep it an honest race and keep it strong, but every year presents a different challenge, and this year for me there were a few injury setbacks but I played it conservative and didn’t worry about the time out there today.”
Second for the men was 30-year-old Donnie Warner of Cincinnati in 2:28:39. Warner came in second in the 2009 and 2011 Toyota 10K and was fourth in the 2010 Marathon. Third was 30-year-old Kota Reichert of Palo Alto, Calif., in 2:28:57.
In the women’s marathon division, a two-time half marathon champion in the Flying Pig, 34-year-old Amy Robillard of Montgomery, stepped up to the Marathon distance and took home the title in 2:55:53. Robillard won the half marathons in 2011 and 2012.
“It was unbelievable, said Robillard. “Running with people, you pull for them, they pull for you, everyone wants to have a great race. I just have fun. I smile a lot out there, because we’ve been through a lot in the last four years, so this is a pleasure.”
Robillard’s son, Jameson, underwent a bone marrow transplant shortly after his birth four years ago with an immune deficiency disorder. He’s now four and doing well with his older sister, Adalene, who is six.
“When I think I’m tired and hurting, it’s nothing compared to what my son went through, so I can’t complain. I just want to be a good role model for them.”
Second in the women’s division was the 2004 Flying Pig winner, P.J. Ball, 35, of Cincinnati in 3:01:45 and third place was 39-year-old Kerry Lee, also of Cincinnati, who was runner-up in the 2013 and 2011 Flying Pig Marathons and won the Toyota 10K in 2006. Her finishing time was 3:02:49.
In the Border Energy Half Marathon, 35-year-old Tilahun Abebe of Cincinnati won the event in a time of 1:14:46. Abebe was second in last year’s Toyota 10K, won the half in 2006 and was second in the 2010 Flying Pig Marathon. Second in the men’s division was 26-year-old Greg Piepmeier of Kettering, Ohio, with a time of 1:21:09 and third was Breylen Derrick, 28, of Cincinnati in 1:21:35.
In the women’s division, first-time half marathoner and University of Cincinnati student Juliana Madzia, 19, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, won in a time of 1:25:59. “It was perfect weather,” she said, “better than I could have ever wished for.”
Second in the women’s division was the 2012 winner of the Flying Pig Marathon, 32-year-old Rachel Bea of Cincinnati, in 1:26:28 and third was 29-year-old Mary Paulsen of Columbia, South Carolina in 1:26:43.
In the Flying Pig Saturday events, Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall won the Toyota 10K in a record time of 30 minutes, 32 seconds. Second was 19-year-old Blake Meyer of Cincinnati and third was Paul Odipo of Kenya. On the women’s side, Taryn Surtees of Cincinnati won in a time of 38:58. Second was Kaylee Rice of Liberty Township and third was Lauren Dullea of Cincinnati.
In the Tri-State Running Company 5K, 20-year-old Brett Frondorf of Cincinnati, the winner of the 2012 Toyota 10K, won in a time of 17:01. Odipo came in second and third was Matt Motsinger. Becky Clark, the winner of Friday night’s Little Kings Mile, won the women’s race in 17:57. Second was Karen Berndt and third was Melanie Pliskin.
Winning the men’s division of Friday’s Little Kings Mile was Jake Edwards in a time of 4:19. Clark’s winning time Friday night was 5:05.
Speak Your Mind