Sarasota Half 2012
SARASOTA, Fla. – March, 2012 – More than 3,000 runners and walkers took part in Sunday’s 7th First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay, making the race one of the largest single day event participation events for Sarasota County outside Spring Training. Jacob Bradosky, age 24, of Great Falls, Montana and Sara Petrick, age 25, of Apollo Beach, Fla. won Open titles in course record times of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 42 seconds and 1:20:00 respectively.
Despite running this year’s race faster than in 2011, last year’s winners, Elias Gonzalez, age 35, from Tampa, and Heather Butcher, age 39, from North Port, took second place in the men’s and women’s division in 1:12:19 and 1:23:15 respectively.
Butcher’s runner-up finish made her the overall local division winner for women, while Jeff Vereckt, age 40, taking the men’s local division top place (4th overall among men) and the Masters title in 1:20:52.
Race Director Javier Sanchez noted on the event: “It was another perfect day for a race in Sarasota and some really fast record-setting times among a competitive field that drew participants from 47 states and 7 countries. We greatly appreciate all the community and sponsor support and look forward to continuing to grow this event into one of the nation’s top half-marathons and relays.”
Masters Winners (40 and older)
Lauro Barragan, age 44, 1:27:31
Jeff Vereckt, age 40, 1:20:52
Grand Masters Winners (50 and older)
Denise Skinner, age 56, 1:38:46
Robert Hammon, age 51, 1:25:52
Relay Team Winners
In its second year, the two-person relay teams attracted 366 runners and walkers. Top finishers included:
Men’s Relay: Masters of Disaster, 1:33:22
Women’s Relay: Runnergirl, 1:34:24
Co-Ed: On a Shoestring, 1:17:16
Youngest / Oldest
Spanning 67 years, 10-year-old Shelby McKinney of Genoa City, Wis. finished in 3:22:01 and 77-year-old Leroy Halle of North Port, Fla. in 3:41:31.
