AVALON, Calif. – (March, 2011) – More than 1,100 runners came to Catalina Island with cool weather in the 50s and near perfect running conditions on
Catalina Marathon
Saturday morning for the 34th Catalina Marathon. There were participants from 23 countries represented along with 38 states. The world’s #1 trail marathon, with spectacular Island views and a 1,600-foot elevation climb, had a 50 / 50 split between males and females.
After 2 hours, 50 minutes, 22 seconds, Mar Vista, California native, Kevin Purcell, 35, beat his closest competitor John Tribbia, of Boulder, Colorado by 26 seconds in a duel that lasted nearly the entire course through the wilderness of Catalina Island. His time was less than eleven minutes off of Bill McDermott’s 1991 course record of 2:39:58. Purcell, the winner of Buffalo Run Half Marathon, the February Rose Bowl Half Marathon and the Catalina Marathon, became the first American Trail Championship participant ever to win all three races for the title.
Jennifer Latham, 42, from Yorktown Heights, NY was the female winner in 3:45:38. This was Jennifer’s second Catalina Marathon, but first time she had won. The women’s runner-up, also a Masters runner (40 and older) was Sharon Pevsner, 42, from Sierra Madre, CA in 3:49:09.Jack Caress, President and CEO of Pacific Sports LLC said, “The Catalina Marathon was probably the finest we have ever produced in our 15 years of owning and operating the event. We want to bring as many people to the island as possible. We enjoy putting on the events here, and we are happy that we are able to help out the people of Avalon and Two Harbors and the Avalon Schools.”
Catalina Island will receive an economic impact of $2.2 million for this year’s event. Since 1995, Pacific Sports LLC has produced 46 events on the island, giving the island an economic boost of more than $100 million.
34th Catalina Marathon
Avalon, CA, Saturday, March 12, 2011
MEN
1) Kevin Purcell (CA), 2:50:22
2) John Tribbia (CO), 2:50:48
3) Brian Enge, 40, CA, 3:10:52
WOMEN
1) Jennifer Latham, 42, NY, 3:45:38
2) Sharon Pevsner, 42, CA, 3:49:09
3) Angels Brunson (CA), 3:55:05
Men’s champion Purcell captures American Trail Championship and the first to win all three ATC series races for title; 1,100-plus participants at 34th edition; $2.2 million economic impact
From Jenna M. Helton, Pacific Sports LLC
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