San Francisco marathon results are in!

By Caitilin McAdoo, Bay City News Service

July 30, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - More than 15,000 runners laced up their sneakers early this morning and started off in the 26.2-mile San Francisco Marathon, two companion half marathons and a five-kilometer road race.

The full-marathon route took runners from the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero, west through Fisherman's Wharf and past the fishing boat marina. Runners then traveled along the water through Bay Aquatic Park and up Fort Mason hill.

Runners then continued west along the Marina, by Crissy Field in the Presidio and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Crowds of runners then looped around Vista Point and returned back over the bridge and back through the Presidio. They then went south through the Richmond District and west through Golden Gate Park. From the park, runners turned east through the Haight Ashbury neighborhood along Haight Street and into the Mission District and Potrero Hill. The course then ended where it started -- in front of the Ferry Building.

Andrew Cook, 25, of Denton, Texas took first place in the men's category, completing the entire race in just 2 hours, 26 minutes, 46 seconds.

According to race officials, this was the fastest mark in the San Francisco Marathon since 1999.

Cook recorded his personal best marathon at 2:19:48 at the Austin Marathon in February, a mark that qualified him for the 2008 USA Men's Olympic Marathon Trials.

Julia Stamps, 27, of New York City, took first place in the women's category, completing the race in 2:54:55. Stamps is a former Santa Rosa High School and Stanford University track and field standout, according to race officials. She is also a three-time California State High School Cross Country champion.

Both winners are first-time winners at the marathon distance, race officials reported.

The defending champion in the men's race today was Tony Torres, 28, of Cedar Glen, who came in second with a time of 2:32:40. Darren Benson, 32, of Australia came in third in 2:34:21.

In the women's category, 25-year-old Chloe Glare of Menlo Park took the runner-up spot in 3:05:31. Melanie Bos, 33, of Kelowna, British Columbia, finished the race in 3:10:25 to claim third place. Jeff Ambos, 44, of Riverside, won the men's title in the master's race (age 40 and over) and placed fifth overall with a total time of 2:41:17. Nellie Toner, 40, of Perris won the women's master's race in 3:29:45.

Winners from the first half-marathon, which covered the first 13.1 miles of the course, were 17-year-old John Yatsko of Tempe, Ariz. in 1:15:33 and 27-year-old Angela Strange of San Francisco in 1:26:11. Mark Batres, 21, of Rowland Heights won the second half marathon in the men's race, in 1:08:09. Betsy Keever, 32, of San Francisco, took first place in the women's second half-marathon in 1:22:44.

Jordon Kinley, 22, of San Francisco won the men's title in the 5K race. Allie Bigelow, 33, of Oakland won the women's 5K title.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom also attended the day's events. The event's Cause to Run program has raised $250,000 for more than 50 local charities since 2003, according to race officials.

This year's San Francisco Marathon was sponsored by JetBlue Airways, Hyatt Regency, Organs 'R' Us, Cytomax and Zone Perfect.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

####