by John Welch

This article is a continuation of the San Antonio Marathon coverage in the December issue of ITR. For complete details on the San Antonio Marathon, pick up a copy of the December issue of ITR. Subscribe to ITR today!

San Antonio Marathon Photo Gallery

When people tell you things are bigger in Texas, you'd better believe them, at least when it comes to the San Antonio Marathon of the Americas. No, the Nov. 10 event was certainly not the biggest in the state, but it did play host to some of the biggest and baddest runners in a division tailor made for them: the USA Clydesdale and Filly Racing Association 2002 National Championship.

And yes, there were marathoners there of smaller stature, and they will get their just rewards. But first, let's get to the Clydes and Fillies. Gene Johnson of San Antonio, a top Clydesdale distance runner and triathlete, was the impetus behind getting the event here in the first place, and he deserves a great deal of the credit. Johnson even rode his bike along the route to escort the runners to the finish line so no one would mistake them as part of the regular marathon field.

The first to break the banner and claim a Clydesdale national title was Eric Kobrine of Irvine, Calif. Kobrine, a 32-year-old office manager, heard about the championship and the great city of San Antonio from his girlfriend Kathy Smith, a former Churchill High School runner, who set the UIL State Meet record in the 3,200-meter run in 1983. Smith, who ran 10 minutes, 30.0 seconds in that race almost 20 years ago, is also a three-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. Kobrine, who won the Clydesdale division in 2:49:42, admits to doing most of his training with Smith.

"She (Smith) pushes me pretty hard in workouts, but my dad got me into running about six years ago," Kobrine, 32, said. "He's run in 23 consecutive Boston Marathons, himself. Before I started running again (Kobrine ran in high school), I played beach volleyball and surfed a lot."

And though the national title will not put his face on Wheaties boxes, it will furnish Kobrine with the satisfaction of knowing that he is the 2002 USACFRA National Champion at 190+ pounds.

"This race (and the Clydesdale division) gives me and other runners, who are larger than most runners, a different playing field," Kobrine said. "It was like a race in a race for me, and I think I will continue doing them."

Scott Birk, 38, of Austin, was the runner-up and the winner of the 211225 pound division in 3:23:06.

The Filly division had two heroines, 2002 Trinity University graduals and track teammates Alicia Mein and Sarah Lough, both 23. The dynamic duo was times in 3:59:59.

"We didn't even know about this race till a few days ago, and then we decided to do it together," Mein said. "And since we ran it together, we decided to go for the tie at the finish line."

And what of the rest of the field?

The overall winner of the race was Juan Martinez, 38, of Mexico City, Mexico. Martinez, who rode a bus to Laredo and then had another marathon on his hands just trying to enter the U.S., crossed the line in 2:23:46. Martinez broke from the fest of the field for good en route to his victory, which netted him $2,000 in prize money and some nice gold jewelry.

The women's winner for the second year in a row was Albina Gallyamova, 38, of St. Petersburg, Russia, who now lives and trains in Austin. Gallyamova ran 2:46:26 for the win and her $2,000. Machelle Cochran, winner of the San Antonio Marathon in 2000, was second at 2:55:24.

The turnout for the race was good at over 2,400 runners. A heavy fog enshrouded the area before the race and made for some humid conditions