AT&T Austin Marathon Photo Gallery

Some 12,000 marathoners and half-marathoners toured the redesigned courses through Texas' capital city on Sunday, February 18, at the AT&T Austin Marathon -- and when the finish tapes were broken, two Africans runners took home top honors.

Jynocel Basweti (photo, below left) stalked the early leader through the halfway point before sweeping into the lead with a bold downhill move. His surge put him squarely in control of the race and he was never headed, finishing in the shadows of the capitol building in 2:14:02. Wesley Ngetich struck silver with his 2:16:45 finish, while Alexsandr Vasilyev crossed the line 16 seconds behind Ngetich for third. Top American finisher was Teren Jameson, who finished some three minutes over his PR for fourth in 2:19:32.

In the women's race, a large lead group -- including Rebecca Tallam (Kenya), Moges Zebenaye (Ethiopia), Elena Vinitskaya (Belarus), Firaya Sultanova (Russia) and American Desiree Ficker (photo, below right) raced through the 10 mile mark at about six minute pace. Seven miles later, Zebenaye had forged a one-minute and nine second lead over the same group, minus Vinitskaya who had dropped another minute back in fifth. The trailing trio dropped a full two minutes and 10 seconds behind the leader by mile 21, but the Ethiopian held on to claim the women's title in 2:39:46. Ficker, the Ironman Hawaii runner-up, closed the quickest -- gaining back all but 42 seconds to finish second. Sultanova finished third in 2:40:55 and was the only other female under 2:44.

Half marathon titles went to Derek Williamson (1:07:36) and Jacqueline Wachtel (1:21:13).