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|  Fantastic finish at hp houston marathon January 20, 2003
by Lance Phegley Click here for
interviews with top finishers at the 2003 hp houston marathon
Wade, who has finished in the top five here on four separate
occasions, ascended to the top spot on the podium by staying
true to his pre-race plan. Zaragas stepped out to a huge early lead with an agressive race
pace through most of the race. The 27-year-old Greek sped past
the halfway point in 1:08:00. His lead grew to four minutes
over Wade by the 30K point -- but that's when his early pace
began to cost him. Wade commented after the race that Zaragas' early speed meant
one of two things was going to happen: the Greek would destroy
the field, or blow up. Wade focused on his 5:30 pace per mile
and hoped that it was the latter. He whittled the lead down to two minutes with 5K left. The 36-
year-old physical education teacher covered the final 3.1 miles
three minutes faster than the fading Zaragas to secure the
victory in 2:24:43. Zaragas held on to second in 2:25:42. Houstonian's Daniel Shaw
and Gannon White rounded out the top four in 2:26:42 and
2:28:20, respectively. Russian Albina Gallyamova scored the women's victory in
2:42:37. The Las Cruces, N. Mex., resident got a brief scare
when Maddy Tormoen slipped ahead at the halfway point, but the
Russian rocket hit the afterburners to speed away to nearly a
three minute margin at the tape. Masters titles went to Joe Flores (2:41:10) and Barbara Stoll
(3:01:53). Other winners in the weekend events included Scott Strand and
Beth Old in the half-marathon. Strand scored a two-and-a-half
minute victory in 1:05:13 (PR) and Old turned back Jackie
Rzepecki by 1:46 in 1:17:03. Justin Chaston was the top four mile finisher in 18:47 (course
was approximately 200 meters short), while high school senior
Brittany Brockman won the women's race in 22:03. Nearly 12,000 runners and walkers entered the three events, with
another 6,000 or so children participating in the children's run
on Saturday.
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In a finish that race fans and event organizers always hope for,
Houston's own Sean Wade swept past a fading Lambros Zaragas in
the final mile to claim the 31st running of the hp houston
marathon on January 19.