Courtesy: event press release

Motorola Marathon Photo Gallery

INTERVIEWS WITH TOP FINISHERS
Andrzej Krzyscin - Overall Male

Tatiana Borisova - Overall Female

William Moore - Masters Male

Liza Hunter-Galvan - Leading NZ Marathoner

Andrzej Krzyscin and Tatiana Borisova were the overall male and female winners Sunday at the 13th annual Motorola Austin Marathon in Austin, Texas. Krzyscin, a 36 year-old from Poland, crossed the tape with a winning time of 2:14:17. He was brought in to serve as the race pace setter - or rabbit - but held on to win the race for the third year in a row. "I could not drop out while I was still one of the top three, said Krzyscin immediately following his win. "I heard someone yell, 'Andrzej, do it!' So, I did it."

The overall female winner, a 27 year-old middle distance specialist from Kyrgyzstan, established a new course record with a time of 2:30:39 -- an amazing feat considering that the Motorola Austin Marathon was her first-ever marathon. "Yes, this was my first time," said a winded Borisova through an interpreter. "But I had a lot of fun my first time."

Adding to the excitement of the day, eight women qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials to take place on April 3rd. The Motorola Austin Marathon, known for its fast, mostly downhill course, was the last chance for many to establish a qualifying time. "This marathon is known for its fast course, and that held true today. Thank you Austin!" exclaimed a jubilant Hallie Janssen, a 28 year-old from Portland who finished with a qualifying time of 2:46:48.

The male Wheelchair division winner was Michel Bond a 36 year- old from Weatherford, Texas, who crossed the finish line with a time of 1:28:53. Additionally, William Moore, 42, of Dallas, finished first in the Masters division (age 40-49) with a time of 2:24:45. Julian Ramierez Nunez, 50, of Mexico was the first finisher in the Seniors division (age 50-59) with a time of 2:48:07. Jim Duguay, 65, of Marietta, Georgia, was the victor in the Veterans division (age 60-69) with a time of 3:03:37.

This year's marathon hosted nearly 11,000 runners and took place on a beautiful day in Austin, Texas, that had a temperature swing from the low 30s at the start of the race to the upper 60s by mid afternoon. Participants in the 2004 Motorola Austin Marathon included 60 elite runners from more than 40 different countries, including Australia, Brazil, Japan, Morocco, Poland, Russia and the United States.

Race Winners

The prize money purse totals $100,000 with $10,000 going to both the overall male and overall female winners. As the prize money has grown steadily from the $6,000 in 1992, the running times have come down. Alberto Puente of Mexico won the first Motorola Austin Marathon men's race in 2 hours 24 minutes, a time which has been whittled down over the past 13 years to the 2:11:14 event record set by Mohamed Nazipov of Russia in 2001.

In addition to the Open division, the Motorola Austin Marathon awarded prize money to men and women in the Masters, Seniors, Veterans and Wheelchair divisions. In total, awards will be presented to more than 30 age, weight and special recognition divisions.

"Today the Motorola Austin Marathon solidified itself as one of the best and fastest marathons in the United States," said John Conley, race director. "We have a 'three-peat' male winner, a new women's course record and eight women who qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. The athletes were prepared, our volunteers were enthusiastic and the spectators who lined the race course were treated to incredible performances."

In conjunction with the event, Motorola presented the United Way Capital Area a check for $15,000 in addition to proceeds raised from the sponsorship of the race's 27 water stops.