by Lance Phegley

Motorola Austin Marathon Photo Gallery

Interviews with top Motorola Austin Marathon finishers

Defending champion Andrzej Krzyscin (center) used a late-race surge to pull away from Jimmy Hearld (left), claiming the 2003 Mototola Austin Marathon on a cold and blustery day in Austin, Texas.

Krzyscin toured the point-to-point route through the Lone Star State's capitol in two hours, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds. Hearld, who assumed the lead during a difficult headwind stretch around mile 24, settled for a seven minute PR (2:12:50) -- a mark which earns him a spot on the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon startline next year.

Finish line spectators witnessed a near blanket finish in the women's race as Silvia Skortsova edge Larisa Timchia by about three-tenths of a second to earn the first place check of $10,000 in 2:37:22. Alena Vinitskya finished third, just another six seconds in arrears.

Total participation for the event, which also features a two- person marathon relay and a half-marathon race, topped out at just over 10,000. Many of the marathoners commented that the strong winds that gusted to 25 mph were beneficial during most of the race, but that the headwind sections negated the tailwind advantage resulting in slightly slower times for most.