Courtesy: Running USA

With the largest field ever for a first-time running event, the P.F. Chang's Rock `n` Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon made a bold debut onto the international marathon calendar on Sunday. World-class winning times fronted a combined field of 29,282 taking on the scenic marathon and half-marathon courses in the Valley of the Sun. Along the route 50 local bands and 40 high school cheer squads entertained the runners creating a swelling party atmosphere for the first- time event.

The race start was delayed by 30 minutes due to traffic tie-ups clogging the roads trying to get nearly 30,000 runners to the starting line at the State Capitol. But though delayed, the festive atmosphere remained up beat throughout.

In the elite men's competition Kenya's Haron Toroitich took home the winners check of $20,000 leading a Kenyan sweep of the top three places. For the women it was Ethiopia's Shitaye Gemechu besting 1996 New York City Marathon champion Anuta Catuna of Romania for the women's crown.

The two winning times, 2:10:33 and 2:31:33 were slowed slightly by a persistent second-half breeze, but men's champion Toroitich is already anticipating a fast defense in 2005.

"This was the first attempt (on the course)," said the 26-year- old from Baringo, Kenya. "I think in the future they will run 2:07."

The full marathon field of 13,294 runners began their journey through Phoenix, Scottsdale and into Tempe to the Arizona State University finish line between Sun Devil and Sun Angel stadiums. The half-marathon crowd of 15,988 took on a course which stayed straight and true from Phoenix to ASU.

"The course was fast," said Jason Lehmkuhle of Team USA Minnesota who finished second in the half-marathon. "I was hoping to run 1:04:30, but the breeze got a little stiff from six miles on."

Lehmkuhle's 65:33 was 58 seconds behind Ryan Shay, a Traverse City, Mich. native and Notre Dame alum and the 2003 USA marathon and half- marathon champion. Both men and several others were using the P.F. Chang's Rock `n` Roll 1/2 Marathon as a final tune-up for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday, February 7.

Women's half-marathon champion Erica Larson of Los Alamos, New Mexico, finished 19 seconds up on Brianna Torres of Phoenix with her 1:17:51 win.

"I am 12 weeks out from the women's marathon trials in St. Louis, and this was an excellent test of my early season fitness. I was surprised how well I did."

With one world record notched before the starting pistol was ever fired, that being the largest first-time running (and later annual) event in road racing history, the inaugural P.F. Chang's Rock `n` Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon placed its name alongside Boston, New York, Chicago, Honolulu and San Diego as the newest member of the major marathon destination club.

P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe, AZ
Sunday, January 11, 2004

MEN
1. Haron Toroitich, 26, Kenya, 2:10:33, $20,000
2. Jomo Kororia, 23, Kenya, 2:11:07, $10,000
3. Michael Kapkiai, 35, Kenya, 2:13:11, $6500
4. Gudisa Shentama, 23, Ethiopia, 2:15:16, $4000
5. Luke Kibet, 30, Kenya, 2:16:41, $3000
6. Belay Wolasha, 33, Ethiopia, 2:16:53, $1800
7. Simon Rono, 31, Kenya, 2:17:06, $1400
8. Simon Bor, 32, Kenya, 2:17:17, $1200
9. Moges Taye, 30, Ethiopia, 2:19:26, $1100
10. Tokeste Kebede, 24, Ethiopia, 2:20:16, $1000

WOMEN
1. Shitaye Gemechu, 30, Ethiopia, 2:31:33, $20,000
2. Anuta Catuna, 35, Romania, 2:32:55, $10,000
3. Banuelia Mrashani, 26, Tanzania, 2:33:36, $6500
4. Ramilya Buranulova, 42, Russia, 2:33:49, $4000
5. Abeba Tola, 26, Ethiopia, 2:38:49, $3000
6. Aurica Buia, 33, Romania, 2:40:22, $1800
7. Liz Wilson, 35, OR, 2:41:33, $1400
8. Chris Lundy, 33, CA, 2:46:39, $1200
9. Mary Beth Ellis, CO, 2:48:19, $1100
10. M. Portilla Cruz, 32, Peru, 2:48:36, $1000

MEN
1. Ryan Shay, 24, MI, 1:04:35
2. Jason Lehmkuhle, 26, MN, 1:05:33
3. Keith Dowling, 34, VA, 1:05:52
4. Scott Goff, 27, CO, 1:05:59
5. Shawn Found, 32, CO, 1:06:02

WOMEN
1. Erica Larson, 32, NM, 1:17:51
2. Brianna Torres, 23, AZ, 1:18:10
3. Nikole Johns, 29, CO, 1:18:25
4. Susan Loken, 40, AZ, 1:19:22
5. Katie Blackett, 26, CO, 1:20:33

Wheelchair Marathon Winners
Men: Chad Johnson, 28, USA, 2:01:19
Women: Tricia Downing, 34, USA, 2:55:45

Wheelchair Half-Marathon Winners
Men: Chris Schaefer, 49, USA, 1:14:01
Women: Tracy Zajac, 41, USA, 1:26:59