Close to 3,000 Runners Compete in the OUC Half Marathon & 5k
Ideal conditions with cool temperatures and little wind greeted a record crowd of nearly 3,000 runners at the 29th annual OUC Half Marathon and 5k. The Half Marathon started promptly at 7:30 a.m. with the 5k beginning 10 minutes later.
Patrick Marshall of Orlando took home top honors in the race, covering the flat, fast 13.1 mile course in 1:13:41. He edged second place finisher Stanley Maina of Orlando by eleven seconds. Maina completed the course in 1:13:52. Kissimmee’s Sean Blaney came in third at 1:15:21; while Oviedo’s Paul Nielsen (1:15:31) and Kennesaw, Georgia’s Jack Mcafee (1:15:37) rounded out the top five in the men’s open division.
In the women’s Open Division, Summerfield’s Jessica Kennedy came home first in 1:24:37. Ocala’s Lynn Lenoard placed second in 1:27:31. Rounding out the top five in the women’s open division were Gainesville’s Kiel Gross (1:28:38), Washington D.C.’s Whitney Simon (1:30:40), and Orlando’s Hulya Atli (1:30:50).
In the 40-year-old plus Masters Division, Lake Mary’s Scott Kobrin (1:15:46) took the men’s title; while Winter Park’s Kathy Gagnier (1:31:29) took the women’s crown. The top five finishers in each of 13 age groups were also given special awards and recognition.
In the 5k, Brian Atkinson of Melbourne Beach tied with Melbourne’s Jim Vanveencl, with a time of 16:46. In the Women’s 5k, Brianne Gaal of Orlando edged Sarasota’s Sekyen Mutfwangfor the top spot. Gaal covered the 3.2 mile distance in 19:51 – a minute and four seconds in front of Mutfwang.
Both the Half Marathon and 5k races started and finished at Lake Eola Park and wound their way through Orlando’s historic residential neighborhoods. Finishers of both races were awarded commemorative medals.
“Near perfect conditions, fast times and record numbers of participants, we couldn’t have been more pleased,” race director Jason Cover said. “The OUC Half Marathon and 5k continues to attract the nation’s top road racers and we are already making plans for next year’s 30 anniversary of the race.”