Saturday, May 08, 1999
Sizing up the favorites
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Andy Jones is probably the best bet to win the Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday. But if the race were two laps on the 26.2-mile course, Jones would be a mortal lock.
Jones, a 37-year-old Canadian who moved to Cincinnati two years ago, holds the world records for 60 kilometers, 40 miles, 150 kilometers, 100 miles and 12 hours on road courses.
But Jones is pretty good at the shorter distances, too. He has run a 2:17 marathon — “but that was when I was a younger guy,” he said — and expects to run 2:25 to 2:26 on Sunday.
In the women's race, Sum mer Settell is the local favorite. Settell, a 22-year-old University of Cincinnati student, has run a 2:56 marathon, making her one of only two women in the field who have broken three hours.
“I didn't expect to be the favorite,” Settell said. “There's a lot of elite runners in Kentucky and Dayton; I expected some to come in.”
Jones has been in the favorite's role before: He has won two of his last three marathons (Glass City in Toledo and Ohio Roadrunners Club in Xenia) and finished second in the other (Air Force in Dayton).
But Jones has run 30 marathons, so he knows how fickle they can be.
“You never expect to win,” he said. “You have to see how it plays out. But I usually finish strong. If I'm with the leaders at 20 miles, I'll feel good.”
Jones ran a half-marathon in 1:10 a month ago. Based on that, he's confident he can run 2:25 or so.
Jones grew up in Toronto and ran the 5,000 and 10,000 meters for the University of Toronto. He ran marathons even while he was in college and did about 30 over a 10-year period. His best came in Chicago in 1985.
“I felt like I had gone as far as I could in the marathon,” he said.
So he began running ultra-marathons. He set the 100-mile record of 12:05:43 in Toledo two years ago. That's the equivalent of running three consecutive 3:15 marathons and another 21.4 miles at the same pace.
Jones' job as a chemical engineer for International Paper takes him on the road quite a bit. He still manages to train about 90 miles a week.
“But with my job schedule, I don't get the opportunity to block out time to compete,” he said.
Sports Stories
REDS 3, CUBS 2
REDS NOTEBOOK
Box, runs
Bengals, Sawyer agree to 3-year deal
Ambrose's exit all but sealed
