Monday, May 10, 1999

Marathon off to flying start

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Kenyan, Cincinnatian win first Flying Pig

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Runners cross the Taylor-Southgate Bridge. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        A surprise entry from a land far away and a UC student won the first Flying Pig Marathon Sunday.

        Elly Rono, a 29-year-old Kenyan living in Evansville, Ind., ran away with the men's race, finishing in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 15 seconds. Rono broke away at the 4-mile mark and was unchallenged the rest of the way.

        Sommer Settell, a 22-year-old student at the University of Cincinnati, won the women's race in 2:58:10. It was the first win in a major race for Settell, who has been running seriously for only 2¹/₂ years.

        Rono and Settell each received $1,500 for their victories.

Rono crosses the finish line. (Saed Hindash photo) | ZOOM |

        Rono did not register until late Saturday night. “I wasn't sure if I was going to run,” he said. “I ran in a race last week.”

        Rono won NCAA Division II titles in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and in cross country at Southern Indiana University. He graduated Saturday, then drove over to register for the Pig.

        Settell was a hit with the hometown crowd.

        “It was great. People were cheering for me all along,” she said. “I knew tons of people on the course.”

Settell gets a drink of water and a medal after finishing. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        The race drew 6,150 runners, making it the second biggest first-time marathon in U.S. history.

        The weather was perfect for the 7:05 a.m. start, but for the back-of-the-pack runners, the afternoon sun made the going tougher.

        More than 100 people were treated at a medical tent near the finish. “A few” were taken to local hospitals, said medical director Dr. Susanne Solomon.

        “We're seeing mostly heat exhaustion and dehydration,” Solomon said.

       

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Flying Pig Page

COMPLETE RESULTS PHOTO GALLERY Marathon off to flying start Race promoters thrilled by its success UC student bursts onto marathon scene Kenyan outclasses men's field Where agony and ecstasy meet 'Put it ON!' Fans cheered strangers Eastern Avenue site of several struggles One runner's moments to remember Wheelchair race provides NASCAR-like excitement Channel 9 coverage earns medal