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American takes top place in the 2009 Cyprus Marathon More than 500 runners took part in the 2009 Cyprus Marathon (Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km Road Race) which was organised successfully on Sunday 15th March 2009. Unfortunately the high winds which were blowing on Sunday did not help the runners for a personal best. The Marathon course started from Petra tou Romiou (Birthplace of Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty) and finished at the Pafos Mediaeval Fort square. The other two races (Half Marathon & 10 km Road Race) started and finished at the Pafos Mediaeval Fort square. The events were successfully organized by NIKI Sports Management. The Marathon departed at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Half Marathon at 9:15 a.m. and the 10km at 9:30 a.m. The number of runners that participated indicated the big impact of the event, as most of the runners came from abroad, especially to participate in the event. There were runners from more than 24 different countries such as England, Germany, Ireland, France, Hungary, Canada, Austria, Holland, Poland, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Russia, Argentina, Scotland, USA, Australia, Sweden, Greece and Cyprus. There were also quite a few runners who participated in the Marathon to raise money for charities. A team of 10 runners from the BFC run the Marathon carrying bergans and wearing boots and raised money for the charity ‘Help For Heroes’. The Cyprus Marathon is now recognized as the major race in Cyprus. The American runner Mark Werner won the 2009 Cyprus Marathon in a time 2:56:26. The British runner Steve Holyoak was second in 2:59:20. The ‘Episkopi runners’ lady Yvonne Davies was first in the women category with a time 3:48:44. The Cypriot runner Michael Keenan with a time of 1:16:23 won the Cyprus Half Marathon with Charles Stephen from UK in second place with a time of 1:17:07. The British lady Sarah Paterson of Schiniathlon Club won the ladies race with the time of 1:33:10. Second lady in the Half Marathon distance was Rebekah Lincoln of ‘JSSU Women’ Club with a time 1:36:28. The male winner of the Cyprus 10km Road Race was British Steve Tomlisson with a time of 38:45 and the female winner was British lady Alexandra Lodge of Schiniathlon Club with the time 46:30. Each participant who finished the Cyprus Marathon 2009 was given a quality, commemorative T-shirt and a medal. Awards were given to the first three runners in each of the 48 age group categories. After the races the Organisers offered to all participants ample quantities of seasonal fruit, free KEO beer, Lanitis orange juices and AVRA natural mineral water. The runners and spectators were entertained with Pop music by the Music Ensemble ‘Eternity’ and enjoyed traditional Cypriot and Greek dancing from the Dance Group ‘Chorevtiko Schima to Kastro’. It was a real running festival! Race results for all three races can be viewed in the Web site http://www.cyprusmarathon.com/results09.htm Race photos can be ordered from Fotokinisi (Tel: 26938635, Web site http://www.fotokinisi.com/ ) All in all the city of Pafos produced a spectacular event that heralded not just a few but hundreds of winners. As the many finishers exited Pafos Mediaeval Fort square an overwhelming sense of achievement radiated from the Fort. The Organisers of the Cyprus Marathon 2009 express their sincere thanks to all the sponsors of the race. The Cyprus Marathon was sponsored from Constantinou Bros Hotels, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, CO-OP Bank of Strovolos, Cyprus Airways, SpiderNet Services Public Ltd, Laser Graphics Ltd, The Gallery (art+graphic design), Pafos Municipality and FOTOKINISI. NIKI sports Management would like to thank each and every one who was involved, in any capacity, in this, the running of the Cyprus Marathon 2009. Preparations have already begun for the 2010 Cyprus Marathon, which will be held on Sunday 14th March 2010. Yours in running, |
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