by Clay Shaw

PHILADELPHIA, PA, NOVEMBER 24, 2019—Diriba Yigezu of Ethiopia, made the podium in 2018 in third place.  Competitive and not satisfied, Yigezu return to Philadelphia to win in 2019, in 2:16:31.  Yigezu is based in New York City, and had to deal with cold, rainy conditions.  Milton Rotich, a Kenyan based in Albuquerque, NM, was over two minutes back, in 2:18:49.  Former Harvard runner Connor Reck of Minneapolis, MN was third in 2:19:28. Urgesa Figa, an NYC based Ethiopian was fifth in 2:19:40.  In total 10,045 finished the rainy (and very snowy for the later finishers) marathon.  Besides the Ethiopians and Kenyans, there were lots of International runners competing.  Two men from Canada, and one from Poland, and Norway placed in the top 20.

Feyne Gudeto Gemeda of Ethiopia set a new course record of 2:32:49. Serkalem Abrha also from Ethiopia had the record of 2:32:53, set last year.  Abrha was back to defend her title, but sadly had a DNF, just after halfway.  Viola Bor of Kenya, based in Toledo, OH was second in 2:40:00. Former Penn State runner, Katie Rodden of Cherry Hill, NJ who had an OQ and sixth place finish in 2018, moved up to the podium and lowered her PR to 2:40:50.  Anne-Marie Comeau of St.Ferreol les Neiges, Quebec was fourth in 2:41:10.  Comeau was on Canada’s Winter Olympic team as a cross-country skier.  Allison Goldstein of Jersey City was fifth in 2:44:14. Sixth place finisher Andrea Bradshaw of New York City had an OQ of 2:44:15 in her debut at the marathon distance.  Grace Bowen of New York City (2:44:49, 7^th place), and Gabrielle Drummond of Somerville, MA (2:44:52, 8^th place), also made the OQ standard.

Top Men

1. 2:16:31 Diriba Degefa Yigezu ETH
2. 2:18:49 Milton Rotich KEN
3. 2:19:28 Connor Reck MN
4. 2:19:40 Urgesa Kedir Figa ETH
5. 2:20:26 Chase Pizzonia NY
6. 2:20:41 Zachary Barker PA
7. 2:22:21 Glen Burkhardt SC
8. 2:23:07 Alexis Lavoie-Gilbert CAN
9. 2:23:15 Stephen Paddock CT
10. 2:24:43 Sam Geha NY
11. 2:24:59 Tom Derr VA
12. 2:25:57 Mark Hopely VA
13. 2:26:08 Max Petrosky PA
14. 2:26:34 Michael Cassidy NY
15. 2:27:15 Milan Duka CT
16. 2:28:24 Wojciech Kopec POL
17. 2:28:29 David Savard-Gagnon CAN
18. 2:28:35 Kristian Tjornhom NOR
19. 2:28:52 James Kelly NY
20. 2:29:24 Colin Carroll MA

Top Women

1. 2:32:49 Feyne Gudeto Gemeda ETH
2. 2:40:00 Viola Bor KEN
3. 2:40:50 Katie Rodden PA
4. 2:41:10 Anne-Marie Comeau CAN
5. 2:44:14 Allison Goldstein NJ
6. 2:44:15 Andrea Bradshaw NY
7. 2:44:49 Grace Bowen NY
8. 2:44:52 Gabrielle Drummond MA
9. 2:45:45 Samantha Creath NY
10. 2:46:31 Heidi Peoples PA
11. 2:48:20 Kaitlin Sheedy MA
12. 2:50:46 Allison Kelley VA
13. 2:52:27 Gillian Pease NY
14. 2:52:28 Lauren Kelly PA
15. 2:52:41 Ildiko Gaal MA
16. 2:52:59 Brittany Leuenberger PA
17. 2:53:04 Ravenna Neville MA
18. 2:63:04 Tracy Guerrette ME
19. 2:53:53 Elizabeth Ehrhardt CO
20. 2:54:15 Sarah Bowles SC

Categories: Race Coverage

Tags: 2019, featured, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Marathon