Runners tour Memphis landmarks in second annual St. Jude Marathon and Half Marathon

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC)
Saturday, 6 December 2003

More than 3,600 people from as near as Memphis, Tennessee, to as far as Japan took a running (and walking) tour of Memphis on Dec. 6 during the second annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon and Half Marathon.

Runners and walkers from as young as 8 years old to as old as 72 gathered in chilly weather on Dec. 6 to help children who are battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Kassahun Kabiso and Retta Feyissa, who grew up together in Ethiopia and now hail from New York, finished 1-2 in the full marathon which looped from downtown Memphis to Midtown. On the loop, runners got a chance to see some of Memphis' landmarks including The Peabody Hotel, The Orpheum Theatre, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum and Sun Studio. Kabiso finished with a time of 2:26:57, besting the 2:34:47 of last year's champion, Jonas Holdeman of Memphis.

In the women's division, Memphian Kate Hartely took first place with a time of 2:59:04, followed by Valerie Pino, also of Memphis, who finished at 3:04:38.

In the 13.1-mile Half Marathon, Gabriel Muchiri of Kenya crossed the finish line with a time of 1:06:00, just 1 minute and 23 seconds ahead on Isaac Kariuki, of Marietta, Georgia. Complete race results are listed at www.stjudemarathon.org.

The race raised nearly $150,000 to help St. Jude continue its lifesaving work of finding cures and saving children. The marathon and half marathon also offer registrants a chance to become part of a unique group called St. Jude Heroes, a group of runners that raise money for St. Jude. St. Jude Heroes run in a number of races around the country each year, from the St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run to the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon and Half Marathon, presented by Juice Plus, is the result of a partnership between St. Jude and the Memphis Runners Track Club. Other sponsors included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Kroger, Cellular South, First Tennessee, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Clean Mountain Natural Spring Water, Nike and PowerAde. The St. Jude Heroes program is sponsored by AutoZone.

The next St. Jude Memphis Marathon and Half Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004.

For more information, or to contact St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC), see their website at: www.stjude.org