Lyudmila Pushkina winning the Columbus Marathon (© Victah Sailer - Photo Run)
A strong solo effort propelled 40-year-old Ukrainian Lyudmila Pushkina to her third win at the Columbus Marathon.
Unchallenged, the 2002 and 2003 winner, Pushkina reached the line in 2:29:57. The Gainesville, Florida based runner is the only woman to run under 2:30 on the flat Columbus course, a feat she's now accomplished with each of her wins, including her 2:28:09 course record.
Organizers offered a US$25,000 bonus for a sub-2:27 performances, and Pushkina took up the challenge, reaching the half in 1:13:48, but eventually faltered in the latter stages. Despite the late-race setback, Pushkina became the eighth fastest 40+ woman marathoner of all time.
Larisa Michailova, 36, a Russian living in West Chester, Penn., was second in 2:42:00.
Teren Jameson of Taylorsville, Utah, won the men's race in 2:18:38, the first American winner in Columbus since 1993.
Sarah Irwin for the IAAF
