2011 Marine Corps Marathon and MCM10K Welcome Fast Finishes and Fourth Largest Field of Runners

ROSSLYN, VA (Oct. 30, 2011) - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Charles Ware of Wheeling, IL led the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) race field of 20,895 runners with a finish time of 2:19:16, the fastest MCM finish since 1997. Rounding out the top male finishers were Michael Wardian of Arlington, VA (2:23:46) and Patrick Fernandez, a U.S. Coast Guard runner from Alexandria, VA (2:26:37).

The 20,895 finishers mark the fourth largest total since the event began in 1976. Despite chilly morning temperatures of 39 degrees at 8 a.m., over 98 percent of the 21, 250 who started the event crossed the finish line.

Tezata Dengersa, a native of Turkey, finished first amongst the female MCM competitors with a time of 2:45:28. Emily Schertzer of Jonestown, PA came in a close second with a time of 2:45:55. Getachew Shiferaw, also of Ellicot City, completed the event in 2:47:30.

With a race field of 6,873, the MCM10K saw a new course record set as Reuben Mwei, a native of Kenya, finished the 6.2-mile event in 00:30:37. In the female field, Navy Lt. Amanda Rice, 27 of North Bethesda, MD completed the second-fastest overall MCM10K finish time for women in 00:36:30.

The U.S. Marines prevailed in the MCM Challenge Cup Competition finishing ahead of the British Royal Navy/Marines in both the men and women’s divisions. The U.S. Marine Corps Running Team combined for a time of 7:47:06, while the British Royal Navy/Marines team finished with a combined time of 8:21:27. The All-Marine Corps Women team (6:06:07) bested the Royal Navy Women’s team (7:03:58) in the female division.

The 20,895th finisher Mona Kroos of Leesburg, VA accepted the Penguin Award recognizing the last official finisher.