Renee High Wins Shamrock Marathon

VIRGINIA BEACH - College students always need money. So you can imagine how Renee High of Virginia Beach felt Sunday when she learned she was $1,150 richer. High, a nursing student at Old Dominion University, won the money as the top finisher for women in the 34th annual Shamrock Marathon.

High completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 45 minutes and 27.4 seconds. She earned $1,000 for winning the women's race and an additional $150 for running an Olympic Trials marathon qualifying time.

"I was hoping to run somewhere between 2:50-2:55," said High, who finished 15th overall. "But I really wanted to run 2:45 and my coach, Jerry (Frostick), said I could do it."

Frostick, the co-race director, was one of the first to congratulate her.

High was competing in just her third marathon. In her first marathon last year, High finished fourth in a time of 3:06:22.

"I think this year was easier because last year I didn't know what to expect," she said. "The first 15 miles are easy, but the last 4 or 5 you have to be able to gut it out because it hurts."

Not to mention the 10-mph wind that blew in the marathoners' faces for nearly 8 miles.

It didn't seem to bother Michael Wardian of Arlington, Va., who not only conquered the conditions but also the competition to win the men's marathon.

Wardian, known for going out hard early, decided to hang back a little longer. Then with about 7 miles to go, Wardian broke away from the pack, daring the competition to run with him.

"At about 19 miles, I decided to go for it," said the 31-year-old Wardian, who ran 2:28:27. "I figured if they stayed with me then let them, but I was going to let the chips fall where they may."

Wardian's tactically shrewd plan paid off as he coasted to the title. Second place went to Jordan Dubow of Chicago and third to Tommy Antenucci of Abingdon, Va. Dubow ran 2:32:11, while Antenucci finished in 2:33:21.

Matthew Thomas of Virginia Beach was the top South Hampton Roads runner. He ran 2:42:09 to finish seventh.

On the women's side, a former Kellam standout was a surprise second. Kelley Taylor, running in her first marathon, ran 2:55:06. Former William and Mary runner Laurie Sturgell Knowles of Atlanta was third in 2:56:38.

Taylor, the 2003 Group AAA state outdoor champion in the 1,600 meters, earned a track scholarship to American University but gave it up because her desire to run was gone.

She returned to Virginia Beach with no intentions of running competitively again. But by the end of summer, her competitive juices began flowing again.

Then her boyfriend, Julio Galvez, mentioned he was going to run in the Shamrock Marathon.

"I thought that this would be a good time to come back and run," she said.

With the help of her old high school coach, Bill Bernard, Taylor started serious training about 11 weeks ago.

Taylor ran a smart race staying within a 6:41 pace. When she finished, she was all smiles.

"This is why I ran, to enjoy running again," she said. "This is the feeling I was looking for again."

Reach Larry Rubama at 757-446-2273 or larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

C 2006 HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com