Team Strands’ Matt Hooley Wins Eugene Marathon
Team Strands athlete Matt Hooley won the Eugene Marathon decisively and qualified for the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials Sunday morning, while teammates Jason Pyles and Marian Pyles placed second and third, respectively, in the Eugene Half Marathon.
Hooley won the marathon by nearly 8 minutes in his first overall marathon title. He ran a new personal best and course record of 2:18:38 in the process. The second place finisher, Chad Worthen crossed the finish at 2:26:36 after local 2:18-marathoner John Lucas dropped out late in the race.
Jason Pyles placed second overall, running 1:11:48 in the half marathon and Marian was third overall in the women’s race with a new best of 1:21:57. Visiting Team Strands masters athlete Paco Ribera of Spain, led from mile 3 of the half marathon until he was directed onto the marathon course, where he fell out of contention after running a mile on the wrong course. Ribera was a 2:12-marathoner during the 90’s and ran 1:08 in Madrid as a masters athlete earlier this year.
Photo: Amanda Smith, The Eugene Register-Guard
For complete marathon and half marathon results, please visit the Online Race Results. Another recap of the race is also available from the Eugene Register-Guard.
