Spectators turned out in droves Sunday to cheer the more than 21,000 runners racing in the Marine Corps Marathon.
First-time marathon runner and Georgetown aluma Kristen Henehan, 28, a three-time All-American in track, won the event for the women in 2 hours, 51 minutes and 9 seconds.
Ethiopian Tamrat Ayalew, 33, unseated two-time defending men’s champion Ruben Garcia, finishing in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 18 seconds.
Chicagoan Carol Platt, standing on 15th Street in front of the Washington Monument, cheered as her husband, daughter and four friends ran by at about 10:45 a.m.
She waved a green and black flag with “Colby” written on it for her godson Colby Umbrell, a 26-year-old 1st lieutenant Army Ranger from Doylestown, Pa. who was killed in Iraq in May. The seven marathon runners were running in his honor, she said, along with about 20 people who were running the 10K race.
“We’re so proud and that’s why we’re here, emotionally,” she said, blinking back tears. “It’s great to see all these people out here. You know, a lot of people are running for their loved ones – you can see their shirts are marked with pictures.”
Platt paused to wave to two runners in pink shirts with “Team Travis” written on them. They were part of a group of 200 people running for 26-year-old Travis Manion, a 1st lieutenant with the U.S. Marine Corps, also from Doylestown, who was killed in Iraq the week before Umbrell was.
“The families didn’t know one another before, but because of the deaths, they’ve now become friends,” she said. “The Manions are Marines, and they’re the ones who prompted this.”
The weather was brisk and sunny, and Marathon spokeswoman Beth Johnson said that only nine runners had been transported to hospital emergency rooms during the race, a record low number for the marathon. None of the runners was seriously injured, she said.
