JILL LAWLESS AND ANDREA GRECO OF PHILADELPHIA ENJOYING THE BRANDYWINE RIVER “SWINGING” BRIDGE CROSSING. RHONDA BOWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO

Another Record Set at
Delaware Marathon!

WILMINGTON, DE--Another year, another Delaware Marathon record for Virginian Michael Wardian. The 37-year-old Arlington resident, broke his own record--for the third time--to lower the fastest marathon ever run on Delaware soil, clocking a 2:25:11 at the eighth annual Christiana Care Health System Delaware Marathon, HELD May 15, and presented by New Balance Delaware. The win earned Wardian a $1000 cash bonus in addition to his $1000 first place award.

Pennsylvanian Darryl Brown, 28, set the fast early pace, gapping Wardian by as much as 30 seconds in the early miles. Brown cruised through the halfway mark in around 1:12, a time that would have easily won the companion half-marathon race.

But Wardian, using his marathon and ultra-marathon experience, had plenty of energy left, finally passing Brown around Mile 18 in scenic Brandywine Park in Wilmington, and cruising to the win. “I kind of ran my own race,” Wardian said. “It was humid, but, it was actually good for me because I’m training for some hot-weather races. I was happy with the conditions being a bit challenging.”

This was Brown’s marathon debut. “I wanted to negative split the last six miles, but it didn’t quite go as expected,” said Brown, who finished second in 2:35:02. “Next time I’ll run a smarter race--this course is a lot tougher than it looks.”

MICHAEL WARDIAN SETS NEW DELAWARE MARATHON RECORD 2:25:11. CHRISTY MCDOWELL PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO

Jenny Malik captured the women’s title in 3:16:52. The 32-year-old Rochester, NY native started running just a few years ago and this was her 10th marathon. “This was my husband’s first marathon. We’ve been training together.” The Maliks, who train with the Genesee Valley Harriers, was all smiles when her husband, Jeff, crossed the line in 3:47:25. “I thought I’d be alone the second half,” she said, “but it was nice to have all those half-marathoners running around me.”

Richard Bounds, 32, from Newark, DE, won the half-marathon in 1:20:30 and Amanda Luksetich, 29, from Richmond, VA, was the first women’s half-marathon finisher in 1:28:47.

Five hundred fifty-five runners completed the Delaware Marathon. They were joined by 715 half-marathon finishers and 848 official finishers in the relay marathon. The Delaware Marathon Running Festival was supported by over 500 volunteers, many of whom got up extra early for the 7 a. m. start and many who stayed the entire day.

The event organizers pay out $5000 in cash prize money and $10,000 to numerous local charities, including Girls on the Run and Team in Training. The ninth annual Delaware Marathon is set for Mothers Day, Sunday, May 13, 2012.

WOMEN’S MARATHON WINNER JENNY MALIK TAKES TOP HONORS IN 3:16:52 (35TH OVERALL). CHRISTY MCDOWELL PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO