From Deseret News archives:

Smith overcomes injury to win women's race

California native holds on after taking lead early

Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 11:09 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
For Kathy Smith, winning the 2002 Deseret News/KJZZ Salt Lake Marathon was meaningful.

Besides overcoming the course, Smith has battled a bad ankle and a torn Achilles tendon to be able to run competitively.

"I've had some rough injuries over the years and I just am glad to finish," Smith said.

The 36-year-old Smith crossed the finish line with a time of 3:04:45, followed by Julie Godderidge at 3:11:40 and Aimee Larkin.

Smith said she used her speed to stay near the front until the around the 13th mile, when she was able to put some distance between herself and the pack. From there it was a fight to keep pace.

"It was a tough course (for me), my legs are dead from running downhill," Smith said. "I kept telling myself to just don't stop."

Prior to winning the Salt Lake race, Smith, a native of Irvine, Calif., qualified for three Olympic Trial marathons.

Coming down the stretch, 44-year-old Godderidge moved up from seventh or eighth to the No. 2 spot and maintained the position until the end. Godderidge said she did well because she has been running marathons all summer. This was her first time in the Salt Lake 26-miler.

Story continues below
"I 'm hitting all the marathons in Utah," she said. "I've run more races this summer than the rest of my life."

Godderidge also credited her second-place finish to her husband, Bruce, and five children. Bruce actually ran the marathon with Godderidge but finished two minutes behind her. She had previously won the 2002 Park City Marathon.

"(Bruce) and I always run together, but I also get great support from my children," Godderigde said. "They allow me to train."

Larkin, a former Utah Ute who won the 2001 Park City Marathon, finished in 3:12:00.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Kathy Smith leads women's marathon coming out of Emigration Canyon. Smith won in 3:04:58, nearly seven minutes ahead of next finisher

previousnext

Latest comments

Re: BYU Fans- If your definition of "anything" is winning the national...

@John C. | 11:07 p.m. Dec. 2, 2009 Free Agency CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY ON...

The game is totally different on a neutral court or in Provo. But,...

Sloan gets 1-year extension

the jazz team is built to just make the play offs, even when the jazz made...

Aggies shoot past Cougars

We would rather you live in Utah Valley, as well, and that BYU lose! Hey, we...

Anonymous | 11:58 a.m. Dec. 2, 2009 We dont need a public option we need a...

Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?

Once again, I challenge thr Presidents and A.D.s of Utah and BYU to sit in...

yea yea, pre-season. Bring on a real challenge!

To: @Pagen & Anonymous | 9:51 p.m. Dec. 2, 2009 [Lost in DC is right. As...

BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin

Unless of course, Nebraska up-ends them. It could happen! I don't know, I...

Advertisements