Runner #11 Irina Bogacheva stops her watch as she crosses the finish line of the 2005 Deseret Morning News Marathon as the top woman runner Monday.
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News
Each year, the Deseret Morning News/KJZZ-TV Marathon offers a prize for the first Masters winner across the finish line, to encourage those age 40 and over to compete. Irina Bogacheva needed no such inspiration.
The 44-year-old, three-time Russian Olympian dusted challengers less than half her age Monday to win the marathon in a time of 2:42.36.7, taking home both the $2,005 first prize and the $250 Masters' bonus. She finished eighth overall and won by nearly 17 minutes over her closest rival. And it may have been just the beginning of her time in Utah.
"I really love it here, and I'm hoping to find a job and move here," she said through a translator even as her competitors were still finishing their races. "My coach ordered me to run slower at this altitude, but I think this has been a really good training center for me."
Provo resident Sasha Pachev, formerly of Russia and now a U.S. citizen, said that he ran alongside Bogacheva for much of the first five miles of the marathon. "She has really helped me since she began training here a week and a half ago," he said. "She's shown me certain places on the course and how to run them. I'm sure she helped me a lot today." Pachev finished fourth in the men's marathon, his best finish in the event.
Bogacheva, who is currently the third-fastest all-time female Master's marathoner, placed second in Boston in 2000. She's been hampered by a leg injury since the 2004 Athens Olympics, but has begun an aggressive training program that brought her to Salt Lake City for this year's race.
"I'm not sure what I will pursue later this summer," she said when asked if she'll try working toward the World Championships. "Today was a pretty good sign that things are coming along."
Pachev said Bogacheva would like to find a job and stay in Salt Lake City. She currently trains in Gainesville, Fla.
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