Local runner captures Salt Lake City Marathon

SALT LAKE CITY — Jenae O'Reilley finished her first half-marathon feeling much better than she expected.

"It was easier than I thought it would be," said O'Reilley, who wore a shirt declaring her race was dedicated to her 9-year-old niece Emmalee Havertz, who lost her battle with liver cancer in October. "I think it was all because of her."

O'Reilley, 38, was looking for a way to challenge herself while honoring the life of her niece. She suggested the Salt Lake half-marathon to four of her friends and they had running shirts made in Emmalee's honor.

"I could see her smiling in my mind," O'Reilley said of the little girl who lived in Fruit Heights.

Adds O'Reilley's friend from New Mexico, "I think she was with us. I think she was pushing us on."

Inspiration was what some of the women needed when the muscles started to tire and the joints started to ache. Marissa Mitchell, 29, who had twins 16 months ago, fought back tears after finishing.

"It's a little crazy," she said of the accomplishment. "My legs are killing me."

Saturday's 7th Annual Salt Lake Marathon boasted its largest crowd ever — more than 11,000 — with the bulk of those participating in the half-marathon. Many of those who participated were running to raise money for causes, like the Huntsman Cancer Institute, or in honor or memory of loved ones who battled the insidious disease.

A local runner won the marquee event — the marathon.

Fritz Van De Kamp, Salt Lake City, 30, was the overall winner of the marathon with a time of 2:30:30. Michael Nordberg, 29, S.L., was second at 2:40:37, while Kevin Grigg of Prince George, British Columbia, 29, was third at 2:43:26.

Nikki Kimball, Bozeman, Mont., 38, was the first woman to finish, with a time of 3:15:36. Salt Lake's Elizabeth Butler, 27, was second with a time of 3:16:32. Amanda Maudlin, 30, Orem, was third with a time of 3:16:53.

Bradley Ray, Loveland, Colo., 41, won the wheelchair marathon with a time of 1:49:14, while Salt Lake's Roberto Gardenas, 32, won the crank wheelchair race with a time of 1:07:19.

For complete results go to www.SaltLakeCityMarathon.com.

Race Director Scott Kerr couldn't have asked for better weather for the event, which was a huge success among participants. While the race lacked big-name or elite runners, it didn't lack for great stories and featuring local runners is something Kerr said they wanted to do with the race.

"We want to put the money back toward the masses and the community," he said. "We have some really good Utah athletes. It's a community event. Everyone's a part of it."

The festivities at The Gateway, which is where the runners from all of the races finished, were packed and rowdy until officially shut down about 1 p.m.

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com