Jane Bareikis had a title defense on her mind as she took to the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh and its surrounding neighborhoods Sunday morning as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon’s series of races.
The Chicago resident and American citizen who is a native of Kenya made her Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon debut last year and brought home the top prize with a 26.2-mile run in 2 hours, 37 minutes, 37 seconds.
Bareikis bettered that time in her return, distancing herself from the field, including runner-up Aberu Mekuria Zennebe from Ethiopia, to win in 2:36:01.
“This is just a great feeling. It’s unbelievable,” said Bareikis, who owns personal-best marathon time of 2:29:00. “It is not easy. There was a lot of pressure. (Saturday) night I was sleeping, then waking up, then sleeping and waking up. I was so nervous. The competition was much tougher this year, so I just had to have a plan.
“At some point, I was fourth, and I was like, ‘I think fourth is OK today.’ Then I was third, and I was like, ‘No Jane, you can do it. You just have to fight.’ It wasn’t the end. I had to get that (USA) flag. I am so grateful. I am glad to be back. It is just the best thing.”
Bareikis, who also was ninth among all elite full marathon runners, male and female, said she felt some slight humidity throughout her race. American Megan O’Neil, a Rochester, Mich., resident, placed third in 2:37:30.
A total of 23,000 took to the streets for the full and half marathon, the hand-cyclist races and also the marathon relay and the fitness challenge.
Former Steelers quarterback and Steel Valley graduate Charlie Batch shared words of inspiration and, after Bill Deasy from the Clarks sang the national anthem, the competitors of all ages made their final preparations before taking off amidst fireworks blasting into the air.
Last year’s men’s marathon winner, American Andrew Bowman, moved to the half marathon this year, so a new marathon winner was guaranteed. That distinction fell to Ethiopian Mulgeta Birhanu Feyissa, who completed his 26.2-mile run in 2:14.31.
Making his Pittsburgh Marathon debut, Feyissa, 29, was 12 seconds clear of runner-up Milton Rotich from Kenya (2:14:43).
“There were quite some uphills, but I just followed the Kenyan guy there (Rotich), and the two of us really kind of helped one another, and we went together,” Feyissa said through an interpreter. “It was a bit tough, but, somehow, I managed it. I was able to get experience coming from the race, especially having won in a place with such uphills and downhills. It is a good experience.”
Feyissa previously won a marathon in Serbia and also finished runner-up in Philadelphia.
Local favorite Will Loevner, a Winchester Thurston graduate, had hopes for a marathon title in his hometown after finishing second to Bowman last year. But he had to settle for fifth in 2:22.23.
Kenyan Wesley Kiptoo hoped for his fourth consecutive UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon victory while also seeking to surpass his race record of 1:01:21.
On Sunday, Kiptoo also found himself in a dogfight to the finish. The battle with fellow Kenyan Dominic Ondoro went to the tape, and Ondoro edged out Kiptoo by less than a second.
Ondoro’s official winning time was 1:01:47 with Kiptoo at 1:01:48.
“I am so happy to win this race,” said Ondoro, who said he was grateful for the opportunity to return to Pittsburgh after placing third in the 2023 men’s half marathon (1:02:32).
Kiptoo said he did feel Ondoro coming up on him in the race’s final moments.
“We were coming very close together,” he said. “Everyone is driving to finish. It was anybody’s race. In a close race like that, you have to appreciate it. Of course it was tough to lose like that, but, at the same time, I knew (Ondoro) was working hard for it.”
Last year’s women’s half marathon winner also was unseated as Arizona resident Stephanie Bruce was unable to repeat.
American Everlyn Kemboi finished more than two minutes faster than her previous best half marathon time. She completed the 13.1 mile course in 1:10:06.
Kemboi said her energy for the win was spurred on by her third-place finish last year (1:12:33).
“I knew I was going to come back this year for my redemption,” Kemboi said. “I didn’t have a certain goal time in mind. The main goal was to win. The time was still good. I did get a (personal best). I saw that the field was very good, so I just went for it. I felt all the support from the crowd all along the course. It was amazing.”
Featured Local Businesses
Bruce, who won last year in a time of 1:11:11 and also claimed the 2019 USA Half Marathon title (1:10.44) in Pittsburgh, came in fourth at 1:14:13.
When Bruce crossed the finish line, she was greeted with a hug from her 20-month-old daughter Sophia.
“That was emotional for me, to have my family out there giving me so much support,” she said. “When I am out there running, it is me and all the hard training. When I finish a race, I am reminded of the journey I’ve been through, and it feels so much bigger than myself because I have all of them waiting for me.”
Bruce, 41, said she didn’t feel her best Sunday.
“I did run the Boston marathon two weeks ago, so (the race and finish) was OK considering coming off that,” said Bruce who did notice the humidity as she worked through to the finish line.
“The top women did such an awesome job.”
Both full marathon winners received $7,000 out of the $102,000 total prize purse for the weekend’s races. The winners of the half marathon each pocketed $10,000.
Dry conditions and clear skies greeted the participants with only a light rain falling briefly after four hours had elapsed.
Troy Schooley, the CEO of P3R, the engine behind much of what is done to put on the Pittsburgh Marathon each year, again felt inspiration from many who crossed the finish line.
“For a lot of people, this is the first time in our city, and for some, this is their first time running or competing,” said Schooley who was there at the finish line to offer many words of congratulations and give out fist bumps, handshakes and high fives.
“They are able to do it taking a tour of our wonderful neighborhoods. You can see all of the emotions on their faces as they finish their race. I saw so much energy from everyone and a ton of smiles. I love being here because I know how hard it is to complete one of these. I see that the work and effort have paid off. The sense of achieving a goal is very important to them as it is to P3R. Seeing all of them move through the finish line and get a medal, it is super special.”