MOLINE, IL – American Tyler Pence (Springfield, IL) finished with a 2:15:06 personal record to win the overall title at the 2021 TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon. Ethiopia’s Hirut Guangul finished in 2:40:54 to collect her record sixth win all-time at the QCM. She also was the overall winner in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019.
Pence ran the third fastest time in race history, just off the course record of 2:14:04 (Philemon Terer, 2013). Pence is the first American to win the men’s race since 2001. Guangul’s time was the seventh fastest in race history. She owns the 2:35:07 course record from 2012. The race was run with moderate winds and temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s-F.
In the men’s race, Kenyans Luke Kibet and Elijah Saolo opened with a 31:29 10K and clipped through the half marathon at 1:06:11. Pence was third early, opening at 31:50 and 1:06:46 halfway. Kibet and Saolo deviated from the course, due to miscommunication, in the 14th mile and continued on to finish approximately 23 miles on the day. The Kenyans were not official finishers in the event, but did receive an agreed upon compensation.
Pence, who followed the course correctly, hammered home the remainder of the race, opening a sizeable lead down the stretch. He finished averaging 5:09 pace per mile for the day. The men’s runner-up was Abdulmohsen Mo Alali (Kuwait) in 2:21:15. Alali set Kuwait’s national marathon record with his effort. He ran 1:11:34 for the opening half and ran a negative split the final 21K.
Ethiopia’s Gezahegb Abera Hunde placed third in 2:29:56, while Taggart VanEtten (Morton, IL) placed fourth in 2:29:59. Former three-time champion, and course record holder, Philemon Terer (Kenya) was fifth overall at 2:34:37. Orinthal Striggles (Columbia, SC) won his second QCM masters title with a 2:48:49 finish, while Matthew McDermott (W. Des Moines, IA) ran 2:53:33 and Christopher Kipyego (Kenya) ran 2:54:49 to round out the top-3 masters.
In the women’s race, a lead pack of three ran 40:20 for the opening 10K. By the half-marathon point Guangul and Kenya’s Purity Munene were leading at 1:23:39. Ukraine’s Valentyna Poltavska was third halfway at 1:24:21. Guangul made a huge surge on Arsenal Island and opened a lead of 2:40 by the 20-mile mark. She ran away with the victory at 2:40:54 (6:08 pace per mile). Munene, running her first marathon, placed second with a 2:48:54. Poltavska finished third in 2:51:50 and was the first overall masters runner. Poltavska also has wins at the QCM from 2005 (overall) and 2018 (masters).
Morgon Stong (Bloomington, IL) was fourth overall in 2:58:07, while Addison Royer (Flagstaff, AZ) was fifth at 3:00:51. The master’s podium was rounded out by Melissa Bishop (Cedar Rapids, IA) at 3:29:23 and Mandi Florip (Wadsworth, IL) at 3:38:40.
Joseph Kallenbach (Davenport, IA) ran 2:56:52 and Emilie Lawrence (Rock Island, IL) ran 3:28:40 to her top honors in the Local Marathon division.
TOO, O’LEARY ARE OVERALL WINNERS AT MEL FOSTER CO. HALF MARATHON
David Too (Des Moines, IA) and Marie O’Leary (St. Louis, MO) were champions of the Mel Foster Co. Half Marathon.
Too led from the start with a 31:29 opening 10K enroute to his 1:06:07 finish time. Devin Allbaugh (Bettendorf, IA) opened with a 32:00 and finished second overall at 1:08:10, while Blake Whalen (Des Moines, IA) rounded out the top-3 with a 1:08:28 effort.
In the women’s race, Emily Byrd (St. Paul, MN) was the early leader with a 38:18 opening 10K, while Patty O’Brien (Maplewood, MN) and O’Leary were following close behind. O’Leary made her surge in the final miles and ended up the winner in 1:20:23, just two seconds in front of runner-up O’Brien. Byrd placed third overall in 1:23:56.
Allbaugh and Lizzie Lundine in 1:28:51 (Davenport, IA) took top Local Half Marathon honors.
FAST TIMES TURNED IN AT PALMER COLLEGE 5K
Jason Thomas was the men’s overall winner in the 5K race with a new record of 14:55, while Tyson Wieland (15:03) and Lucas Keifer (15:17) were close behind. The old record of 15:09 was broken. On the women’s side, Kelsey Allbaugh was the overall winner in 17:51 and missed the women’s record by one second. Brenna Detra (18:30) and Megan Miller (19:32) rounded out the top-3.
TOP FINISHERS AT 2021 QCM:
MEN'S MARATHON OVERALL 1.Tyler Pence, Springfield, IL, 2:15:06 2.Abdulmohsen Mo Alali, Kuwait, 2:21:15 3.Gezahegb Abera Hunde, Ethiopia, 2:29:56 4. Taggart Van Etten, Morton, IL, 2:29:56 5.Philemon Terer, Kenya, 2:34:37 WOMEN'S MARATHON OVERALL 1.Hirut Guangul, Ethiopia, 2:40:54 2.Purity Munene, Kenya, 2:48:54 3.Valentyna Poltavska, Ukraine, 2:51:50 4. Morgan Stong, Bloomington, IL, 2:58:07 5.Addison Royer, Flagstaff, AZ, 3:00:51 MEN'S MARATHON MASTERS 1.Orinthal Striggles, Columbia, SC, 2:48:49 2.Matthew McDermott, W. Des Moines, IA, 2:53:33 3.Christpher Kipyego, Kenya, 2:54:49 WOMEN'S MARATHON MASTERS 1.Valentyna Poltavska, Ukraine, 2:51:50 2.Melissa Bishop, Cedar Rapids, IA, 3:29:23 3.Mandi Florip, Wadsworth, IL, 3:38:40 MEN'S MARATHON LOCAL 1.Joseph Kallenbach, Davenport, IA, 2:56:52 2.Phil Young, Davenport, IA, 2:58:04 3.Justin Verlinden, East Moline, IL, 3:05:22 WOMEN'S MARATHON LOCAL 1.Emilie Lawrence, Rock Island, IL, 3:28:40 2.Mallory Rettenmeier, Davenport, IA, 3:31:58 3.Katie Jo Calcott, Davenport, IA, 3:43:25 MEN'S HALF MARATHON OVERALL 1.David Too, Des Moines, IA, 1:06:07 2.Devin Allbaugh, Bettendorf, IA, 1:08:10 3.Blake Whalen, Des Moines, IA, 1:08:28 WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON OVERALL 1.Marie O'Leary, St. Louis, MO, 1:20:23 2.Patty O'Brien, Maplewood, MN, 1:20:25 3.Emily Byrd, St. Paul, MN, 1:23:56 MEN'S HALF MARATHON LOCAL 1.Devin Allbaugh, Bettendorf, IA, 1:08:10 2.Dan Froeschle, Davenport, IA, 1:09:55 3.Kevin Claus, Pt. Byron, IL, 1:14:02 WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON LOCAL 1.Lizzie Lundine, Davenport, IA, 1:28:51 2.Allie Schnowske, Geneseo, IL, 1:30:20 3.Brenna Gray, Davenport, IA, 1:35:15 MEN'S 5K OVERALL 1.Jason Thomas, 14:55 (Course Record) 2.Tyson Wieland, 15:03 3. Lucas Keifer, 15:17 WOMEN'S 5K OVERALL 1.Kelsey Allbaugh, 17:51 2.Brenna Detra, 18:30 3.Megan Miller, 19:32
For complete results – click the following link: Quad Cities Marathon 2021
- Official Event Details at Online Race Results