Over 12,800 runners and walkers kicked off Thanksgiving morning at the 2011 Atlanta Half Marathon events on Thursday, November 24. 2011 marked the largest participant field in the Thanksgiving Day event’s history. Along with the Atlanta Half Marathon, the event featured the sold-out Thanksgiving Day 5K as well as the Mashed Potato Mile for children ages 7 to 12 and the Gravy Gallop for kids ages 6 and under.
“The events of the Atlanta Half Marathon really exemplify the Atlanta Track Club’s mission of inspiring and engaging the community to achieve health and fitness through running,” said Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club. “It’s really incredible to see people of all ages and abilities kicking off their holiday in such a healthy and fun way.”
Atlanta Track Club competitive team member, Sean Burris, 29 of Dunwoody, Ga., claimed victory at the 2011 Atlanta Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:08:34, nearly a minute and a half ahead of second place finisher Andrew Heath, 27, of Atlanta. Burris pulled away from the lead pack near mile seven and maintained his lead through the finish. The Atlanta Half Marathon also served as the 2011 USATF-GA Men’s Half Marathon Championship, and along with winning the Atlanta Half Marathon, Burris also claimed the title of 2011 USATF-GA Men’s Half Marathon Champion along with receiving an all-expenses paid trip to Jacksonville, Fla. to compete in the 2012 USA 15K Championship at the Gate River Run on March 10. Next up for Burris will be the 2011 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships on December 10 in Seattle where he will represent the Atlanta Track Club.
In the women’s Atlanta Half Marathon race, 2010 Atlanta Half Marathon champion, Erin Sutton, 24 of Woodstock, Ga. took top honors once again at the 2011 event with a time of 1:20:17, over a minute faster than her 2010 finish. Sutton edged out 2007 Atlanta Half Marathon winner and recent Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Marathon winner, Jill Horst, 33, of Rome Ga. by six seconds. Sutton plans to continue to ramp up her long distance training as she begins to prepare for her first marathon in April.
In the second running of the Thanksgiving Day 5K, which featured a new start line and course, Andrew Fuller, 26, of Rome, Ga. took home a victory in the men’s division with a time of 15:40 while Sarah Gentry, 20, of Plano, Texas won the women’s 5K with a time of 20:58.
Complete results for the 2011 Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K are posted on atlantahalfmarathon.org.
2011 Atlanta Half Marathon Top Finishers
Overall Male
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Sean Burris
29
Dunwoody, Ga.
1:08:34
2
Andrew Heath
27
Atlanta, Ga.
1:10:00
3
Cory Baumann
25
Atlanta, Ga.
1:10:04
4
Jared Carson
25
Atlanta, Ga.
1:10:58
5
Bill Moss
29
Marietta, Ga.
1:12:42
Overall Female
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Erin Sutton
24
Woodstock, Ga.
1:20:17
2
Jill Horst
33
Rome, Ga.
1:20:23
3
Tamara Karrh
42
Marietta, Ga.
1:21:35
4
Sarah Massey
21
Rome, Ga.
1:23:49
5
Megan Betts
24
Atlanta, Ga.
1:23:58
Masters Male
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Scott Lowe
40
Canton, Ga.
1:15:56
2
Lucas Andrews
42
Atlanta, Ga.
1:17:39
3
David Cater
41
Atlanta, Ga.
1:18:57
Masters Female
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Tamara Karrh
42
Marietta, Ga.
1:21:35
2
Shelby Speno
42
Parkland, Fla.
1:24:37
3
Lisa O’Meara
41
Duluth, Ga.
1:31:37
Thanksgiving Day 5K Top Finishers
Overall Male
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Andrew Fuller
26
Rome, Ga.
15:40
Overall Female
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Sarah Gentry
20
Plano, Texas
20:58
Masters Male
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Jon Davison
43
Wexford, Pa.
18:39
Masters Female
Place
Name
Age
City, State
Time
1
Katharine Trapp
41
Marietta, Ga.
21:14
About the Atlanta Track Club
The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) is a nonprofit organization established to inspire and engage the community to achieve health and fitness through running. With more than 16,000 members, the ATC is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay (atlantamarathon.org), and the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (atlantahalfmarathon.org), the Atlanta Track Club directs more than 25 running events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, the Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through the ATC’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on the Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.