A day that featured what many described as “perfect running weather” yielded plenty of personal-best times for the Mill Race Marathon, half marathon and 5K.
Although the winners of the men’s and women’s full marathon weren’t under their personal bests, they were thrilled with their victories.
“I’m happy with it,” said April Woo, who was the women’s Mill Race Marathon winner for the second time. “I felt better than I thought I would. The temps were perfect. It was a great day.”
Jack Beakas, a former Dekalb High School and Trine University runner who now lives in Carmel, was the overall and men’s winner in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 17 seconds for the 26.2-mile marathon. He broke away from a pack around the 16-mile mark and won by nearly five minutes over runner-up Andrew Taylor.
“It was pretty good,” Beakas said. “I just wanted to go out with the half marathon group and slowly work my way down. I ended up working with the lead marathon group about halfway in, and I just felt good, so I went for it.”
Beakas won Carmel Marathon in 2023. He is aiming for the U.S. Olympic Trials cut of 2:16, which is about two minutes faster than his personal-best.
“I’m currently in the middle of a training cycle for Indy Monumental, and I’d really like to go for the Trials there,” Beakas said. “I have a little ways to go, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Woo, 47, a mom of four from Louisville, won the marathon in 2016 and was runner-up last year. She took the lead around the 21-mile mark and finished in 3:02.42, about 4 1/2 minutes ahead of runner-up Natalie Levrone.
“I like this race because it’s really close to home, and I usually use it as a training run,” Woo said. “But once I saw that I could push it, I pushed it, and my daughter did her first half today, so I’m happy to be here with her.”
Former Columbus North runners Rachel Brougher and Nicole Meza Sanchez finished fourth and fifth in 3:20:00 and 3:25:34. In the men’s race, former North runners Jonny Klaus and Rishi Poladasu were ninth and 10th in 2:59:20 and 3:00:39.
Meanwhile, in the half marathon, the men’s race went just about like it did last year, except with the order of finish reversed. Johnnie Guy of the far southern Indiana town of Leopold and a former North Harrison and University of Southern Indiana runner outkicked Curt Eckstein after Eckstein outkicked him last year.
Guy ran 1:04:14, a personal-best by nearly 2 1/2 minutes.
“Training is going phenomenal right now,” Guy said. “I was really hoping to break 1:05, so I’m pretty thrilled with that. It’s perfect conditions, and we were pushing each other, so it really helped. I’m just blessed to be healthy and in good shape right now.”
Tera Moody of Bargersville won the women’s half marathon in 1:19:19. The 44-year-old mother of two and a Chicago native, ran for Colorado University and professionally and finished fifth in 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials.
“I’m on the comeback the last couple of years,” Moody said. “I hoped to go a little faster today, but I got a little lonely out there. It was a lot of fun. It’s a beautiful course and pretty decent weather, but I was by myself for most of it. I was hoping to have some people running my pace. I think I should have started out a little more aggressively with the two guys in front of me, but other than that, it’s great marathon training for Indy Monumental in November.”
Ryan Frazier of Dayton, Ohio, won the men’s 5K in 17:40. Frazier worked at Cummins for a few years before moving back to Dayton.
“I’m very excited because I had to get a minor surgery for a hip injury from running,” Frazier said. “So it’s really nice to be able to however many years later to come back and be a little bit stronger.”
Ursula Conley of Columbus ran a personal-best 20:22 to win the women’s 5K. Conley, a Texas native, has lived in Columbus for eight years and has competed in triathlons.
“It’s a great course,” Conley said. “There were people cheering the entire race and gave me all the energy I needed this year. I’m actually training for the Chicago Marathon right now, so this is kind of a test to see where I’m at.”
Men’s Marathon
1. Jack Beakas;2:29.17
2. Andrew Taylor;2:34:06
3. Mark Hamilton 2:41:37
4. Keegan Symmes;2:42:40
5. Chris Galloway;2:56.12
Women’s Marathon
1. April Woo;3:02:42
2. Natalie Leverone;3:07:11
3. Samantha Jacobi;3:14:17
4. Rachel Brougher;3:20:00
5. Nicole Meza Sanchez;3:25:34
Men’s Half Marathon
1. Johnnie Guy;1:04:14
2. Curt Eckstein;1:04:16
3. Charles Parrish;1:08:16
4. Brady Harless;1:09:13
5. Andrew Vilardo;1:09:30
Women’s Half Marathon
1. Tera Moody;1:19:12
2. Alexandra Searce;1:19:52
3. Jennifer Suverkrup;1:20:06
4. Claudia Brinkruff;1:25:33
5. Lynn Bryant;1:26:06
Men’s 5K
1. Ryan Frazier;17:40
2. Artuuo Garza;18:05
3. Luis Marimoto Taqueushi;18:42
4. Dennis Long;18:43
5. Daniel Sweml18:53
Women’s 5K
1. Ursula Conley;20:22
2. Giuliana Mackos;21:31
3. Carly Trulock;21:57
4. Brooklyn Bolte;22:01
5. Setu Patel;22:05
