Patrick Smyth Wins Canyonlands Half-Marathon

Seven-time All-American runs mostly unopposed.

Good temperatures were in store for more than 4,000 runners that competed in Sunday’s Canyonlands Half-Marathon and Five Mile Run in Moab, Utah.

A total of 3,189 runners took on the 13.1-mile distance, while 824 finished the 5-mile race. This year was the 38th time the event has been held.

“We had a lot of people switch to the Five Mile at the last minute,” race director Ranna Bieschke said. “I think the downgrade can largely be attributed to the cold temperatures that so many places experienced this winter affecting runners’ training regimens.”

Finishing first was Patrick Smyth, who coaches at nearby Westminster College. His time was 1 hour, 9 minutes, 55 seconds.

The women’s race was much more competitive, as Grand Junction, Colo. resident Kim Dobson dueled with Autumn Ray, the 2012 Thelma & Louise Half-Marathon champion. The 28-year-old Dobson prevailed by 20 seconds after crossing the line in 1:20:32.

Forty-two-year-old Marty Wacker won the men’s division in the 5-mile race, while Jana Peale finished first in the women’s division (34:07).

For More: Running USA