Dean Thompson Tops Field at Myrtle Beach Marathon

It was a beautiful day for runners competing in the 16th annual Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon and Dasani Half Marathon on Feb. 16 in Myrtle Beach, SC. The races began at 6:30 a.m. with more than 2,200 runners in the marathon and another 4,400 in the half marathon.

Forty-seven-year-old Dean Thompson of Cohutta, GA, took the lead in the marathon with two miles to go and went on to take the win in 2:39:15. Jason Luyster, 32, of Glenville, WV, followed in 2:39:51 with Nick Whited, 34, of Bluefield, VA, third with 2:42:49.

The women's marathon race was led by Regina Horak, 23, of Madison, WI, in 2:54:20. Tana Kornachuk, 33, of Whispering Pines, NC, was second in 2:57:31 and Andrea Glover, 40, of Nanton AB Canada, third in 3:01:04.

Jeff Harrington, 42, of Lynchburg, VA, was the male masters winner in 2:48:38 while Christine Rockey, 42, of Conway, SC, led the women in 3:02:18.

The closest race of the day came in the Dasani Half Marathon as Jay Upchurch, 34, of James Island, SC, surged ahead just before the finish line to edge out Daniel Spaulding, 26, of Pittsburgh, PA, by one second. Upchurch had a winning time of 1:10:35. Karl Walsh, 37, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, was third, running 1:12:02.

Heather Hunt, 38, of Sumter, SC, led the women in 1:18:09. Second place went to Kimberlie Fowler, 32, of Raleigh, NC, (1:18:50), with Caitlin Schier, 29, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, third (1:21:07).

Richard Cohen, 42, of Utica, NY, was the half marathon winner, running 1:14:29 and the female winner was Jill Rauso, 41, of Concord, NC, in 1:28:51.

The Dasani Half Marathon was part of the Running Journal Grand Prix.

Full results of the marathon, half marathon, and 5K race that was contested on Feb. 15, can be found on the race website: www.mbmarathon.com.