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Thousands lace up shoes, hit ground running for 2015 Pittsburgh Marathon

PITTSBURGH — Thousands of runners from across the globe laced up their shoes for Sunday’s 2015 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, with a man from Kenya leading the pack and a Pennsylvania native defending her 2014 title.

Stephen Njoroge, 25, was first to complete the 26.2-mile race, finishing in 2:15:19.

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Negash Abebe Duki, of Ethiopia, was runner-up in the men’s marathon with a time of 2:15:43.

The top American finisher, Tyler McCandless, came in fourth place. The 28-year-old Penn State graduate, who lives in Boulder, Colorado, had a time of 2:18:29.

Meanwhile, reigning women’s champion Clara Santucci, 28, of Dilliner, Pennsylvania, successfully defended her title in Sunday’s marathon with a time of 2:34:06, placing her 11th overall. In 2014, she ran the marathon in 2:32:25.

Santucci is the first repeat women’s champion since Wioletta Kryza in 2001 and 2002.

Njoroge and Santucci were among competitors from 49 states and 20 countries who left the start line on Liberty Avenue beginning at 7 a.m. The course -- complete with cheering spectators, community celebrations and music along the way -- took them through Pittsburgh neighborhoods, over each of the three rivers and across five bridges.

Kimutai Cheruiyot, of Kenya, ran the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon course in 1:03:16, becoming the men’s winner. The women’s half-marathon champion, with a time of 1:13:25, was 28-year-old Susan Jerotich, of Kenya.

There were a record 23,238 participants in the marathon and half-marathon. The FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay had 1,158 teams.

Runners in the marathon, half-marathon and relay crossed the finish line on the Boulevard of the Allies. A Finish Line Festival was held at Point State Park.

The Department of Public Safety reported that EMS treated 80 patients. A total of 49 patients, 46 of whom were runners, were taken to area hospitals.

Michael Huss, Deputy Director for the Department of Public Safety, said the most serious medical issue was a 25-year-old man from Washington, D.C. who went into cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated and taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital.

The Pittsburgh Marathon medical team reported that they treated a total of 367 runners, 168 at the finish line medical tent and 199 at the medical aid stations along the course.

No significant security incidents occurred during the marathon.

Pittsburgh’s race has been ranked one of the largest marathons and half marathons in the U.S. by Running USA. It was also rated the eighth-best marathon in the world by The Active Times in 2014.

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