UPDATE: Male, female winners in Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon cross finish line in less than three hours
The winner of the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon beat the event's record best by an official time of eight minutes.
Nathan Hilton, 25, of Flagstaff, Ariz., finished with an official time of 2:21:31, beating the 2011 record of 2:29:05 held by Nathan O'Connell.
Finishing in second place was Belay Kassa of Ethiopia with an official time of 2:33:07. The third place finisher was Zaven O'Bryant of Atlanta with an official time of 2:34:45
The first female to cross the finish line in the full marathon happened about 40 minutes after the male winner, which is slower than years past.
Tara Martine, of Wilmington, N.C., finished first in the female heat with an official time of 2:59:12. She was followed by Jennifer McGranahan, of Pensacola, Fla., with an official time of 3:06:46. The third place finisher is Rebecca Webb of Virginia with an official time of 3:10:27.
Half marathon winners do not disappoint
The pre-race favorites in the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah 1/2 Marathon didn't disappoint as the male and female winners crossed the finish line in just a little over an hours time.
Daniel Vargas of Mexico finished first in the male's heat with an official time of 1:04:20, just 12 seconds shy of the event record set in 2011.
The female heat winner, Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, did break an event record for the female 1/2 marathon with an official time of 1:13:05. Cherobon-Bawcom's time best the event record for women's half marathon of 1:13:44 set in 2011 by Mula Seboka.
Vargas and Cherobon-Bawcom are experienced runners. Vargas, 30, represented Mexico in the 2012 Olympics in London. Cherobon-Bawcom, 36, also participated in the 2012 Olympics in the 10,000-meter race.
Gualberto Vargas, brother of Daniel and also of Mexico, finished second with an official time of 1:06:41. Finishing in third was Nathan Haskins, of Atlanta, with a time of 1:10:19.
The second place finisher in women's heat was Lindsey Scherf of Chapel Hill, N.C., with an official time of 1:14:26. Third place went to Morgan VanGorder, of Atlanta, with a time of 1:20:29.
Runners are still trotting around Savannah as the 1/2 and Marathon continue. Officials expect runners to be on the streets until around 2:30 p.m., however, the course is fast today.
Cocktails for Quitters
They didn't all quit at the nine-mile marker but several runners did choose to partake.
There's no question what was in the little paper cups.
"You can seriously smell the alcohol. I just got a big whiff of vodka," said one of the instigators holding a sign that read "Cocktails for Quitters."
"We're on our second tray of Jello shots," said Blake Hughes, who was stationed at Henry and Broad streets. "People are loving it.
"I wouldn't want one while I was running but hey we are having fun," he said as a runner dressed in a foot costume trotted up to grab a red Jello shot.
"A foot just took a Jello shot," someone yelled. "Seriously a foot just took a Jello shot."
No Tomorrow Cowbells
Molly Kronemeyer was wearing herself out ringing her cowbells as hundreds of runners passed her by.
Working really hard she said the marathoners had nothing on her.
"My arms are getting tired; I'm out of breath, and I'm working this cowbell like there's no tomorrow."
Those Jerks
A trio of young men pulled deck chairs out into the middle of Broad Street and carelessly sipped from coffee mugs as thousands of runners passed.
"Yup, we're those jerks," one yelled to the marathoners.
He turned to his friend and said, "Lord knows I couldn't do this; that makes them better than me."
From earlier:
The sidewalks of Bay and Bull streets are packed as spectators have descended downtown for the start of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, which is seconds away from beginning.
A bright, clear morning with temperatures in the mid-40s, race officials are expecting a fast-race. One official said it's one of the strongest fields in Marathon history and could be a record-setting day.
The 26.2-mile race - which weaves through parts of downtown, midtown and on the city's east and west sides - starts at Bay and Bull streets and ends in Forsyth Park with live music. Performers will be staged along the route, which will close several roads - including a significant stretch of Truman Parkway - for a few hours.
More than 17,000 runners were registered to participate in the race.
Stay with savannahnow.com throughout the morning for updates.
Top 10 Finishers
Men's Marathon
Nicholas Hilton, Flagstaff, Ariz., 2:21:31
Belay Kassa, Ethiopia, 2:33:07
Zaven O'Bryant, Atlanta, 2:34:45
Blake Jorgensen, Sandy Springs, 2:37:35
Robert Santoro, Savannah, 2:39:19
Joe Lanser, 25, Greensboro, N.C., 2:40:57
Thomas Beauchamp, Smyrna, 2:45:49
Derek Webb, Abingdon, Va., 2:46:06
Richard Elmore, Robins Airforce Base, 2:48:06
Igor Manzhay, Moscow, 2:49:58
Women's Marathon
Tara Martine, Wilmington, N.C., 2:59:12
Jennifer McGranahan, Pensacola, Fla., 3:06:46
Rebecca Webb, Abingdon, Va., 3:10:27
Shannon Iriel, Columbia, 3:11:40
Della Giles, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3:18:03
Sue Anne Heins Perry, Brentwood, Tenn., 3:19:03
Amanda Jacob, Kingston Springs, Tenn., 3:19:45
Sarah Fox, Wilmette, Ill., 3:19:47
Rachel Crunk, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., 3:20:33
Rachelle Kuramoto, Peachtree Corners, 3:21:41
Men's 1/2
Daniel Vargas, Mexico, 1:04:20
Gualberto "Juan" Varagas, Mexico, 1:06:41
Nathan Haskins, Atlanta, 1:10:19
Chris Capps, Willow Springs, N.C., 1:12:46
Marc Burget, Jacksonville, Fla., 1:13:24
Matthew Johnson, Buford, 1:13:26
Derek Morgan, Memphis, Tenn., 1:13:34
Clay Holton, Augusta, 1:14:37
Ben Brown, Savannah, 1:15:31
Victor Breedveld, Atlanta, 1:16:48
Women's 1/2
Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, Flagstaff, Ariz., 1:13:05
Lindsey Scherf, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1:14:26
Morgan VanGorder, Atlanta, 1:20:29
Elaine Lawrie, Raleigh, N.C., 1:25:35
Elle Ellender, Hilton Head, S.C., 1:26:17
Laura Peel Roberts, St. Simons Island, 1:26:39
Andee Swann, Morristown, Tenn., 1:28:08
Nancy Stewart, Atlanta, 1:28:15
Carlee James, Statesboro, 1:29:22
Nicole Solana, Pensacola, 1:29:25
