But one aspect stayed true to the inaugural event - Montanans dominated the top of the podium.
Elliot Bassett of Missoula grabbed the gold in the men's competition, while Jamie Schuster from Kalispell took the women's title as about 1,400 athletes competed in the full marathon, half marathon, team-relay marathon and kids' marathon.
Bassett finished a full 10:47 faster than 51-year old Richard Leiboult, who took second and was followed by Grant Casey at 2:56.29. Albert Ferderer was fourth at 3:00.51 and Tyler Johnson clocked the fifth fastest time at 3:00.56.
After working as a volunteer at last year's marathon, Bassett made up his mind to compete nearly 11 months ago and said the key to his victory was his training over the final month prior to the race.
“I trained really, really well in the last 30 days coming in,” Bassett said. “I felt like before that, I trained well in January and February, but March through May was not good at all. But those last 30 days coming into this race, I was doing everything right.”
Schuster's winning time of 3:15.08 was a record for the Missoula race as the 24-year-old teacher was more than six minutes better than last year's women's titlist Jenny Newton. Mary Thompson earned silver at 3:21.15 and Darr Tucknott of Missoula placed third in 3:24.10. Emily Kipp (3:25.50) was fourth and Maureen Hartmann placed fifth, finishing in 3:26.44.
Though she didn't clock a personal best, Schuster's win helped ease the disappointment of not being able to run the Missoula Marathon last year due to a back injury.
Even while setting the pace, Schuster had time to appreciate her surroundings.
“The race started out really nice and with the cool weather, I was glad to have the 6 a.m. start. That was perfect,” Schuster said after completing her fourth marathon. “I definitely warmed up when the sun came out. The course was really beautiful. I loved that.”
Casey Jermyn, a Plains native who makes his home in Missoula, was the men's winner of the half marathon, breaking the tape in 1:09.52. He edged defending champion Brandon Fuller, who claimed second at 1:11.39. Robbie Brooks, who recently finished his senior year at Sentinel High School and will compete at Carroll College this fall, earned third at 1:12.31. John O'Leary from Edmonds, Wash., was fourth and Andrew Graham from Ronan garnered fifth.
Of the top 10 women's finishers in the half marathon, just two came from outside Missoula County and only one didn't list Montana as home.
The winner was Andrea Grove-McDonough of Missoula, who finished in 1:23.01. She defeated runner-up Trisha Miller, also of Missoula, by just over two minutes. Julie Gilchrist (1:28.01) from Ovando and Missoulians Rye Palen (1:31.30), Pam Schimer (1:33.54) and Jennifer Sauer (1:34.28) followed.
Missoula Marathon results
Men's top 10 - 1, Elliot Bassett, 2:44.07; 2, Richard Leiboult, 2:54.50; 3, Grant Casey, 2:56.29; 4, Albert Ferderer, 3:00.51; 5, Tyler Johnson, 3:00.56; 6, Dean Lipp, 3:01.37; 7, Samuel Crow, 3:04.41; 8, Mike Runner, 3:05.13; 9, Brian Fruit, 3:05.57; 10, Scott Marron, 3:06.32.
Women's top 10 - 1, Jamie Schuster, 3:15.08; 2, Mary Thompson, 3:21.15; 3, Darr Tucknott, 3:24.10; 4, Emily Kipp, 3:25.59; 5, Maureen Hartmann, 3:26.44; 6, Julie Musselman, 3:27.27; 7, Alison Forney-Gorman, 3:28.11; 8, Becca Hamadanchi, 3:28.30; 9, Sally Lentz, 3:28.41; 10, Emily Roser, 3:30.43.
Half marathon results
Men's top 10 - 1, Casey Jermyn, Missoula, 1:09.52; 2, Brandon Fuller, 1:11.39; 3, Robbie Brooks, Missoula, 1:12.31; 4, John O'Leary, Edmonds, Wash., 1:16.43; 5, Andrew Graham, Ronan, 1:18.02; 6, Carl Clark, San Antonio, Texas, 1:18.18; 7, Jacob Naegeli, Trout Creek, 1:20.39; 8, Jim Weeks, Portland, Ore., 1:20.47; 9, Andy Lefriec, Spokane, 1:21.08; 10, Todd Petrovich, Tracyton, Wash., 1:21.35.
Women's top 10 - 1, Andrea Grove-McDonough, Missoula, 1:23.01; 2, Trisha Miller, Missoula, 1:25.32; 3, Julie Gilchrist, Ovando, 1:280.01; 4, Rye Palen, Missoula, 1:31.30; 5, Pam Schiemer, Missoula, 1:33.54; 6, Jennifer Sauer, Missoula, 1:34.28; 7, Anya Wechsler, Missoula, 1:34.40; 8, Lindsey Thompson, Bozeman, 1:35.07; 9, Patty Kent, Missoula, 1:35.28; 10, Heidi Stamm, Missoula 1:35.40.
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billy bob wrote on May 6, 2009 12:58 PM: