CLEVELAND — The fatigue of Sunday’s 31st annual Rite Aid Marathon caught up to Rob Juergens at the finish.
Juergens’ hamstrings and calves knotted up, a by-product of the last 10 miles. It happened again as he stood inside the press room, about 20 minutes after the 26.2-mile grind, yet the 44-year-old Avon Lake boys cross country coach still had plenty to be proud of.
Juergens finished third overall and clocked two hours, 35 minutes and 43 seconds. It was a personal-record time by over 11 minutes. His previous best was 2:47 at the 2004 Boston Marathon.
“I think it was a matter of training,” Juergens said. “I never trained this much before in my life. I’ve never been able to. Still, it’s not a ton (50-55 miles per week), but it’s a lot more for me. It took a while to adapt to it.”
Ethiopia’s Retta Feyissa, 33, won the event in 2:33:34, despite tying up over the last eight miles. Feyissa rocketed through 18 miles at one hour, 44 minutes, but then had to hold on. Dayton’s James Beyer, 40, was second (2:34:52).
“I’m very happy,” said Juergens. “I got in a good group. We averaged between 5:40 to 6:15 a mile (for the first 15 miles).”
Juergens won $300 in third-place prize money. Feyissa won $1,000 and Beyer pocketed $500.
Juergens hinted that his marathon career could be over, when asked if he would try it again.
“If I hadn’t broke 2:40, I would say yes,” said Juergens, 6-foot-3, 168 pounds. “It’s at a point now where with my age and what it takes to do it, it’s a lot. It’s a lot of time my family has to give up and pick up the slack.
“I thought after Boston in 2004 that I wouldn’t try it again. It was a group thing. A lot of guys I competed with for cross country nationals were going to do it, so I thought let’s do it. What the heck. I’d done three marathons before and they’ve all been kind of disappointing. Today was special. But as much as I’d like to run 2:32 and felt pretty good, I was locking up in the end.”
Sheffield Village’s Brian Whittaker, 31, was the only other Lorain Countian in the men’s top 50 (46th, 3:02:22). Elyria’s Eric Lammers, 34, was 53rd (3:05:21).
An experienced runner in general, Juergens is inexperienced in the marathon. The 1985 Division II national champ for Ashland College in the 5,000 meters had finished only three marathons since 1998 prior to Sunday.
Juergens went the through the mid-point at 1:18:40, right on a six-minute pace. He broke away from a pack that included fifth-place finisher Kam Lee, 39, of Cleveland (2:38:46) between miles No. 16 and 17.
Donna Palisca, 30, the 2005 Rite Aid champion from Norristown, Pa., returned to Cleveland for the first time in three years and won with a time of 3:07:27. Medina’s Connie Gardner, 44, (3:09:26) and Detroit’s Jenni Culbertson, 23, (3:09:58) rounded out the top three. Bay Village’s Laura Jeffers, 29, was fifth (3:16:45).
Elyria’s Jim Mackert extended his Cleveland marathon appearance streak to 31 straight with a time of 4:48:23. He is one of only three runners with such a streak. Mackert won the 70-74 age group. Training partner Rich Pool of South Amherst won the 65-69 age group (3:57:48).
“I’m looking forward to next year,” Mackert said.
Three runners with Lorain County ties earned prize money in the 10K.
Avon’s Joanne Collins, 49, a 1977 Olmsted Falls High graduate, was the No. 2 masters and 14th overall woman (39:47) and won $400. Sheffield Village native Melissa Rittenhouse, 32, was the No. 3 Ohioan (10th overall) with a time of 37:48 and won $200. Amherst’s Scott Snyder, 52, was the No. 3 masters and 15th overall (36:24) and won $200.
Avon Lake’s Bob Flajnik, 40, was the No. 1 masters in the half marathon, finishing eighth overall (1:19:33). Avon’s Rick Ventura, 54, was the fifth masters and 23rd overall (1:25:31). Westlake’s Cathleen Milowicki, 43, was fourth in the women’s masters and the 22nd woman overall (1:38:32).
A total of 10,400 runners competed in the three Cleveland running events, an increase from 2007 (9,077) and 2006 (7,887).
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

MEN
1. Retta Feyissa, 33, Ethiopia, 2:33:34
2. James Beyer, 40, Dayton, 2:34:52
3. Rob Juergens, 44, Avon Lake, 2:35:43
4. Karoly Bozan, 31, Northfield, 2:37:36
5. Kam Lee, 39, Cleveland, 2:38:46
6. Howard Nippert, 42, Colorado Springs CO, 2:39:13
7. Mark Godale, 37, Aurora, 2:43:20
8. Charles Engle, 37, Dublin, 2:45:16
9. Kevin Thomas, 33, Crestline, 2:45:23
10. Brett Mason, 32, Pittsburgh PA, 2:48:26
(Top local runners per age group)           
20-24: 4. Brian Campbell, Berea, (54) 3:05:29
25-29: 8. Patrick Kolozvary, Berea, (60) 3:07:25
40-44: 2. Juergens (Avon Lake), 2:35:43           
50-54: 5. Bruce Schmidt, North Ridgeville, (115) 3:14:57
65-69: 1. Richard Pool, South Amherst, (607) 3:57:48; 8. Patrick Campbell, Avon, (1169) 5:15:01
70 and older: 2. Jim Mackert, Elyria, (1069) 4:48:23
WOMEN
1. Donna Palisca, 30, Norristown PA, 3:07:27
2. Connie Gardner, 44, Medina, 3:09:26
3. Jenni Culbertson, 23, Detroit MI, 3:09:58
4. Beth August, 34, Dublin, 3:15:05
5. Laura Jeffers, 29, Bay Village, 3:16:45
6. Nancy Schubring, 47, Novi MI, 3:17:16
7. Shanna Ailes, 29, Kent, 3:18:10
8. Nelly Budrow, 34, North East MD, 3:19:25
9. Dawn Pelon, 36, Downingtown PA, 3:20:00
10. Amelia Herman, 29, Holland MI, 3:21:10
(Top local runners per age group)
25-29: 1. Laura Jeffers, Bay Village, (5) 3:16:45
30-34: 6. Erin Petkash, Avon Lake, (30) 3:34:38
50-54: 2. Irene Weston, N. Ridgeville, (121) 3:56:46
55-59: 10. Libby White, Westlake, (537) 05:27:31
70 and older: 2. Sara Burneson, Westlake, (612) 06:35:55

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