About 12,000 people participated over the weekend during the 13th annual Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa.
A race official told the Tulsa World newspaper the annual running event that also features a half-marathon, marathon relay, mascot dash, a 5-kilometer race and a fun run or walk brings $7.5 million to the local economy.
Joel Salazar, 27, of Oklahoma City crossed the finish line first after completing the 23.2-mile course in 2 hours, 39 minutes, 48 seconds — almost three minutes faster than runner-up Cavender Salvadori, 24, of Denver. It was only the fourth marathon Salazar had run.
Stephanie Andre, 35, of Bixby, Oklahoma, dominated the women’s division in a time of 2:47:10 — more than 20 minutes after than the runner-up. Andre, who didn’t run her first marathon until 2011, is a potential Olympic qualifier.
The marathon and half-marathon went through a variety of neighborhoods in Tulsa and crossed the Route 66 alignments of 11th Street, Second Street or Southwest Boulevard several times.
The event had at least one human-interest story. An avid runner who’d been shot in the head twice competed in the half-marathon using a walker.
Next year’s Route 66 Marathon will be Nov. 23-24.
(Image of Route 66 Marathon medals via Facebook)