More than 9,000 runners participated Sunday in Tulsa’s annual Route 66 Marathon. In addition to the regulation 26.2-mile course through downtown, riverside, midtown and west Tulsa, the event also consisted of a marathon relay, half-marathon, a five-kilometer race, and a one-mile fun run.
Andy Derks, 30, of St. Louis won the marathon in a time of 2 hours, 32 minutes, 27 seconds. Laine Sommers, 27, of Merriam, Kan., was the top women’s finisher in 3:15.32.
Jerry Faulkner of Edmond, Okla., triumphed in the half-marathon in a time of 1:10:03. Faulkner is an old hat at crossing the finish line first; he’s won the full marathon and quarter-marathon in previous years. Sara Major of Springfield, Mo., was the top female finisher of the half marathon, in 1:27:17.
Tragically, a 27-year-old Tulsa resident collapsed and died during the half-marathon. He collapsed during the 10-mile mark. A physician immediately helped him, but the stricken man could not be revived. A 21-year-old Claremore man also collapsed and died during the half-marathon two years ago.
The Route 66 Marathon has rapidly swelled into a major event in Tulsa in just five years. It’s projected that the event will draw 20,000 participants by its 10th year.
In case you’re wondering, the main race included several small sections of Route 66 alignments in downtown and west Tulsa, including Southwest Boulevard.
Unofficial results of the races can be found here.