Mwei, Mudy Win Atlanta Half

Reuben Mwei (right)

ATLANTA – (October 7, 2012) – A record field of 4,500 registered participants hit the streets of Atlanta’s Town Brookhaven community for the fourth Allstate Life Insurance Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® and Karhu 5K events on Sunday morning. The 13.1-mile half marathon and 5K started and finished in Town Green, adjacent to the hybrid Publix and took runners through Brookhaven and Chamblee.

Kenyan Reuben Mwei, of Kennesaw, Ga., won first place in 1 hour, 9 minutes, 12 seconds. The 26-year-old improved upon his runner-up finish from a year ago. Jay Stephenson, of Rome, Ga., took second place in 1:09:54, while Alan Black from Hillsboro, Ga., took third, clocking 1:10:53.

On the women’s side, Poland’s Justyna Mudy, 27, of Rome, Ga., claimed first place in 1:17:51. Like Mwei, she also finished second last year. Placing second was Masters runner Tamara Karrh, 42, from Marietta, Ga., who ran 1:22:48, and Meagan Nedlu of Salem, Mass., was third (1:23:35).

The Karhu 5K provided an extra incentive to all competitors as the Finnish shoe company encouraged all runners to try to “Beat the Karhu Bear”. The first 10 runners who “Beat the Karhu Bear” received a coupon for a free pair of Karhu running shoes. Only four runners were able to accomplish the feat with David Nierenberg of Goldsboro, N.C. leading the way with a first-place finishing time of 17:55. The Bear costume was worn by recent Life University graduate, Bill Moss of Marietta, Ga., as he placed fifth overall with a time of 20:55.

In conjunction with this year’s race, Allstate® Life Insurance and non-profit organization Give Your Sole collected moderately used athletic shoes from runners and spectators to benefit The Gateway Center, an organization helping Atlanta area men and women move out of homelessness. Several hundred shoes were donated in exchange for a free pair of flip-flops for runners to wear home.

Remaining 2012 Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Marathon Series races include – Dallas – October 27: features a dramatic downtown start amongst the “all hat and all cattle” iconic Big D skyline; and Fort Lauderdale – November 11: offers an amazing sunrise on a scenic and friendly course with a start near Port Everglades and the Broward Convention Center.

4th Allstate Life Insurance Atlanta 13.1 Marathon
Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 7, 2012

MEN
1) Reuben Mwei (KEN), 26, Kennesaw, GA, 1:09:12
2) Jay Stephenson, 31, Rome, GA, 1:09:54
3) Alan Black, 38, Hillsboro, GA, 1:10:53

WOMEN
1) Justyna Mudy (POL), 27, Rome, GA, 1:17:51
2) Tamara Karrh, 42, Marietta, GA, 1:22:48
3) Meagan Nedlu, 29, Salem, MA, 1:23:35