Barbara Miller (Modesto, Ca)

Aufdemberge, De Reuck take USA Masters Half Marathon titles


Paul Aufdemberge (Redford, Mich.) surprised pre-race favorite Sean Wade (Houston, Texas) to win the men's title, and Colleen De Reuck (Boulder, Colo.) easily took the women's crown Sunday at the USA Masters Half-Marathon Championships. The championships were hosted by the inaugural State Farm Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon.

Aufdemberge pulled away during the first five miles, but Wade made contact and the pair dueled until Aufdemberge made one last move, pulling ahead for good with four miles remaining to win the men's race with a time of 1:08:05. Wade was timed in 1:08:32.

DeReuck continued her stranglehold on the women's masters field with another impressive victory, winning in 1:13:15. Jody Hawkins (Frisco, Texas) was second in 1:20:06.

Aufdemberg was followed in the age-graded men's USA Masters Half-Marathon Championships by Wade and Dennis Simonaitis (Draper, Utah), while De Reuck led the women's division over Kathryn Martin (Northport, N.Y.) and Barbara Miller (Modesto, Calif.).
For more information on the 2009 USA Masters Half-Marathon Championships visit www.usatf.org.