ST. GEORGE — Ideal conditions rewarded competitors of the 46th annual St. George Marathon Saturday morning.

Temperatures in the low 70s and a cool breeze greeted runners when the race began at 7 a.m. in Central.

Sunshine then poured down and provided a hot finish as runners blazed the 26.2-mile course down state Route 18 and into the streets of downtown St. George.  

Mayor Michele Randall rang in the festivities with her yearly Mayor’s Walk early in the morning as the sun rose.

“It was awesome. Beautiful weather,” Randall told St. George News at the finish line, adding that over 300 people were on hand for the Mayor’s Walk and some 7,200 runners registered to participate in the marathon on some level.

“It brings so many people to our community, they get to see the beauty of our community,” Randall said. “We’re one of the top races in the country.”

She went on to say that what makes the St. George Marathon unique is how it brings so many community members together for a common cause.

“From the starting line at Central, the community comes out and makes coffee and hot chocolate for all the runners on their own dime and time. And you’ll have crowds all the way down SR 18, then to the whole finish line, with people cheering.”

Men’s race

Jj Santana from Las Vegas, Nevada, won the men’s division in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 46.67 seconds. That’s an average pace of 5 minutes, 10 seconds, per mile.

“I like to train. I’ve been playing sports ever since I was little,” Santana said, still panting at the finish line. “I wouldn’t be able to live without doing something.”

Santana said he has a love-hate relationship with the physical pain that is an inherent part of completing a marathon.

“It sucks, but it makes life better in my opinion,” he said. “Pushing your limits, learning what you got deep down inside. No matter how fast or slow you run it, everybody is testing themselves.”

Santana never really trailed in the race.

“I had a guy running with me for about the first 10K,” Santana said. “And from then on out I was by myself.”

Jonathan Kotter of Salt Lake City finished second behind Santana with his time of 2:18:59.9. 

“Too hot,” an exhausted Kotter said as he walked gingerly toward the cool misters near the back of the chute in the finish area.

Third-place finisher Michael Otteson of Provo posted a time of 2:22:56.42. 

“Happy that I finished, but overall not what I was looking for but it’s OK,” Otteson said. “I didn’t really feel the heat until the last 10K. I found myself stopping and looking around at the scenery. It was nice. Perfect running conditions at the start, honestly.”

St. George resident and local fan favorite Aaron Metler, the defending champion from last year seeking his fifth overall title, finished behind Otteson in fourth place at 2:23:00.61.

Metler said he knows all three of the runners who finished ahead of him.

“Phenomenal. Phenomenal. The guy who won, I knew he was in for a perfect day today,” said Metler, adding that he didn’t see Santana on the course for very long. “He started off from the start going for it. And he earned a good victory today.”

Rounding out the top five male finishers was Patrick Hutton from Flagstaff, Arizona, who posted a time of 2:23:55.11.

Women’s race

Sylvia Bedford came to run in St. George from South Jordan and she posted a time of 2:35:55.49 to win the women’s professional field.

She averaged 5 minutes, 56 seconds, per mile in the victorious effort.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Bedford said, noting that she was sick earlier this week.

“I was just happy to get out there and be able to push,” she added. “The volunteers were incredible; they had everything ready for me. It’s just a great race, I’m really happy to be here.”

Arriving across the finish line behind Bedford was Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, runner Ashley Paulson, who is no stranger to St. George after finishing in third-place last year.

Paulson is easy for fans to remember as she sports a bright pink hairdo that matches her vibrant personality.

“I’ve had this hair color for about five years. I just love it,” Paulson said. “I think it brightens the world and it makes me happy when I see it, so why not?”

Paulson echoed Santana when she said that dealing with the physical pain in marathons can be a positive experience.

“It’s a pain that we choose to have,” she said. “It’s a pain that I choose and it’s a pain that other people want to have. I take it upon myself to win for others who maybe can’t or aren’t able to, so I give it my best.” 

Paulson said that Saturday marked the completion of her 100th career marathon. Even though she doesn’t live in St. George, she said she feels a definite sense of home-field advantage.

“I do. This is home, and these are my people, this is my course,” Paulson said. “I feel like I win it every time get across the finish line. That’s a win in starting, having fun and then crossing the line with a smile, that’s a huge win for everyone today that’s doing this.”

Rounding out the top five female finishers after Bedford and Paulson were Rosy Lee, Mountain Green, Utah (2:43:57.36); Lauren Stratton, Provo, Utah (2:45:10.61); and Hilary Hawes, Saratoga Springs, Utah (2:45:45.66).

For complete results of the St. George Marathon, go to this website.

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