Myers, Whelan swiftest
Albany
Christine Myers has come a long way from the Guilderland High junior varsity cross country team.
Running in her first competitive marathon, the 21-year-old law school student from Altamont won the women's division of the Mohawk Hudson Marathon, crossing the finish line at Corning Preserve on Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, 25 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than runner-up Eliza Tibbits of Old Town, Maine and Dana Bush of Saratoga Springs.
Myers ran the Lake Placid marathon three years ago but used the race as a training session and her foray into the 26.2-mile race was her first serious effort in the marathon.
"I ran Lake Placid just for fun three summers ago but this is my first race. I did Lake Placid to prove to myself I could run a marathon," Myers said. "I ran a 3:58 so this is over an hour PR (personal record). My coach had me run a slower first half and go harder at the end. It didn't go exactly as planned, I had a pacer with me but she had to stop at mile 13. I was by myself for the rest."
Myers, in her first year at Vermont Law School, ran three years at the College of Saint Rose (she graduated early) and says she found her running stride in her second year for the Golden Knights.
"I was a walk-on for the team (Saint Rose) and at Guilderland, I was JV, I wasn't scoring varsity," Myers said. "I went to sectionals but was always the 10th runner. My second year of college, I had a coach that was very intense and we just clicked. I started strength training about a year ago. Once I added the strength component, the puzzle pieces just came together."
Myers exceeded her pre-race goal of breaking 2 hours, 50 minutes.
"Pass the bar (exam)," Myers said with a laugh when discussing her next big hurdle to clear. "I want to be a lawyer, I don't...