Lyubov Denisova repeats as women’s Snickers Marathon champion

ALBANY — For the second year in a row, the men’s and women’s 26.2-mile races at the Snickers Marathon were swept by Florida residents originally from Russia.

Lyubov Denisova, a 46-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida repeated as women’s champion, joining Sergei Zyrianov as back-to-back winners of a marathon that bills itself as a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Denisova pulled away for a five-and-a-half-minute victory. Her time of two hours, 47 minutes and nine seconds bested Natasha Yaremczuk, a 37-year-old resident of Montverde, Florida, who was even with Denisova at the 4-mile mark.

Like Zyrianov, Denisova competed in the Fitbit Miami Marathon on Jan. 28. Denisova won the Miami elite women’s race in 2:40:54.

“I’m happy,” Denisova said. “Last year was an easy race, and this one was easy, too. The weather (clear skies) was better this year.”

Laura Roberts of Saint Simons Island was third in 2:59:02. Sara Gibson of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was fourth in 3:03:50, and Eva Henck of Atlanta was fifth in 3:15:30.

Ruth Clemans was the top finisher listed with an Albany-area address, finishing in 4:06:52.

Men’s half marathon

Mason Chilmonczyk, a 25-year-old from Atlanta, won the men’s half marathon by more than four minutes, finishing in 1:14:47.

David Dement, a 27-year-old from Atlanta, took second in 1:18:53. Brandon D’Arienzo, an 18-year-old also from Atlanta, finished third in 1:19:23.

Albany’s Jake Clawson was the top local finisher, placing fifth in 1:20:48.

Women’s half marathon

Amelia Shea, a 27-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, won the women’s half marathon in 1:23:28.

Finishing second, 15 seconds behind Shea, was Maxey Hebert, a 37-year-old from McDonough. Ann Centner, a 26-year-old from Blakely, placed third in 1:25:04.

Emily Phillips, a 13-year-old from Leesburg, topped runners from the immediate Albany area, finishing in 1:46:03.

Wheelchair

Patrick Doak was the top wheelchair marathon participant, finishing in 2:22:51.

Brad Smith had the top half marathon handcycle time, finishing in 1:16:30.

Masters division

Ian Brown of Americus was the men’s marathon masters winner, finishing in 2:56:38.

Female marathon masters honors went to Marianthe Grammas of Birmingham, Alabama, who finished in 3:34:38.

Jack Westrick of Atlanta claimed male half marathon masters results, finishing in 1:22:12.

Kelly Cameron of Marietta won the female half marathon masters division, crossing the line in 1:34:54.