Guinness World Record Achieved at Lakefront Marathon

MILWAUKEE, WI – An exciting Guinness World Record was achieved at the 31st Annual Lakefront Marathon on Sunday, October 2 when 62 runners representing a wide-range of athletic abilities, experience and ages joined together (both literally and figuratively) to run the marathon, completing it in 6 hours 20 minutes. The “Jennipede” as they called themselves were tethered together by a long rope and karabiners that were attached to race belts. The team was captained by Runner’s World’s “Mayor of Running” Bart Yasso and included Wisconsin’s ultra-running legend Roy Pirrung. The team also raised over $108,000 for the rehabilitation care for Jenny Crain, a world-class runner who was severely injured on August 21, 2007 when hit by a car while training for the trials prior to the Beijing Olympics. Crain was in her wheel chair alongside the group for the last .2 mile and was at the finish line to receive a check for the money raised.

Team members included: Jeff Vergiels of Annapolis, MD; Jess Pamenter, Rhonda Kempen and Tammy Talo of Appleton, WI; Ed Ahrenhoerster of Brown Deer, WI; JeanMarie Wenzel of Brookfield, WI; Anne Otte of Cedarburg, WI; Kristine Kinder of Chicago, IL; Steve Brandstetter of Cincinnati, OH; Cheryl Schmelzer of Colgate, WI; Julie La Forge of Detroit, MI; Jim Fisher of Eagle, WI; Peter Crain of Edina, MN; Gerald Bodalski of Elm Grove, WI; Sarah Adgate from Grafton, WI; Paul Fournier of Gurnee, IL; Deann McIntosh of Hartford, WI; Cheri Cope, Michele Askren and Scott Rice of Hartland, WI; Barry Hutzel of Holland, MI; Craig Lower of Libertyville, IL; James Mattox of Madison, WI; Victor Vella of Malta, EU; Paul Steder of Menomonee Falls, WI; Mary Manke of Mequon, WI; Cathy Diamond, Heather Polan and Jan Wagner of Milwaukee, WI; Anthony Acompanado and Bill Barder of Mukwonago, WI; Amy Zembroski and Luai Tabbal of Muskego, WI; Ann Guthrie of Naperville, IL; Ben Sharff, Geoff Landrum, Mike Steinke and Traci Neuman of Oak Creek, WI; Cole Braun of Oconomowoc, WI; Emily Kratz, Jill Kurtz, Andy Neary and Robin Gohsman of Pewaukee, WI; Mary McDonald of Rockford, IL; Craig LeBlanc of Sheboygan Falls, WI; Roy Pirrung and Allison Nokes of Sheboygan, WI; Alexander Fraser of Shorewood, WI; Kristy Mueller of Stoughton, WI; Karen Spence of Sussex, WI; Jeff Crosby of Wales, WI; Brianna Boehmer, Chad Taylor, Dan Baumann, Eric Krawczk, Erin Serrault, Jayson Serrault and Mike Boehmer of Waukesha, WI; Bill Schneider, Brandi Encarnacion and Megan Smukowski of Wauwatosa, WI; and Scott Krizek of Whitefish Bay, WI.

Nick Szczech of Cudahy, WI was the men’s winner of Sunday’s 31st annual Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, completing the race in 2:22:17. One of Marquette University’s cross country team stars, Szczech recently won the men’s division of the Briggs and Al’s Run in Milwaukee.

Amber Druien of Woodstock, IL was the women’s winner of the marathon completing the race in 2:54:15. Druien was an NCAA Division III national track champion at Illinois' North Central College.

Others placing in the men’s race included: 2nd place: Ryan Meissen of Mukwonago, WI with a time of 2:27:37; 3rd place: Marek Kotrly of Brookfield, WI with a time of 2:35:24; 4th place: Ben Bocher of Milwaukee with a time of 2:36:45; and 5th place to Kevin Renicker of Naperville, IL with a time of 2:38:20.

Other placing in the women’s race included: 2nd place: Jacqui Aubert of Crystal Lake, IL with a time of 2:54:47; 3rd place: Heather Crow of Bensenville, IL with a time of 2:57:01; 4th place: Susannah Moroney of Fitchburg, WI with a time of 2:59:42; and 5th place: Elizabeth Paddock of Madison, WI with a time of 3:00:08.

The course best for men is 2:14:09 set in 1981 by Steve Benson. The course best for women is 2:30:15 set in 1983 by Nancy Mieszczak. In 2010, the winner was 2:31:41.

The Economic Impact of the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon:

The 31st annual Lakefront Marathon, organized by Badgerland Striders running club, drew more than 3,000 marathon runners in addition to their family members and friends. The annual race, which is larger than many conventions hosted in Milwaukee, fills hundreds of hotels rooms, restaurants and the streets of Milwaukee's North Shore. According to a survey by Events Response, in 2010 the total race and runner spending was $1.2 million-$2.4 million with the US Department of Commerce multiplier. For more information on the marathon, visit www.milwaukeelakefrontmarathon.org.