Ryan Vail and Lindsey Scherf Win Gasparilla Half-Marathon

Published by Toni Reavis on February 23, 2014

The excitement of pro racing returned to the streets of Tampa today, as the once legendary Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic saw spirited competitions mark both the pro men’s and women’s races at the 37th running of Tampa’s premier distance events.  It was the first time since 1997 that pro prize money was on offer, and Portland, Oregon’s Ryan Vail and Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s Lindsey Scherfcame out on top to claim the $80000 first place checks out of a total purse of $40,000. In the 68 degree, 97% humidity conditions Vail’s winning time was 64:06, while Scherf proved her fitness for the March 9^th Los Angeles Marathon with a controlled 1:13:07 win.

At the dark 6 a.m. start the men took off at more of a marathon tempo, passing the first mile in 5:01, two in 9:51 and three in 14:37 (4:46 mile).  Two men led the charge, pulling free from a chase pack of four right off the line. Olympian Abdi Abdirahman of Tucson and Boston Marathon bound Jeff Eggleston of Boulder, Colorado ran shoulder to shoulder for the first six miles as Ryan Vail joined forces with Hanson’s Brooks Distance Project star Bobby Curtis, Boulder, Colorado’s Fernando Cabada and 2013 World Championships Marathon team member Carlos Trujillo.

“I wanted to go out conservatively,” said Ryan after his win. “I’ve had tough times in the heat before, so all I wanted to do was retain contact early so I could still attack later.  I thought they’d come back a little under these conditions.”

Abdi and Jeff put 12-seconds on the chasers by mile four, then hit Bayshore Boulevard after crossing the Davis Island Bridge, the only hill on the route.  With eight miles out and back before them, the two leaders exchanged the lead, hoping to discourage their pursuers.

“I was trying something new,” admitted Eggleston afterwards.  “I wanted to run from the front and go for the win, rather than run another conservative race.  I put a couple of 20-second surges in trying to break Abdi but all I did was break myself.”

With a half marathon PR of 61:07 and four U.S. 10,000 meter track titles, 36 year-old Abdirahman had by far the best resume, though also the most racing miles in his legs. He’d had to pull out of last December’s Honolulu Marathon with an I.T. band problem, but thought he was ready for his first race of 2014, and spoke of hitting a high-61 minute time, given conducive conditions.