World record set at Asbury Park Half Marathon
8-year-old girl breaks age group record set in 2010
A new world record was set in the 8-year-old age group at the Asbury Park Half Marathon on April 26, according to a release from event organizers.
With an official time of 1:54:07, Alexandra Trigg of Hernando, Mississippi shaved under a second off the previous record of 1:54:50 set by Heather Welsch of Houston, Texas on Dec. 12, 2010, to set a new world record in the 8-year-old age group.
“I am happy just to finish and really happy to break the record before my 9th birthday on June 11,” Trigg said in the release.
Alexandra is a 3rd grade student at Hernando Hill School.
Her father, Marcus Trigg [shown above, next to Alexandra], said the two had targeted the race for the record breaking attempt. This race marked the fifth time Alexandra has completed a half marathon. She runs three or four times a week.
“We are proud of Alexandra and her accomplishments,” said Marcus Trigg, who ran alongside Alexandra the entire way.
Alexandra comes from a long line of accomplished runners and running family. At age 20, her father completed the Olympic Trials Marathon in 1983 in a time of 2:18:09. Her grandmother Anne was a USATF National Masters Champion, the release stated.
Top finishers of the Asbury Park Half Marathon were Timothy Clarke of Brooklyn, N.Y. in a time of 1:18:06 followed by Jan Stofan of Helmetta in a time of 1:19:17 and Farnese Da Silva of West Long Branch in 1:19:33. For the women it was Jayne Condon of Wall in 1:33:30 followed by Barbara Finnegan of New York City in 1:33:45 and Sheila O’Grady of Manasquan in 1:34:39.
The event is part of RunAPlooza, a series of races that benefit Special Olympics New Jersey staged by volunteers from the Jersey Shore Running Club and other local community groups.
Complete results for the half marathon and other RunAPalooza events can be found on the event website.
[Photos provided by Bob Both.]
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