RESULTS

1. Margaret Lyons - 10:25
2. Brian Lyons - 9:11
3. Tim Bradley - 9:31
4. Andy Koziatek - 10:13
5. Allie Baker - 11:49
6. Sam Yount - 10:20
7. Kris Woolf - 11:53
8. Brian Soule - 10:32

...........................................RACE RECAP
Contrary to the voters on the bigriverrunning.com front-page poll it was the the women who came out on top in the first-ever Big River Battle of the Sexes 2 mile. Former DuBourg High School and Missouri Southern State star Margaret Lyons dominated the field by running a PR of 10:25 for 3200 meters. Perfectly paced through 5 and a half laps by Big River's Joe Porter, Lyons toured the last 1k of the race on her own and never looked back crossing the line 16 seconds ahead of her husband Brian.

The women had a 90 second head start in this gender v. gender format and leading up to the race it figured to be a close battle between the husband and wife pair as they possessed 3k PR's that were 89 seconds apart. A year ago at this time Brian ran sub 9 minutes at the 2006 Big River 2 mile, an all-male race, and one he ran only two days after Margaret had given birth to their first baby, daughter Lillian. Dad got paced by Big River Running Company co-owner Ben Rosario through 4 and a half laps this time and came through the mile in 4:28, on pace for another sub 9 effort. This was mom's day however as Margaret's time of 10:25 equates to a 4:52 mile and a sub 17 5k on the McMillan running calculator equivalency charts.

Thanks to all of you who came and cheered on the competitors. We'll do it again next year and we'll get the music to work! See ya then.

PHOTOS COMING SOON.......

THURSDAY NIGHT MAY 3RD

VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL

at the conclusion of the MCC Conference Meet

How it Works: This elite field is made up of St. Louis' top post-collegiate runners (men and women) and they will face off in a head-to-head battle with the women being given a 90 second head start and the men trying to chase them down over the course of 8 laps. The race will take place at the conclusion of one of the best track and field high school conference meets in the State, the MCC, featuring the defending State Champions from St. Louis University High School and several individual stars including CBC's Dan Quigley. It promises to be a great night for track and field in St. Louis. Come watch the high schoolers go at it beginning at 4pm and stick around to cheer for the women or the men (your choice!) in the first -ever Big River "Battle of the Sexes" 2 mile.

Event History: Last year's Big River 2 mile was a mens only affair with Big River Running Company Co-Owner Ben Rosario out-kicking Big River Racing Team member Brian Lyons in a tight race as both runners broke 9 minutes for 3200 meters (8:56- 8:58). The event was created as a chance to celebrate our sport at the high school level combined with the post-collegiate level to show that running can be a life-long sport and to be FUN! Last year's race was a huge hit with an announcer, music blasting over the PA system, and the high schoolers lining the track cheering for the competitors.

The Field: This year's field includes not one but two Lyons' as Brian's wife Margaret, who had just given birth to a baby daughter two days before last year's race, will headline the women's field. Margaret is coming off of a 4 mile pr at the Trolley Run in Kansas City where she finished fifth in 21:58. Brian finished 4th in the mens race at the Trolley Run, covering 4 miles in 18:50. The 90 second head start could prove to be a very fair margin with Brian looking to break 9 minutes for the second year in a row and Margaret looking to break 10:30. Other top entrants include Big River co-owners Ben Rosario and Matt Helbig on the mens side and 2007 St. Louis Marathon champion Christine Ensign on the women's side. If you are interested in competing email Ben Rosario at ben@bigriverrunning.com

Womens Entry List:

Allie Baker (Big River Racing Team)
- Youngest entry in this year's field
- Ran Cross Country and Track at Truman State University
- Allie is coming off a big 5k pr of 18:41 at the SIUE twilight meet on April 28

Christine Ensign
- 2007 Spirit of St. Louis Marathon Champion
- Collegiate Star at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Runner-Up at the 2004 National Junior College Outdoor Track Championships in the 5k and 10k

Margaret Lyons (Big River Racing Team)
- Track PR's of 4:31 (1500), 4:51 (Mile), 9:54 (3k)
- Two-time NCAA Division II All-American
- Five-time school record holder at Missouri Southern State University

Kris Woolf (Big River Racing Team)
- Collegiate star at Southeast Missouri State University
- Finished eighth in the 2007 Spirit of St. Louis Half Marathon

Womens Rabbit: Joe Porter (yes we know he is not a woman)

Mens Entry List:

Tim Bradley (Big River Racing Team)
- Possesses an 8:44 best for 3k
- Competed at the NCAA Division I level at Murray State and Western Illinois
- Tim is a CBC graduate so he'll have home track advantage in this one.

Matt Helbig (Big River Racing Team)
- Track PR's of 3:51 (1500), 4:11 (mile), 8:33 (3k)
- Two-time NCAA Division II All-American at Truman State University
- Finished third in last year's Big River 2 Mile

Andy Koziatek
- "Kozi" is using the "Battle of the Sexes" as his first race back since running the Boston Marathon
- Outstanding high school career at Marquette High School
- Currently is an assistant track coach at Lindbergh and assistant cross country coach at Marquette

Brian Lyons (Big River Racing Team, Mizuno)
- Track PR's of 3:52 (1500), 8:58 (3200), 14:21 (5k)
- Coming off a 4 mile PR of 18:50 at the Trolley Run 4 miler in Kansas City
- 12th place, 2006 US Marathon Championships at the Twin Cities Marathon
- Second place, 2006 Big River 2 Mile.

Ben Rosario (Big River Racing Team, Adidas McMillan Elite)
- Track PR's of 8:54 (3200), 14:24 (5k), 29:44 (10k)
- 2-time Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier
- Finished 7th at the 2006 US Club Cross Country Championships
- Ben is scheduled to rabbit this race through one mile at sub 9 minute pace.

Brian Soule
- Local St. Louis Road Racer
- Ran for Parkway North High School

Sam Yount
- Track PR of 15:31 (5k)
- Former Professional Triathlete
- Represented the United States at the 2003 World Duathlon Championships