The 15th running of the Ohio Health Capital City Half Marathon photographed Saturday, April 28, 2018 on the streets of Columbus and the Columbus Commons. It was a beautiful crisp morning for the race – a wonderful contrast on the previous years race which was called just after the first runners came in because of drenching and dangerous thunderstorm that moved thru the area. Once again I was in the Cap City Half Pace Truck with WBNS-TV‘s Dave Holmes doing live updates thru-out the race. I joke with people, that every year I finish first in the race because of this, without even breaking a sweat – LOL.
Hometown favorites Evan Schwartz and Molly Bookmyer captured overall titles at the 15th Anniversary Edition of the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon.
Evan Schwartz, overall winner of 2018 OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon
Schwartz and Joshua Park, an Amherst, Ohio native who runs cross country at Ohio U., were a pack of two for the entire 13.1 miles, with Park leading nearly the entire way before Schwartz made a last-second move as he approached the finish line to win in 1:07:55. Park, 20, in his first half marathon, finished in 1:08:01.
“Breaking the tape felt good,” Schwartz told The Columbus Dispatch after the race. “It felt really, really good.”
Schwartz, 24, who represents the Columbus Running Club, was the pre-race favorite after finishing 18th in the 2017 USATF Half Marathon Championships held in conjunction with Cap City.
Bookmyer, a member of Fleet Feet Sports Columbus, was never challenged in winning the women’s half-marathon in 1:19:05. Minori Minagawa, of Dublin, Ohio and a CRC Elite member, was second in 1:21:15. Minagawa was making her half marathon debut after winning the OhioHealth Quarter Marathon in 2017.
Nathan Seamans, 26, of Monroe, Ohio won the OhioHealth Quarter Marathon in 41:46, while Michelle Clark, 26, of Amherst, Ohio was the women’s winner in 42:18. CRC’s Dustin Hall of Columbus won the Commit To Be Fit 5K in 15:29, while Holly Archer of Columbus was the top female in 20:21.
More than 14,000 runners and walkers took part in the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon, OhioHealth Quarter Marathon and Commit To Be Fit 5K. The event featured a new combined Start / Finish Line at S. High and W. Town Streets and was followed by the Byers Xtra Mile Finish Line Party in the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.
WBNS 10TV televised the event LIVE for the third straight year.
Evan Schwartz and Joshua Park lead the 2018 OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon
The 2018 OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon again featured “best tour of Columbus on two feet” with a focus on the city’s best neighborhoods and entertainment districts with brank-new courses that took runners and walkers through and highlighted Downtown, German Village, The Ohio State University campus, the Arena District and Italian Village.
This year, in honor of the event’s 15th anniversary, the celebrate all that makes our city special and unique with new partnerships with two local companies that were “Made In CBUS.”
Every participant received a HOMAGE Official Event Shirt and a limited 13.1 Wheat Beer from Land-Grant Brewing Company that was specially made to celebrate Cap City and its 15th anniversary.
After the race, every participant received a Land-Grant Beer, Papa John’s Pizza, Patrón Chile Verde Margarita, Chandon Sparking, White Claw Hard Seltzer and Hartzler Dairy Chocolate Milk. The Land-Grant Post-Race Concert featured SWAGG and FBA.
