The attention started almost exactly a year ago for Peter Sherry, when several friends from around the country called Sherry's home in Great Falls after seeing his Marine Corps Marathon victory flash across cable news tickers.
That attention continued for 52 weeks. Friends have introduced him at parties as the Marine Corps Marathon champion, and he made repeated promotional appearances for this year's race, including six in the past week.
| _____ Marine Corps Marathon _____
• Retta Feyissa wins the Marine Corps Marathon in 2:25:35.
• Mary Kate Bailey becomes the first active duty Marine to win the women's race since 1979.
• Marines help organize the race.
• Some marathoners run in memory of the fallen.
_____ Top 10 Men _____
1. Retta Feyissa, Bronx, N.Y., 2 hours, 25 minutes, 35 seconds.
2. Terrance Shea, Rochester, Mich., 2:25:57.
3. Chris Juarez, San Antonio, 2:26:03.
4. Jose Miranda, Mexico, 2:26:26.
5. Carl Rundell, Birmingham, Mich., 2:26:48.
6. Benjamin Palafox, Mexico, 2:30:36.
7. Paul Rades, Silver Spring, 2:31:18.
8. Mark Croadale, United Kingdom, 2:32:54.
9. Chris Farley, Arlington, 2:33:50.
10. Mark Goodridge, United Kingdom, 2:34:31. _____ Top 10 Women _____
1. Mary Kate Bailey, Long Island, N.Y., 2:48:31.
2. Kimberly Fagen, San Diego, 2:51:17.
3. Suzanne Clemmer, Gastonia, N.C., 2:59:11.
4. Eleanor Stewart-Garbrech, Jacksonville, Fla., 3:05:47.
5. Jill Metzger, APO AE, 3:06:26.
6. Sage Stefiuk, Fayetteville, N.C., 3:06:36.
7. Kirsten Ward, Arlington, 3:07:25.
8. Amanda Rasmussen, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3:08:37.
9. Connie Buckwalter, Lititz, Pa., 3:08:46.
10. Kelly Jaske, Washington, 3:08:56.
_____ On Our Site _____
• Photos
• Course map
_____ Live Online _____
• MCM's Rick Nealis took questions Thursday. Read the transcript.
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"It was just amazing," said Sherry, a co-owner of the Gotta Run shop in Pentagon Row and assistant track and cross-country coach at Herndon High School. "I was not prepared for the exposure I would get personally from this event. It's been flattering."
Sherry will attempt to become the race's first back-to-back winner in 15 years this morning, when the 29th running of the marathon begins at 8:30 in Arlington. Last year's second-place finisher -- Eric Post of Fairfax -- will run at a slower pace with his wife this year, and another Northern Virginian, third-place finisher Aaron Church, will not return.
The 36-year-old Sherry, meantime, had planned on running the 5,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials in July until his training was interrupted by a virus. He said he is in better shape now than he was a year ago and never seriously considered skipping today's race.
"It was so cool to win it; why wouldn't I do it again?" he said. "Gotta defend the home turf."
