Michael Wardian wins his fourth National Marathon

In the women's division, Krista Vrombaut showed she's come a long way since college.

The 27-year-old ran her first 5k in college at the urging of her soccer coach and "hated every minute of it."

But two years ago the Rock Island, Ill., resident fell in love with running. Saturday morning, in her third marathon, she finished in 2:51:17 to claim her first win. Feeling good early, she settled into a steady pace and wasn't passed by anyone -- man or woman -- after Mile 13.

She credits her development to an unlikely source, her husband, whom she identifies as a musician who smokes and drinks.

"He doesn't run," Vrombaut said. "He's a great piano player. He goes after what he believes in. It inspires me to be great at what I want to do."

Michaela Driscoll, 30, of Coventry, R.I., passed two runners at about Mile 20 to move into second place. She finished in 2:55:50.

In the half-marathon, Mark Fruin, 23, crossed the finish line 11 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Stephen Haas, 26.

The effort was good enough for the win, but ultimately a disappointment. Both runners -- members of Team Indiana Elite -- traveled from Bloomington, Ind., in hopes of qualifying for U.S. Olympic trials by running under 1:05:00.

"I looked up and saw 1:04:50 and pushed as hard as I could," said Fruin, who would finish in 1:05:03.

Teammate Laura Farley, 26, of Indianapolis was the first woman to finish with a time of 1:18:38. Phebe Ko of Baltimore placed second in 1:19:03.