3,000 participants turn out for sold-out 11th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay

Photo Captions - Photo 1: Sarasota/Bradenton’s own S2 Timing team took the women’s overall relay win, joined by Team WTF – where’s the finish (far right) – and Team Shores Mighty Might (far left). Photo 2, L to R: Brent Towne of Milton, Vt., joins First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon winner Jonathan Mott of Babson Park, Fla., and Fit2Run teammate and second place finisher, Christopher Trebilcock of Bradenton to receive their awards. Photo 3: A speedy Jeff Lessie, age 55, outpaced all males 40 years and older to take the Masters Division title at Sunday’s First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon. Photo 4: Women’s overall winner Jackie Wachtel is all smiles after crossing the finishing line and receiving her award. Photo 5: Male First Watch Relay winners take the podium, including the youngest relay team – Team Don’t Worry (far left) who finished third. Photo 6: #IRun team members took top honors in the co-ed relay division at the 2016 First Watch Half Marathon & Relay.

A total of 3,000 runners, walkers and relay team members took part in Sunday’s 11th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay, produced and presented by Life Time℠ – The Healthy Way of Life Company.

The longest running half marathon in Sarasota, participants ranged in age from 10-year-olds Matthew Lesbirel of Ocala, Fla. and Rosalyn Wright of Cape Coral to 77-year-old Carol Western of Sarasota and 79-year-old Edward Soderbergh of Easton, Conn. The sell out race was also the final race for the five-event Florida Storm Series, also sponsored by Life Time.

Overall winners

Jonathan Mott, age 29 from Babson Park, Fla. took the men’s title in 1:15:54 and Jacki Wachtel, age 36, from New Port Richey, Fla., the women’s title in 1:23:53. Local runners Christopher Trebilcock, age 27, from Bradenton, Fla. took 2nd overall for the men in 1:16:50 and Sarasota’s Katalin Nagy, age 36, captured third overall for women in 1:31:41.

Division winners

In the category divisions, Jeff Lessie, age 55, from Tampa, Fla., won the Masters Division in 1:24:18, faster than any runner in the 40-49 age division (note: Masters winner is the fastest runner over age 40 and Grandmasters the fastest runner over age 50). Brian Debraccio, age 50, from Schenectady, N.Y., won the Grand Masters Division in 1:28:18.

Women’s division winners included Kristen Comment, age 41, from Kansas City, Mo., who took the Masters Title in 1:34:08 and Lake Mary, Fla.’s Melissa Corp, age 56, the Grand Masters title in 1:40:15.

Relay team winners

On the relay side, local S2 Timing took the women’s relay title in 1:35:27, with Team Trublmaica Runner the men’s relay in 1:26:23. Co-Ed Team #1RUNPROS took this title in 1:26:23.

Race Director Javier Sanchez noted on the event: “We greatly appreciate all the community and sponsor support, particularly from First Watch and Fit2Run, as well as our new partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that helped us once again achieve sold out status. Sarasota is truly a special place that attracts runners and walkers from all over the world. It is the ideal mix of location and event support that that will enable us to continue to make the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay one of the must-do races in the country,” Sanchez added.

For a complete list of race results visit www.sarasotahalfmarathon.com.

2017 Registration opened March 14, 2016

Registration for the 12th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay, scheduled for March 19, 2017, opened Mon. March 14, 2016. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will launch its St. Jude Heroes registration for the 2017 First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay by the end of March. Details will be available at www.stjude.org/heroes. With an anticipated sell out again in 2017 and to get the best possible pricing, interested participants are encouraged to register early.

Registration and information: www.sarasotahalfmarathon.com

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

About First Watch

First Watch specializes in award-winning, made-to-order Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch. A recipient of more than 200 “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites, such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and salads, and unique specialty items like Quinoa Power Bowls, Avocado Toast and the Chickichanga. First Watch was named a 2015 Top Consumer Pick by Nation’s Restaurant News and has received other recognition including being named a 2013 “Next 20” Emerging Brand by Nation's Restaurant News and a 2014 Top Franchise Value by FSR Magazine. First Watch is the largest and fastest-growing daytime-only restaurant concept in the U.S. with more than 280 restaurants in 26 states, including more than 140 First Watch restaurants, 116 The Egg & I Restaurants, 18 The Good Egg restaurants and one Bread & Company restaurant in Nashville (with another one under construction). For more information, visit firstwatch.com.

About Life Time, The Healthy Way of Life Company

Life Time is a privately held, comprehensive health and lifestyle company that offers a personalized and scientific approach to long-term health and wellness. Through its portfolio of distinctive resort-like destinations, athletic events and corporate health services, the Healthy Way of Life Company helps members achieve their goals everyday with the support of a team of dedicated professionals and an array of proprietary health assessments. As of March 1, 2015 the company operates 119 centers in 26 states and 35 major markets under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC® brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information is available at www.lifetimefitness.com.