Grandma's Past: The 2004 Champions

As part of our Grandma's Marathon coverage this week, Down the Backstretch will remember recent Grandma's champions and the races they won.

Kicking off the series ... the champions of 2004:

Fira Sultanova-Zhdanova -- 2003 Grandma's women's champ Sultanova-Zhdanova returned Grandma's in 2004 as both the defending champ and course record-holder. The remarkable 43-year-old had broken Lorraine Moller's 1981 course record with her 2:27:05 win in '03. Breaking away early in '04, the Russian became the second woman to defend her Grandma's title, winning in 2:35.08.

Vladimir Tsiamchyk -- The pre-race talk in 2004 was about Kenyan marathon debutante Luke Metto. Metto kept people talking for 20 miles, breaking away early and building a lead of more than two minutes at 20 miles. Metto suffered mightily in the late-going, though, and was caught by Tsiamchyk of Belarus., who won won in 217:59.

Results of the 2004 Grandma's Marathon are HERE.

Photos by Jeff Frey & Associates, courtesy of Grandma’s Marathon.