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Local runners shine at Run for the Dream Half Marathon


Posted on June 2, 2013 by Daily Press

WILLIAMSBURG — Runners from the Hampton Roads area dominated the Run for the Dream Half Marathon on Saturday, taking the top spot in the women's race and the top two for the men.

Smithfield's Victor Flemming, 34, and John Piggott, 48, of Williamsburg got out to a quick start and built a sizable lead over the 2,200-participant field by around the two-mile marker. The two ran side-by-side for the next couple of miles before Flemming pulled ahead for the remainder of the race.

Flemming ran alone for the next hour, with only the spectators, volunteers and the race organizers' lead truck to keep him company. Just after passing the 12-mile marker, he took a peak behind him to gauge how close he was to the rest of the field.

"I was hoping that I wouldn't see (Piggott) at all," he said. "I knew I had him, but I got a little worried for the last couple of miles, because I knew he was a better hill runner than I am."

What was a one-man race for most of the 13.1-mile course, came down to the final half lap when the leaders entered Zable Stadium for the final portion of the race.

"I thought I could pass (Flemming) in the stadium, but it took all I had just to catch up to him," Piggott said.

Piggott, last year's third-place finisher in the event, was unable to surpass Flemming in the end, but did cut the lead from 30 seconds at the 12-mile marker, to finish only five seconds after the winner. With a finishing time of one hour, 17 minutes, three seconds, Piggott was able to shave two minutes and 34 seconds off of his 2012 time.

Two years ago, Piggott finished in fourth place and said that he hopes to continue his current trend of moving one position closer to crossing the finish line first.

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