BY MAURICE SINGLETON

Special to the Sun Herald

BILOXI 

Micah Mohler and Melissa Lilly were the top finishers in Sunday's inaugural Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon.

Mohler was the first person to finish the 26.2-mile course that began at Henderson Point in Pass Christian and ended inside MGM Park in Biloxi. He finished just under three hours at 2:54.46.

“It is not my personal best,” said Mohler, who lives near Seattle. “But I still ran a time that I am happy with.

“Perfect marathon weather,” added Mohler, who was making his first visit to Mississippi. “It was a little cold at the start, but as soon as the sun came up it was great.

“The volunteers on the course, the expo, communications before the race — everything has been really great. But for me, flat, flat courses are really harder.”

Lilly ran her personal best — 3:13.37 — in just her fifth marathon Sunday.

“Perfect marathon weather,” added Mohler, who was making his first visit to Mississippi. “It was a little cold at the start, but as soon as the sun came up it was great.

“The volunteers on the course, the expo, communications before the race — everything has been really great. But for me, flat, flat courses are really harder.”

Lilly ran her personal best — 3:13.37 — in just her fifth marathon Sunday.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/sports/article120286168.html#storylink=cpy