Quoting from the Elmira Star-gazette newspaper: "Burks, 23, was competing in his first [full] marathon after having success in half marathons, including a win in Syracuse in November and a triumph at the Oak Tree Half Marathon in Geneseo on Sept. 1. Having run 34 miles over one day at the Peak to Brew Relay in the Adirondacks, he decided to give a full marathon a shot after he was told there were no more spots in the half marathon." My understanding is he was within 2 minutes of the world record for this run, his FIRST full marathon. -Baldwin