JACKSONVILLE – In one of the fastest half marathon fields in the United States, 27 male athletes answered the Olympic call with a record field qualifying for the February United States Olympic Trials Marathon.

With winner Jonathan Grey, 27, of Boulder, blasting ahead to win in one hour, two minutes, 47 seconds, the Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon course proved fruitful for the next 26 athletes who were all battling for a sub 1:05 split that would invite them to the Olympic Trials marathon. Men needed a 1:05:00 split to qualify while women needed a 1:15:00 split for their invite.

The closest call came to Tim Chichester, 27, of Mount Morris, Neb., who finished in 1:04:55 in 27th place while J.P. Slater, 25, of Berkeley, Calif., ran 1:05:05 to miss the standard.

For the women, who ran in a tight pack past the eight mile mark, it was winner Stephanie Dinius, 26, of Brookline, Mass., leading the way in 1:13:39 with 14 women making the 1:15 standard with Wendy Thomas, 36, of Windsor, Colo., the final qualifier in 1:14:50.

Kim Pawelek-Brantly, 41, a four-time Olympic Trials marathon participant, ran a 1:26:38 for 49th place of the women.

In the adjoining marathon, Orange Park High graduate Justin Jacobs, now in Jacksonville, finished third in the rainy conditions with a 2:41:33 effort behind overall winner Nick Filippazzo, 23, of Wantagh, N.Y., who ran 2:23:33. Ryan Sloan, 28, of Jacksonville, was runner-up in 2:38:39 after overtaking Jacobs after the 21 mile mark.

In the women's marathon, Anne Elise Creamer, 25, of Gainesville, won in 2:57:43 over Jacki Wachtel, 36, of New Port Richey, who came in at 2:58:04.

Area male runners in the marathon included Bryan Boyer, 38, of Fleming Island, 31st in age group in 4:54:43; Kevin Mangold, 40, of Orange Park, 17th in age group in 3:47:53; Tim O'Hara, 42, of Middleburg, 34th in age group in 4:38:53; Hank Gibson, 54, of Middleburg, who earned a coveted Boston Marathon invite with a 3:25:02 effort; Darry Herren, 54, of Orange Park, 23rd in age group in 4:04:43; David Nielsen, 51, of Fleming Island, 29th in 4:14:34, and Doug Coats, 51, of Fleming Island, 38th in 5:14:24.

For area women, Andrea Nelson, 44, of Middleburg, finished 21st in 4:32:21 and Amber Renew, 45, of Orange Park, finished 10th in 4:01:59.

For the half marathon, area finishers included Tyler Dahlman, 10, of Fleming Island, who won the 4-10 age group in 2:44:02; Aidan Amstutz, 16, of Fleming Island, who won at 14-19 in 1:23:57 and Denise Dailey, 58, of Orange Park, who won at 55-59 in 1:45:40.

Finishing in the top three male of their age groups were Rick Oblak, 42, of Orange Park, third in 1:26:01; Scott Tremaine, 46, of Fleming Island, second in 1:24:01 and Frank Frazier, 73, of Orange Park, second in 2:19:10.

Top three in women age groups was Taylor McArthur, 17, of Orange Park, second in 1:51:47.

Next races up are the Hellcat 50k and 10k at the Military Museum of North Florida in Green Cove Springs on January 9 (8am 10k start, 7am 50k start) and the Florida Striders Resolution Run 5k and 10k runs also on January 9 at the bestbet of Orange Park race track with the 10k/5k start at 8:30 a.m. and a one mile fun run at 10:30 a.m.