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COLUMBIA (WACH) - Justin Gillette has won the the 2013 Columbia Marathon.

The Indiana man posted the best overall time in the field and also won the men's division.

Carolyn Mandy Hart from Chapel, Hill, NC, was the first woman to finish in the race.

Thousands of runners pounded the pavement in the second annual race on Saturday. The race started on Sumter Street in downtown Columbia at 7:30am and also included a half-marathon, 5K and marathon relay.

Last years inaugural marathon started and ended near the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, but the course was altered this year because the circus is in town at the nearby Colonial Life Arena. The move was made to reduce traffic concerns in that area.

Runners ran out of downtown Columbia, looped into Forest Acres and Shandon and raced down Main Street to the finish line at the corner of Main and Gervais Street.

The marathon weekend also included a health and fitness expo on Friday where the latest in running gear, sports apparel and health and nutritional information was on display.

The Columbia Marathon is a qualifier for the world-famous Boston Marathon.