Blue Ridge Marathon overall winner did it in record time

“It was the Peakwood conspiracy,” he laughed. “People kept saying, you’re almost to the top.”

Though the top seemed to take forever to reach, Powers got the proverbial last laugh, surviving Peakwood and the fastest field in the race’s four years to capture the overall win in record time.

His time of 2:39:48 came on the race’s most difficult “flood” course, which was implemented earlier in the week because race organizers were concerned about the possible impact of high water in the Roanoke River on parts of the regular course.

Abu Diriba, a native of Ethiopia who lives in Annandale, was second in 2:41:20.

Heather Wesolovski of Astoria, N.Y., was the women’s winner in 3:23.44, about 10 minutes clear of runner-up Natalie St. John, an 18-year-old Virginia Tech student.

Roanoke’s Sarah Glenn won the women’s half-marathon for the third consecutive year, chopping 24 seconds off her own course record to finish in 1:29:17.

Bradley Adams of Knoxville, Tenn., won the men’s half-marathon in a record time of 1:20:06.

The event drew nearly 1,700 entries — the biggest field in the race’s history.

Five days after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, many runners paid homage to the race in Boston, wearing Boston Marathon shirts and jackets, special ribbons and wristbands emblazoned with the words “Running for Boston.”

“I’m really touched by it,” said Joe Cutrufo, a runner from Boston who traveled to Saturday’s marathon with his wife. “It’s really nice to see the outpouring of support for my city.”

The marathon also featured an increased police presence, which many runners said made them feel safer.