Welcome to Lincoln.

Sunday's winners in the 32nd Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half-Marathon were new to the event, one that attracted a record 6,558 runners.

"Lincoln has such a great reputation, I had to run here, and I had a ball," said Matt Dewald, a Vermillion, S.D., runner who won the men's marathon in a near-record time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, 37 seconds.

"The cops were great, the guy riding a bike alongside was phenomenal and this city made me feel like running my best," Dewald said.

The same feeling hit women's marathon winner Ashley Tousley.

"I had so much fun here," the Des Moines, Iowa, native said. "Friends had been talking to me about running here, and it was perfect. I've been in the lead of the Des Moines marathon twice, but got sick both times and didn't win.

"This is my first win and I feel great. Must be my day and my kind of town," said Tousley, who will graduate from Drake Law School in two weeks.

For Dewald, a 26-year-old physical therapist, the victory was a sweet return to distance racing.

He had taken about six months off, recovering from a hernia, and returned to competitive running just five weeks ago - at a road race in Lincoln.

"I really struggled after taking the time off, but I do that a lot and then fight it when I decide to run again," he said. "I train and train and run 120 miles a week and I hate it and I get bored.

"I need the competition."

Dewald beat former University of South Dakota teammate Matt Hoyt by more than four minutes and Omahan Jason Probasco by nearly eight minutes.

"I never got lonely because we make a loop at about the 20-mile mark and I could see Matt (Hoyt) coming, and we gave each other a thumbs-up sign," Dewald said.

Some joking, and plenty of encouragement, kept Tousley going. She ran even with three-time champion Christy Nielsen through the first 14 miles.

"We were cheering the clouds to stay in front of the sun, running relaxed and telling each other to keep pushing hard," said Nielsen, a physical therapist from Omaha.

"We were flying - even with the half-marathon women - but the sun popped out for good by the 20-mile mark, and I couldn't see Ashley any more," Nielsen said. "Too hot for me."

Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.