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From Julie Armstrong
MONTEREY, Calif. - (November 11, 2007) - Kenyan runners who train together in Santa Fe, New Mexico with the AmeriKenyan Running Camp conquered an impressive professional field in the Fifth Presentation of the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay Sunday morning. Over 5,000 runners were faced with cool temperatures and very brisk winds at the 7:00am start in downtown Monterey.
The 13.1-mile footrace took off under partly cloudy and windy skies, but the sun broke through for a glorious morning. The course traveled through historic Monterey, Cannery Row and along the scenic coastline of Pacific Grove. Runners traveled from all 50 states and 9 countries to compete. Twenty "elite" runners competed for prize money and prestige in a race that is quickly becoming known as one of the top half-marathons in the country.
Macdonald Ondara of Kenya, winner of the recent Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, battled with 2004 Big Sur Half Marathon champion Michael Aish (New Zealand) until mile ten when Ondara pulled ahead. Ondara crossed the finish line at 1 hour, 4 minutes with Aish just eight seconds back.
The women's field found Caroline Cheptanui of Kenya opening up an insurmountable lead by mile seven, finishing in 1:15:59. Jane Kibii (Kenya) and Heather Gibson (USA) were close at hand and finished at 1:16:26 and 1:16:46, respectively.
The annual race, sprung from the prestigious and long-running Big Sur International Marathon just five years ago, includes the Half Marathon, a 10 Mile Walk and the Run Forrest Run 5K. In addition, this year marked the first ever JUST RUN!® Just Kids 3K race drawing 700 children and their parents as part of the annual Half Marathon weekend.
Key sponsors for the race include ASICS, Runner's World, Saab, Rabobank, Granite Construction and media sponsors KSBW, KWAV and the Monterey Herald.
5th Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay - Monterey, CA, Sunday, November 11, 2007
MEN
1) Macdonald Ondara (KEN), 1:04:00, $2000
2) Michael Aish (NZL), 1:04:08, $1000
3) Fernando Cabada (USA / CA), 1:06:55, $800
4) Joseph Mutinda (KEN), 1:07:05, $600
5) Kevin Castille (USA / CA), 1:07:54, $400
6) Ben Bruce (USA / CA), 1:08:04, $200
MASTERS MEN (40+)
1) Jeff Magallanes, 45, CA, 1:18:34, $500
WOMEN
1) Caroline Cheptanui (KEN), 1:15:59, $2000
2) Jane Kibii (KEN), 1:16:26, $1000
3) Heather Gibson (USA / CA), 1:16:46, $800
4) Rebecca Tallam (KEN), 1:17:25, $600
5) Brooke Wells (USA / CA), 1:19:31, $400
6) Mary Coordt (USA / CA), 1:21:29, $200
MASTERS WOMEN (40+)
1) Christine Kennedy, 52, IRL / CA, 1:25:57, $500
More race results at: BSIM.org.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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