Kenyans McDonald Ondara and Magdalene Makunzi Win Rock n Roll Half Marathon San Jose American Khalid Khannouchi frustrated with results 49er Roger Craig and World Cup Champion Brandi Chastain all smiles after the race by: Elite Racing *Results
SAN JOSE, Calif., (October 14, 2007) Kenyans McDonald Ondara and
Magdalene Makunzi won the second annual Rock n Roll Half Marathon San
Jose on Sunday. Ondara, 23, covered the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 1
minute, 11 seconds. Makunzi, 24, broke the tape in 1:09:58.
The mens race culminated in a sprint to the finish as Ondara, who led
the majority of the race, beat the 27-year-old Tanzanian John Yuda by
just seconds.
I was sort of afraid of him, said Ondara of his closest competitor
Yuda. It was very hard to predict, Ondara added about planning his
final kick.
Yuda managed a smile as he clutched his ribs after the finish from an apparent side stitch.
It was a good race, Yuda said. The course was quick.
After mile three, the mens lead pack began to thin out, gradually
dropping American Khalid Khannouchi. The four-time Chicago Marathon
champion was clearly frustrated with his 1:05:04 finish time.
It was a great day for the race, Khannouchi said. But, this is not what I expected. I thought I would run 1:03:00.
Despite his criticism of todays performance, Khannouchi, 35, who used
the Rock n Roll Half Marathon as a tune-up for next months U.S.
Olympic Team Trials - Mens Marathon in New York City, remained
optimistic about his preparation for the November 3 race.
Its in me, Khannouchi said. I will have to go home and work on my speed. Im running against time now.
Makunzi dominated the womens race, finishing more than a minute faster than second place Megumi Oshima from Japan.
After five kilometers I pushed, said Makunzi. I looked behind and
they had dropped back. I was thinking of a time of 68:00, but I am
happy with today. Makunzis finishing time was a personal best by
seven seconds.
Former San Francisco 49er Roger Craig and two-time World Cup champion
Brandi Chastain both completed the half-marathon in 1:40:36 and 1:43:33
respectively. The two Bay Area all-stars began the race together and
laughed as they exchanged stories from the course at the finish line.
This race was great because it was home, said Chastain, 39, a native
of San Jose. The last race (half-marathon) I ran was 14 years ago, and
Im proud and excited to say that I ran faster today than I did then.
Both Craig and Chastain said they plan to return to the Rock n Roll Half Marathon next year.
J.T. Service, who will also compete in the Olympic Trials with
Khannouchi, was the top San Jose finisher for the second year in a row
in a time of 1:07:28. Dina Rosenthal was the first female finisher from
San Jose. Both earned $500 for their efforts.
The top San Francisco Bay Area finishers, also earning $500, were Scott
Bauhs, 21 (1:03:04) from Danville and Michelle Gallagher, 21, (1:16:37)
from San Mateo.
In the masters division (age 40 and over), Francis Wanderi, 41, from
Santa Clara won on the mens side, earning $500. The first woman was
L.J. Egbert, 42, from Phoenix, Ariz., also taking home $500.
Saturn SKY Led Rock n Roll Half Marathon
The Saturn SKY roadster led the professional athletes as the official
vehicle of the Rock n Roll Half Marathon San Jose. To discover
Saturn, please visit your local Saturn retailer or www.Saturn.com
About the Rock n Roll Half Marathon San Jose Californias fastest half-marathon
The Rock n Roll Half Marathon will welcome more than 13,000 runners
and walkers to the streets of San Jose on Sun., Oct. 5, 2008. In
addition to 16 live bands along the course, the scenic tour of San Jose
features hundreds of local high school cheerleaders and water stations
to provide further entertainment and motivation to runners and walkers.
The event concludes with a finish line party and an afternoon headliner
concert featuring a premier rock n roll act. In 2006, three men and
four women in the professional field ran under the old California state
record times of 1:02:06 for the men and 1:11:16 for the women.
2007 Rock n Roll Half Marathon Results
TOP 10 MEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. McDonald Ondara, 23, Kenya, 1:01:11, $8,000
2. John Yuda, 27, Tanzania, 1:01:13, $5,000
3. Hillary Kipchumba, 22, Kenya, 1:01:32, $3,000 4. Tom Nyariki, 36, Kenya, 1:02:17, $2,000
5. Charles Munyeki, 19, Kenya, 1:02:58, $1,500
6. Scott Bauhs, 21, Danville, CA, 1:03:04, $1,250
7. Daniel Kipkoech, 28, Kenya, 1:03:15, $1,000
8. Boaz Cheboiywo, 29, Kenya, 1:03:41, $750
9. George Misoi, 23, Kenya, 1:04:14, $600
10. Joseph Ngetich, 14, Kenya, 1:04:17, $500
TOP 10 WOMEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. Magdalene Makunzi, 24, Kenya, 1:09:58, $8,000
2. Megumi Oshima, 31, Japan, 1:11:14, $5,000
3. Everlyne Lagat, 26, Kenya, 1:11:35, $3,000
4. Rose Kosgei, 26, Kenya, 1:12:42, $2,000
5. Caroline Cheptanui, 23, Kenya, 1:12:49, $1,500
6. Maria Elena Valencia, 24, Kenya, 1:13:26, $1,250
7. Melissa White, 26, USA, 1:13:41, $1,000
8. Anne Jelegat, 38, Kenya, 1:13:44, $750
9. Dot McMahon, 30, USA, 1:14:51, $600
10. Jane Kibii, 22, Kenya, 1:16:11, $500
TOP MASTERS MEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. Francis Wanderi, 41, Santa Clara, CA, 1:10:01, $500
2. John Thornell, 43, Santa Fe, NM, 1:13:26, $250
TOP MASTERS WOMEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. LJ Egbert, 42, Arizona, 1:24:29, $500
2. Katelyn Johnson, 42, Oakland, CA, 1:24:51, $250
TOP SAN JOSE MEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. JT Service, 26 San Jose, 1:07:28, $500
2. Jose Pina, 37, San Jose, 1:14:30, $250
TOP SAN JOSE WOMEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. Dina Rosenthal, 35, San Jose, 1:27:20, $500
2. Michele Rowic, 33, San Jose, 1:29:19, $250
TOP BAY AREA MEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. Scott Bauhs, 21 Danville, CA, 1:03:04, $500
2. Lenin Zapata, 23, Santa Clara, 1:07:19, $250
TOP BAY AREA WOMEN
NAME, AGE, LOCATION, TIME, PRIZE
1. Michelle Gallagher, 21, Daly City, 1:16:37, $500
2. Kelly Couch, 29, San Mateo, 1:18:21, $250
About Elite Racing, Inc.
Celebrating 10 years as the originator of the Rock n Roll Marathon,
Elite Racing, Inc. is a sports marketing and management company, and
the leading producer of world-class road racing events for runners and
walkers throughout the United States. Based in San Diego, Calif., the
company has grown to manage seven musically themed marathons and
half-marathons including the Rock n Roll Marathon in San Diego,
Calif., the P.F. Changs Rock n Roll Arizona Marathon & ½
Marathon in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, the Country Music Marathon
and ½ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock n Roll Marathon & ½
Marathon in San Antonio, TX., the Philadelphia Distance Run and the
Rock n Roll Half Marathons in Virginia Beach, Va. and San Jose,
Calif. Each event features a live band on entertainment stages and
cheerleaders at every mile along the course. Events attract between
13,000 and 35,000 participants.
