James Carney and Kate O'Neill Win First USA Titles at 2008 Aramco Houston Half-Marathon By David Monti (c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
HOUSTON
(13-Jan) -- James Carney and Kate O'Neill got their 2008 racing
campaigns off to a flying start by winning their first-ever USA titles
at today's Aramco Houston Half-Marathon here.
Carney, from
Boulder, Colo., ran boldly for a man who had never run a half-marathon
before. He launched to the lead through the first mile, and by the
four-mile mark only Jason Lehmkule and Ryan Kirkpatrick were able to
hang on to Carney's pace.
"I decided to take it out hard and
hold on as long as I can," said Carney just after crossing the finish
line and being presented with a massive silver belt buckle. He added:
"If I blow up, I blow up."
Through five miles (8 km) in 23:42,
the three were still together, but Carney pushed the pace hard in the
sixth mile, running a 4:36. Kirkpatrick slipped back quickly and began
running alone, while Lehmkuhle was just drifted off the pace by a few
strides. He was still within striking distance, but Carney was running
strong.
"He was just pouring it on," said Lehkmuhle. "I was just trying to hang on."
Carney
hit the 10-K in 29:18, and by the 10 mile mark (47:11) he had a 12
second lead. However, he was still a little worried about Lehmkuhle.
"I told myself if he beats me, he beats me," said Carney who banked a $12,000 payday. "He's going to have to run fast."
With
his form still crisp, Carney rolled to the finish in 1:02:21, an
excellent debut over the distance. Lehmkuhle crossed next in 1:02:32,
a personal best, followed by a surprising Steve Sundell in third in
1:03:21, also a personal best. Kirkpatrick faded to seventh in
1:03:54. One of the prerace favorites, Dan Browne, ran in the second
pack early in the race, but faded to 17th in 1:05:38.
O'NEILL DOMINATES WOMEN'S RACE
The
women's race was supposed to be a battle between O'Neill, Blake Russell
and Elva Dryer. But Russell never came to Houston because of an
injury, and Dryer, who was struggling midway through the race, was
forced to drop out. The race quickly became O'Neill, a 2004 Olympian
at 10,000m, against the clock.
"I was running pretty scared for
the last few (miles)," said O'Neill at the post-race press conference
wearing an enormous cowboy hat presented to the race winners. "The
wind was picking up; I was just working as hard as I could."
O'Neill,
who was second here last year, was a little disappointed that her
finish time of 1:11:57 did not lower her personal best, but she was
elated to have won her first U.S. title at any distance. "This is my
first championship so I'm excited," she said. "I'll run a fast time
another day."
Running a very strong second half, Desiree Davila
of the Brooks Hansons team, ran a huge personal best 1:12:10 in second
place. However, it was the third place finisher, Serena Burla, who
really gave the rest of the field a shock. The tiny runner, who
formerly competed for the University of Missouri as Serena Ramsey, ran
1:12:22 in her debut to finish third, getting the best of Nicole Aish
(1:12:30) in the final miles of the race. Kristin Nicolini Lehmkuhle,
Jason Lehmkuhle's wife, rounded out the top-5 in 1:12:58. Nine of the
top-10 women set career best times.
*Deeeper Race Results here Top Results: MEN - 1. James Carney, 1:02:21 DB 2. Jason Lehkmuhle, 1:02:32 PB 3. Steve Sundell, 1:03:21 PB 4. Fernando Cabada, 1:03:41 5. Patrick Gildea, 1:03:43 PB 6. Rod Koborsi, 1:03:53 DB 7. Ryan Kirkpatrick, 1:03:54 DB 8. Josh Simpson, 1:03:54 PB 9. Dylan Wykes, CAN, 1:03:54 PB 10. Matt Gabrielson, 1:04:07
WOMEN - 1. Kate O'Neill, 1:11:57 2. Desiree Davila, 1:12:10 PB 3. Serena Burla, 1:12:22 DB 4. Nicole Aish, 1:12:30 DB 5. Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle, 1:12:58 DB 6. Kathy Newberry, 1:12:59 PB 7. Tera Moody, 1:13:05 PB 8. Dot McMahan, 1:13:10 PB 9. Zoila Gomez, 1:13:11 PB 10. Melissa White, 1:13:13 PB