Meb Keflezighi Wins 2010 Rock N Roll San Jose Half Marathon in 1:01:45
by: Rock N Roll San Jose
October 3, 2010
*Reigning NYC Marathon Champion defends San
Jose title and sets sights on November
*U.S. Olympian Blake Russell wins womens
race
*Field of more than 13,000 entrants
includes Bay Area superstars Roger Craig
& Brandi Chastain
San Jose, CA - October 3, 2010- On a perfect autumn morning in the Bay Area, reigning New York City Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi successfully defended his title at the 2010 Rock n Roll San Jose Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 1 minute and 45 seconds.
Keflezighi, with Mammoth Track Club teammate Patrick Smyth pacing, opened up a lead within the first three miles, hitting the 5K mark at 14:20. He never looked back, keeping a significant lead straight to the finish. As he looks ahead to the ING New York City Marathon on November 7, the 2009 champion of both races says he is hoping for a double repeat performance.
I felt strong and maintained, Keflezighi said. My training is coming along as planned and I hope it goes the same. This is the race I really enjoy though. New York will be all business.
Teammates Brian Medigovich and Paul Hefferon, representing the Hansons Brooks Distance Project of Rochester Hills, Michigan, came in second and third, running 1:04:55 and 1:05:55, respectively.
Blake Russell, who represented the U.S. in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics, made a successful return to racing after the birth of her first child, winning the womens race in a swift 1:11:55.
Its so exciting because its hard to win a race as an elite and you really learn to cherish it, she said. It was a learning experience and definitely mentally tougher than I expected but you keep pushing. The course was great and the music and spectators definitely helped.
She took the lead early and said she achieved her goal of staying under a 5:30 pace. Coming in behind Russell were 49-year-old Linda Somers Smith (1:13:31) and Rachel Booth (1:14:46).
The sold-out half marathon celebrated its 5th anniversary with 13,000 participants, the largest field in the races history. Thousands of spectators joined in the fun, cheering enthusiastically along the course. The day was capped off with a post-race concert in Plaza de Cesar Chavez by the platinum selling band Blues Traveler.
Race founder and three-time Superbowl champion Roger Craig took part, running a 1:45:25. Taking in the scene, Craig expressed pride at the events growth over the past 5 years.
The energy out there today was amazing, he said. It was a smooth race and I talked to so many runners who were impressed with how well organized it was. Its really neat to see this city embracing the event. San Jose knows how to party.
Next year Dodge will become title sponsor of the races sixth edition. The 2011 Dodge Rock n Roll San Jose Half Marathon is set for Sunday, October 2.
2010 Rock n Roll San Jose Results
Top Five Male Finishers
Place Name Age Hometown Time
1 Meb Keflezighi 35 Mammoth Lakes,
CA 1:01:45
2 Brian Medigovich 23 Rochester
Hills, MI 1:04:55
3 Paul Hefferon 24 Rochester Hills, MI 1:05:55
4 Daniel Tapia 22 Castroville, CA 1:06:46
5 Kevin Castille 38 Lafayette,
LA 1:06:47
Top Five Female Finishers
Place Name Age Hometown Time
1 Blake Russell 35 Pacific
Grove, CA 1:11:55
2 Linda Somers-Smith 49 Arroyo Grande, CA 1:13:31
3 Rachel Booth 29 Mountain View, CA 1:14:46
4 Annie Bersagel 27 Stanford,
CA 1:16:28
5 Lauren Johnson 31 Palo Alto, CA 1:16:43
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