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Deena Kastor Wins P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon Women's Title
Ethiopians Terefe Yae, Teyba Naser Win Marathon Titles
From Running USA by Dan Cruz, Competitor GroupJanuary 19, 2010
Phoenix, AZ
U.S. record holder and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor returned to the winner's circle for the first time in ten months at the 7th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon on Sunday morning, January 17. Kastor (36) set an Arizona state record with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 43 seconds, ending the longest dry spell of her career.
"This race solidifies that my training has been going well," said Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, CA after her victory that smashed the 15-year-old state record of 1:13:39 set by Marie Boyd in Tucson. "Running sub 1:10 off this training makes me excited about my next phase going into the London Marathon in April. Today was the first time in a couple of years I felt like my old self running again."
Kastor, who broke her foot during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon and spent the remainder of 2008 recovering, ran an aggressive first mile in 4:54 and was on U.S. record pace through four miles before a stubborn headwind and lack of competition slowed her in the second half. Reigning U.S. marathon champion Ilsa Paulson of New York City finished a disappointing second in 1:17:04, well off her 1:13:20 personal best.
In the men's half-marathon, U.S. record holder Ryan Hall was upset by Simon Bairu, the 2009 Canadian national champion at 5000m on the track and 10K on the roads. Running in only his second half-marathon, Bairu shadowed the more experienced Hall throughout the race. As the route turned right onto Desert Drive at 10 miles, the 26-year-old Bairu dropped the hammer with a 4:42 eleventh mile that left Hall 26 seconds behind his wake. By the time he reached the finish line at Arizona State University, Bairu's lead had swelled to 1:21. His winning time of 1:02:47 was a 23 second personal best.
Hall (27) is scheduled to run the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in six weeks for his final tune up before the Boston Marathon, where he took third in 2009.
In the men's marathon, Ethiopia's Terefe Yae notched his second P.F. Chang's title, adding the 2010 crown to his 2007 victory. Yae (29) finished in 2:12:41, 15 seconds ahead of Kenya's Christopher Kipyego (2:12:56). Jeff Eggleston of Flagstaff, AZ made a successful marathon debut running 2:14:32, good for sixth place as the top American. Eggleston's performance qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
In the women's race, fellow Ethiopian Teyba Naser (23) set a course record with her marathon debut in 2:30:39. Yea and Naser earned $17,500 each for their marathon victories. Arizona's Alvina Begay was the top American in 2:37:14, good for fifth overall. Begay, who trains with the McMillan Elite in Flagstaff, bettered her PR by more than five minutes and was one of eight Americans in the marathon who qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials.
"The Rock 'n' Roll races are always so much fun and this event embodies a celebration of fitness and running," remarked Deena Kastor. "There are thousands of people here that are so enthusiastic and really put it out on the line today; it was an incredible weekend to be a part of."
Senator John McCain fired the starting gun for the marathon and half-marathon that attracted more then 32,000 entrants and had live bands, cheerleaders and themed water stations entertaining runners along each mile of the route. The event began at 6:30am with the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Ultra, a special 50K competition hosted by Dean Karnazes, that was won by Michael Labrecque and Zoe Bellinghausen in 3:24:02 and 4:06:35 respectively; 148 runners finished the 50K.
The eighth edition of the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and Half Marathon is set for Sunday, January 16, 2011.
7th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe, AZ, Sunday, January 17, 2010
Men
1) Terefe Yae (ETH), 2:12:41, $17,500
2) Chris Kipyego (KEN), 2:12:56, $10,000
3) Meshack Kirwa (KEN), 2:13:06, $5000
4) Wegayhu Girma (ETH), 2:13:16, $3000
5) Christopher Torotich (KEN), 2:13:56, $2000
6) Jeff Eggleston (USA / AZ), 2:14:32, $1500
Women
1) Teyba Naser (ETH), 2:30:39, $17,500
2) Meseret Legese (ETH), 2:33:01, $10,000
3) Olena Shurkhno (UKR), 2:33:15, $5000
4) Selomie Getnet (ETH), 2:35:26, $3000
5) Alvina Begay (USA / AZ), 2:37:14, $3500*
*includes top U.S. prize
7th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 1/2 Marathon
Men
1) Simon Bairu (CAN), 1:02:47
2) Ryan Hall (CA), 1:04:08
3) Luke Humphrey (MI), 1:06:02
Women
1) Deena Kastor (CA), 1:09:43
2) Ilsa Paulson (NY), 1:17:04
3) Addie Bracy (NC), 1:18:47
Complete results and more at http://arizona.competitor.com