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Songoka and Ogi Win 10th Anniversary of the Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon
By Brenda Barrera
Virginia Beach, VA
September 5, 2010
For the Washington Running Report
On Saturday, more than 14,750 runners filled the streets of Virginia Beach as part of their traditional Labor Day weekend celebration and to mark the 10th anniversary of the Dodge Rock ‘n' Roll Half Marathon presented by SunTrust. A decade ago, this event launched one of the most popular destination road race series in the country.
Despite an early fear that Hurricane Earl might put a damper on the festivities, the weather conditions could not have been more ideal with race morning start temperatures in the mid-60s and relative low humidity. The elite women's race started 15 minutes prior to the rest of the field at 6:45 a.m. Within the first mile, the top contenders, which included reigning Olympic marathon gold medalist Constantina Dita, set off at a brisk 5:36 pace.
At the halfway mark, Japan's Madoka Ogi, 26, pulled ahead and with no one to challenge her she went on to break the finish line tape in 1:14:17. Ogi was followed by New Zealand's Fiona Docherty. A professional triathlete now focusing on her running career, Docherty is coached by marathon great Steve Jones and she finished in 1:15:39. Russian Lyubov Denisova rounded out the podium in 1:16:45. Dita took the fourth spot in 1:17:20.
A local favorite, Renee High, (photo left) was the top American woman finisher and she set a 30 second PR with her 1:18:05 finish. "It was great!" she beamed. "I'm finally in a good place where I can focus on my racing." Her strategy was to hold onto 10th place and she not only did that, but she placed 8th among the women. Next up for High is the Chicago Half Marathon next weekend.
Alexandria's Lisa Thomas also cracked the top 10 with her 9th place finish in 1:18:50. Thomas said she went out at an even pace but was affected by the stiff headwind when she turned on the Boardwalk toward the finish.
In the men's competition, the top three finishers ran side-by-side at 11.5 miles, but it was Kenyan Yusuf Songoka, 31, who eventually pulled ahead and crossed the finish line first in 1:02:46. After three tries for the top podium spot, this was Songoka's first win. 2007 Chicago Marathon champion Patrick Ivuti, 32, from Kenya was right on his heels finishing in 1:02:51. Tesfaye Sendeku, 23, from Ethiopia was third in 1:03:09.
John Crews, 26, from Raleigh, NC was the top American, finishing 9th overall in 1:06:23. Coming off a recent win at the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon (2:17:51) Crews was pleased with his effort, but it was not quite the time he was hoping for. "My legs felt pretty good early and I was on a decent pace until about mile 7 or 8."
As with most of the runners, the headwind along the Boardwalk was pretty stiff and was a challenge to the otherwise ideal race conditions.
"This was my first Rock ‘n' Roll series race, I'd like to do another one . . . with a little less wind," he added. Crews, who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with this 2:17:15 2009 Philadelphia Marathon, says this was a tune-up for October's Under Armour Baltimore Marathon.
In photo, the top men at the 11-mile mark.
Race Notes
Caravans, Challengers, Chargers, and a Journey: A group of 30 runners from the Dodge brand running team made this a seriously fun and noteworthy road trip. Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of Dodge, Chrysler Group (the new title sponsor of the series) (photo below with Kelly Povilaitis) led a contingency of runners from various company divisions in a caravan that included the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango from Auburn Hills, MI to Virginia Beach, VA. At a pre-race dinner several runners noted they had not known each other prior to this, but they had built a bond over the course of training for the 13.1-mile race and the road trip.
Gilles, 40, who recently took up running, said his goal was to finish in 2:15. He surpassed his goal finishing in a net time 2:10:17. Afterward, he had the look of a runner who you know has caught the bug. "It was much more than I could have anticipated," he exclaimed. "I was moved by the music along the course which provided a positive distraction."
Brenda Mitchell has run this race all ten years and plans on continuing the tradition as long as she is able. "At least until I'm 75-that will be the 25th Anniversary," she said.
There was no resting for top masters John Piggott. After the 45-year-old ran 1:15:56 for second place in his age group, he quickly scooted out of town so he could get to Buffalo, NY in time for Sunday's USA Masters 15K Championships.
Aimee Phillippi-Taylor from Spring Grove, PA who ran for the University of Maryland said she did not taper for this race and used it as a tune-up for October's Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota where she hopes to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
Rick Platt, a WRR contributor and member of the Colonial Road Runners, just turned 60 and had no trouble winning his age group with his net time 1:30:43 finish.
A regular leader in the WRR Runner Rankings for her age division, Betty Blank, 57 from Falls Church, VA won her age group in a net time 1:38:03, beating the next competitor in the 55-59 division by almost four minutes.
There was likely some celebrating at the Williams household. Mel Williams, 72, noted author/researcher and member of the Marine Corps Marathon Hall of Fame, won his age division in a net time 1:46:53 and his wife Jeanne Kruger-Williams, 63, won her division in a net time 1:54:16.
The Dodge Rock ‘n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon presented by SunTrust concluded with a beachfront finish line party and Sunday night concert with Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon.
For more race coverage, be sure to check out the November/December issue of Washington Running Report.