Virginia Beach, VA, (August 31, 2003) - The men's race rocked for 11 miles while the women's competition rolled early at the third Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon at historic Virginia Beach, Virginia this Labor Day weekend 2003. It was another big day for the Kenyan all-stars as Martin Lel's 61:27 course record led a Kenyan sweep through 10th place on the men's side, and Margaret Okayo's 69:17 course record towed country woman Margaret Atodonyang (photo left) into second for the women. Both Lel and Okayo earned $12,000 for their victories, and an additional $1,000 for their records on a humid, but overcast morning along the Atlantic Ocean.

"I was not thinking about winning the race," admitted Lel after knocking 22 seconds off Paul Tergat's one year- old course mark. "At nine miles I was hoping just to be in the top six. Then I thought maybe I can make the top four. But I was comfortable the whole way, and the crowd really helped. When you are tired they help you to be strong again."

As the pack turned onto the boardwalk for the final two miles, Lel unleashed consecutive 4:32 miles to break away from the pack of six which had congealed at 10 miles heading up Atlantic Avenue.

"He began to sprint very hard as we turned onto the boardwalk," laughed runner-up Paul Koech. "I said, 'that is not for me.' Maybe in 1997, but not today." Koech finished 30 seconds back in second, good for $7,000. It was Lel's second major half-marathon victory of 2003 as he added Rock 'n' Roll to his Lisbon victory in March.

It only took the starter's command to go for Margaret Okayo to take complete control of the women's race. As the 15-woman elite field departed the starting line 15 minutes ahead of the men, Okayo established a rhythm that none but Margaret Atodonyang was willing or able to match. Miles one and two fell in 5:06 and 5:05. By that time Okayo already had a 27-second advantage on the chase pack with Atodonyang lingering in no-man's land between. With each passing mile Okayo's advantage swelled.

"I was just going," said Okayo of her tactics. "I didn't know if it was too fast or too slow. But I came here to see if I'm in form for the New York City Marathon, and now I know that I am."

By 10 kilometers she had developed an insurmountable 55-second advantage over Tatiana Khmeleva of Russia, runner up in the Rock 'n' Roll Half 2002, Margaret Atodonyang, third in 2002, Lidia Simon of Romania, the Olympic Marathon silver medal winner in Sydney 2000--who is returning to form after giving birth to her first child, Christian in December--and Ludmila Biktasheva of Russia who had won five major road titles in the 2003 season, including last weekend's Crim 10 Miler in Flint, Michigan.

At the finish, Okayo's 55-second margin had ballooned to 2:10, while Lel made his entire winning margin over the final two miles. Both champions will next compete at the New York City Marathon on November 2nd.

Chad Johnson of New Salisbury, Indiana won the wheelchair race in a time of 54:12.

More than 15,000 runners joined the champions at the third annual Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, including nearly 700 from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program. Sixteen cheer squads and 20 bands entertained the runners along their journey. National recording artists the Goo Goo Dolls performed in front of thousands on the beachfront stage along the historic Virginia Beach boardwalk.

Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
August 31, 2003
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Top 10 Men
1, Martin Lel, 25, Kenya, 1:01:27, $13,000*
2, Paul Koech, 34, Kenya, 1:01:57, $7,000
3, Japhet Kosgei, 35, Kenya, 1:02:06, $5,000
4, Evans Rutto, 25, Kenya, 1:02:08, $3,000
5, James Kosgei, 34, Kenya, 1:02:27, $2,000
6, Raymond Kipkoech, 25, Kenya, 1:02:38, $1,500
7, Haron Toroitich, 25, Kenya, 1:02:47, $1,000
8, Wilson Kipkemboi, 23, Kenya, 1:03:08, $750
9, John Gwako, 25, Kenya, 1:03:28, $600
10, Ben Kimutai, 32, Kenya, 1:03:37, $500

Top 10 Women
1, Margaret Okayo, 27, Kenya, 1:09:17, $13,000*
2, Margaret Atodonyang, 24, Kenya, 1:11:27, $7,000
3, Tatiana Khmeleva, 24, Russia, 1:11:38, $5,000
4, Lidia Simon, 29, Romania, 1:11:58, $3,000
5, Kayoko Obata, 31, Japan, 1:12:39, $2,000
6, Ludmila Biktasheva, 29, Russia, 1:12:47, $1,500
7, Yasuko Hashimoto, 26, Japan, 1:12:52, $1,000
8, Anuta Catuna, 34, Romania, 1:13:09, $750
9, Iulia Olteanu, 36, Romania, 1:13:10, $600
10, Liodmila Kortchaguina, 32, Russia, 1:13:34, $500

* - includes $1,000 course record bonus