Photos of Tortoitich, Olaru and finish area by Victah Sailer of PhotoRun.net; photo of Moeser by Kathy Freedman.

Haron Toroitich of Kenya was the men's winner Sunday morning (Sept. 5, 2004) in Virginia Beach at the fourth annual Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in the closest finish in race history, earning a special Elite Racing $25,000 bonus in addition to the regular first-place check of $12,000. Both Toroitich and runner- up Joshua Chelanga were timed in 1:01:55, the second fastest time in race history (bettered only by Martin Lel's course record 1:01:27 from 2003).

Women's winner Nuta Olaru of Romania came back from a disappointing 13th-place Athens Olympic Marathon finish to a runaway victory for the women, finishing in 1:10:50. Olaru had wanted to contend for the medal positions in Athens, but had stomach problems she attributed to drinking hot water that had been left out all day in the 90+ degree heat on the historic course.

There has yet to be a close finish for the women at the Rock 'n' Roll Half, with the smallest margin of victory thus far the 28-second win by Athens Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Drossin (Kastor), who won the inaugural race in 2001 in 1:10:08. This year's margin of 2:08 by Nuta Olaru (photo left) was similar to the 2:10 margin by 2003 winner and course-record holder Margaret Okayo of Kenya (1:09:17). Although they didn't take the $12,000 top prize, Japanese women dominated the top spots this year with the 2-3-5-6 finish of Ai Yamamoto (1:12:58), Kiyoko Shimahara (1:13:05), Miho Ichikawa (1:14:25) and Akane Taira (1:15:01). Kenya's Beatrice Omwanza was the only other female under 1:15 with her fourth-place 1:14:03. Olaru used the race as a tune-up for the Chicago Marathon October 10.

While Olaru had her disappointment at Athens two weeks before Rock 'n Roll, men's runner-up Joshua Chelanga had an even more negative experience around the same time. In Kenya he was driving a vehicle owned by Paul Tergat (the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll winner in 1:01:59), and was carjacked by a group of machete- wielding criminals who stole both the vehicle and the $10,000 he had just earned in a race in Puerto Rico. Chelanga was quoted in the Virginian Pilot, "It's a blessing to get any money back. I wasn't really worried about winning; I came here to prepare for Berlin [the Berlin Marathon Sept. 26]."

There was another good reason that Chelanga wasn't worried about winning. Chelanga and Toroitich both compete for Fila, and were wearing identical red Fila uniforms and shoes as they sprinted side-by-side to the finish. They are both represented by Federico Rosa of Italy and Team Rosa Management. After winning the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Phoenix in January, Toroitich knew that another 2004 win at any of the other Elite Racing musical races (Country Music Marathon in April in Nashville, Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego in June, or the Virginia Beach race) would earn him a $25,000 bonus, and it's certain that Chelanga knew that too. Once they dropped Laban Kipkemboi (who has different representation with the Kim McDonald International Management agency) after 10 miles, it would have been a monumental mistake for Chelanga to deprive his good friend and fellow Kenyan of a chance for the $25,000 bonus.

Kipkemboi finished third in 1:02:25, followed by Yusuf Songoka (1:03:22), Christopher Cheboiboch (1:03:32), pre-race favorite Paul Kosgei (1:03:54, who had knee problems) and William Chebon (1:04:02). The top seven men were all from Kenya.

The race for the Hampton Road prize money ($500-$250) was close, with Billy Edwards, 26 of Virginia Beach (1:12:42), pulling away from John Piggott, 39, of Hampton (1:13:08), while Mary Davison, 31, of Chesapeake (1:27:24) outlasted Leisa Ensle, 46, of Virginia Beach (1:27:48). The masters winners ($1,000 each) were Chuck Moeser, 52, of Sterling (1:18:51, photo left) and Susan Loken of Phoenix, AZ (1:20:41).

There were 17,000 entrants, the second largest half marathon in the U.S. The open prize money went ten deep--$12,000, $7000, $5000, $3000, $2000, $1500, $1000, $750, $600 and $500.

Top Ten Finishers

Men
1, Haron Toroitich, 26, Kenya, 1:01:55, $37,000*
2, Joshua Chelanga, 31, Kenya, 1:01:55, $7,000
3, Laban Kipkemboi, 26, Kenya, 1:02:25, $5,000
4, Yusuf Songoka, 25, Kenya, 1:03:22, $3,000
5, Christopher Cheboiboch, 27, Kenya, 1:03:32, $2,000
6, Paul Kosgei, 26, Kenya, 1:03:54, $1,500
7, William Chebon, 26, Kenya, 1:04:02, $1,000
8, Silvestor Mokeko, 34, RSA, 1:04:42, $750
9, Nephat Kinyanjui, 27, Kenya, 1:04:43, $600
10, Yoshihiro Yamamoto, 21, JPN, 1:04:51, $500


Women
1, Nuta Olaru, 34, ROM, 1:10:50, $12,000
2, Ai Yamamoto, 26, JPN, 1:12:58, $7,000
3, Kiyoko Shimahara, 27, JPN, 1:13:05, $5,000
4, Beatrice Omanza, 30, KEN, 1:14:03, $3,000
5, Miho Ichikawa, 31, JPN, 1:14:25, $2,000
6, Akane Taira, 21, JPN, 1:15:01, $1,500
7, Elena Orlova, 34, RUS, 1:15:29, $1,000
8, Anastasia Ndereba, 29, KEN, 1:15:30, $750
9, Gladys Asiba, 27, KEN, 1:15:51, $600
10, Anuta Catuna, 34, ROM, 1:17:17, $500

See complete results of the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

See the official press release from the race.

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