Photos by Lainey Bernstein

In top photo, the elite runners have already passed by as the second of twenty-five corrals explodes onto the course.

With twenty bands and 750 cheerleaders pumping up the more than 20,000 entrants to the seventh Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, no one would entirely steal the show. After the wheelchair start, the elite women started at 6:45 am. Six different women had won the race, including Deena Drossin the first year in 1:10:08. She was the last American woman to finish in the top ten the following year in 1:12:32 (5th). While Kenya and Ethiopia always have strong challengers, Japan has been making a big presence. They have had thirteen top ten finishes in the first six years. In 2006, Edna Kiplagat of Kenya had won in 1:11:08 with the slowest winning time on the course. Four of the elite runners starting were from Japan, including twins Yoko Miyauchi (1:12:17- 6th) and Hiroko Miyaunchi (1:12:29 - 8th) in 2006.

A pack of four runners hit the beach together with Kiplagat determined to be the first repeat winner. Akane Wakita (19) of Japan briefly took the lead before Kiplagat swept away from the field with a 5:05 final mile. Her 1:11:14 was the slowest winning time. Wakita (in photo she holds up two fingers for her place and victory). Wakita crushed the Virginia state record set earlier in the year by Aurora Scott at 1:17:25. Scott (17) of Chesapeake, VA was top teen (and American) last year with 1:18:17. Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia was third in 1:11:39, making it a three country awards platform. The Miyauchi twins moved up to 5th and 7th places. Kakoko Obata (35) made the fourth Japanese woman in the top ten with 1:14:36. She had been eighth overall the in 2001. Cheryl Anderson of Richmond, VA was the top American this year with 1:18:29 for 12th place.

Susan Loken (44) of Phoenix, AZ was the masters champion in 1:21:49. From Virginia Beach, the next two spots went to age group winners Anne Spillane (40) in 1:27:22 and Leisa Ensle (49) in 1:27:50. The grandmaster winner is Ofelia Perotti, the new top dog of her division. She ran 1:33:30 but her chip time was 1:30:21 for the fastest Best of 2007 time. The Virginia State records use chip times so Betty Brothers (60) of Virginia Beach, VA eclipses the old record of 1:50:14 set by Sandra Powers in March of this year. Brothers ran 1:57:15 with a 1:49:45 chip time. Lorraine Cephus of Cherry Hill, NJ became the first women in the 75-79 division to finish a half marathon in the state. The oldest woman was Lois Creamer (82) of Richmond, VA.

Haron Torotitich (29) of Kenya is a seasoned veteran. He finished seventh behind Paul Koeach (with a 60:01 PR) and Martin Lel (with a 2:06:41 marathon PR), running 62:47. The following year he won the race in a photo finish 61:55, a mere breath ahead of Joshua Chelanga. That year Yusuf Songoka joined the fray with a fourth place finish in 63:22. In 2005, Songoka ran 61:56 for third as the course record was set in 60:42. Last year the times were the slowest of all and Songoka, again third, got even closer to the leaders with 63:52. The winner was James Kwambai in 63:30 who had been runner-up in 2005 with 61:05. Torotitch was seventh in 64:15. (In photo Torotitch (#11) poses with his friend Songoka (#2)

Both runners had run three times with each snaring a victory over the other. Torotitch was the only one for a chance to join Kiplagat as a multiple winner. Songoka had the number two seed. With 5K to go there were still 11 runners in the lead pack. On the boardwalk, someone would have to decide the right time to go. All of these runners had great kicks. The top eight would finish only thirty seconds apart. Torotitch made the move at the right time and pulled away from his friend Songoka to win in 62:20. Songoka held off a fierce charge by Tom Nyariki (36) in 62:30 to get second in 62:27. Nyariki breaks the Virginia State record held by Rueben Chesang of 63:36. Eighth place Yoshinori Oda was the first non-Kenyan finishers. John Yuda of Tanzania (with a 2:10 marathon PR) was the number one seed, finishing tenth in 63:41. The top American finisher is Jorge Medina of Falls Church, VA in 1:08:37.

John Piggott dominated the masters as the only one in the top fifty. His time of 1:13:02 was nearly a mile ahead of the second runner James Bresette (46) of Clinton, AR with 1:17:24 who nudged third place master Tom Purcell (41) of Virginia Beach, VA (1:17:45). The fourth finisher was grandmaster Stephen Chantry (52) of Williamsburg, VA with 1:18:03. Chantry was the top age graded master and 22nd overall in age grading.

John Cahill (83) of Salt lake City, NV ran an incredible 2:09:18. This just makes the legend of Ed Benham stronger. Benham ran a fantastic 1:40:30 back in 1988 at age 82.

All along the lightning fast course runners were treated as royalty but the screaming fans. Indeed, there were more than a few runners wearing Elvis masks following the tradition of Chad Johnson who has been running as Elvis since the first year. Anticipating summer weather there were scores of places to get water and Accelerade. Though out west the temperatures were soaring to triple digit, in fabulous Virginia Beach runners were treated to a mild weekend that did not reach eighty degrees until after the race. With a 7:00 am start the air was cool and dry for runners to charge down 19th street toward the beach. Just before the first mile, runners turned south on Pacific past the first band.

Just past 5th street runners met the only non-flat spot on the course, the tiny bridge at Harbor Point. The course from there scooted down a shaded road until mile five and then circled back through Camp Pendleton. Runners were never out of ear shot of a rock 'n' roll band. The cheerleaders made the girls of Wellesley College (at the Boston Marathon) seem tame. A few too- young-to-know runners were surprised by Jimi Hendrix coming from one of the band yelling, "Play something more rockin'." Don't they know Hendrix was one of the most pumped rockers of all time? Still, early in the race you do need to pace some.

Perhaps the most common thing heard at the end of the race by exhilarated finishers was that the music made them go out a little too fast. Barreling back over the bridge at Rude Inlet, the runners now had eight miles under their belt. They circled around just past fourth avenue and headed north on Atlantic Avenue towards 37th street.

In photo, wheelchair winner Tyler Byers is making his way back across the bridge as runners swarm south on the other side.

More than thirty blocks of the hottest beach state were roped off just for the runners. Traditionally the breeze on the beach can by daunting at times. Sunday it was mild and cooling, a comfort along with the water misters set up by many of the fans along the way. Turning onto the boardwalk at mile eleven, the mild breeze gave a gentle push towards the finish line. The huge finish line and the set up for the band loomed in the distance beckoning the runners for home.

At the finish was a huge presence of volunteers collecting chips (cutting the ties lose for the weary road warriors), passing out the finishers medallions, and of course handing out bottles of water and Accelerade from hundreds of tubs of ice. Further along, runners were handed pre-packaged bags with food. On the beach there were alphabetic signs for reunions. A monster projection screen on the beach gave spectators a live video of the finish line. A step off the boardwalk, rows of UPS truck waited with the runners' gear. Shuttles spent the morning returning runners back to the start area or the parking lot. Still many of the runners walked along Atlantic Avenue to cheer for the rest of the 17,009 finishers of the race. Last year the race had 16,141 finishers and was the third largest half marathon in the country, six largest in the world. The race had 9576 women and 7433 men.

So much music, so many sounds and colors and gorgeous summer weather, it almost made you want to go out and go on the half marathon ride again. It is never too early to sign up for next year's race on August 31, 2008.

Men Awards and Prize Money

Top Ten Men
Pl  Name             Age Home      Time     Prize
1.  Haron Toroitich  29  Kenya     1:02:20  $12,000 
2.  Yusuf Songoka    28  Kenya     1:02:27  $7,000 
3.  Tom Nyariki      36  Kenya     1:02:30  $5,000 
4.  Julius Kibet     25  Kenya     1:02:36  $3,000 
5.  Festus Langat    22  Kenya     1:02:40  $2,000 
6.  MacDonald Ondara 23  Kenya     1:02:42  $1,500 
7.  Samuel Ndereba   30  Kenya     1:02:47  $1,000 
8.  Yoshinori Oda    26  Japan     1:02:50  $750 
9.  Robert Letting   23  Kenya     1:03:12  $600 
10. John Yuda        27  Tanzania  1:03:41  $500 

Top Hampton Roads men
1.  Ryan Carroll     24 Portsmouth 1:09:53  $500

Masters men
1.  John Piggott     42 Williamsburg 1:12:59  $500

Wheelchair
1.  Tyler Byers      25 Sterling       49:08  $600

Elite Men warm-up in front of the Convention Center before the start of the race.

Women Awards and Prize Money

Top 10 Women
Pl  Name            Age Home          Time    Prize
1.  Edna Kiplagat   27  Kenya         1:11:14 $12000 
2.  Akane Wakita    19  Japan         1:11:22 $7000 
3.  Teyba Erkesso   24  Ethiopia      1:11:39 $5000 
4.  Ashu Kasim      22  Ethiopia      1:12:08 $3000 
5.  Yoko Miyauchi   24  Japan         1:12:22 $2000 
6.  Sharon Cherop   23  Kenya         1:12:24 $1500 
7.  Hiroko Miyauchi 24  Japan         1:12:45 $1000 
8.  Angelina Mutuku 25  Kenya         1:12:50 $750 
9.  Kathy Butler    33  Great Britain 1:14:17 $600 
10. Kayoko Obata    35  Japan         1:14:36 $500 

Top Hampton Roads Women
1.  Erica Ortiz     29  Chesapeake    1:20:04 $500

Masters Women
1.  Susan Loken     44  Phoenix AZ    1:21:49 $500

Elite women line up for the 6:45 am start.

For additional information on the race visit the race Web site or call (800) 311-1255.

Rick Platt's article from Virginia Gazette on Michael Mann and the Rock 'N' Roll Half marathon.

Full Race Day Results
Race Report
Photo Gallery 2007
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