Bruce, Rothstein-Bruce Win Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay

MONTEREY, Calif. – A husband-wife duo took top honors at the 10th edition of the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay on Sunday, Nov. 18 on the Monterey Peninsula.  Arizonans Ben Bruce and his wife of only two weeks, Stephanie Rothstein-Bruce, packed a one-two punch to beat out a strong elite field under sunny skies and near perfect running conditions. 

Among the last elites to register just one month ago, the Bruces were the first to finish their respective divisions. Ben won the men's race in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 45 seconds and Stephanie won the women's race in 1:12:19.

The men's race took shape quickly as a lead pack of five runners broke away from the rest of the field. Bruce; Samuel Kosgei, Fred Tumbo, Joseph Mutinda, all of Santa Fe, N.M.;  and Ryan Bak of Bend, Ore., ran together most of the first seven miles. A 4:52 first mile gave this group of five a huge lead over Eddie Jones, of Boise, Idaho, who was alone in 6th with no other runners in sight.

Just prior to the turn-around point between miles 7 and 8, Bruce made a move and none of the others were able to respond. Running three consecutive miles under 4:50, he opened a 30 second lead by mile 10. The three members of the AmeriKenyan Running Club, Kosgei, Tumbo, and Mutinda ran in a pack of three but were unable to close the gap between themselves and Bruce.

Bruce cruised to the finish running the final 5K in 15:19 to win by over one minute. Kosgei and Tumbo raced all the way to the finish with Kosgei taking second in 1:06:00.51, less than one second ahead of Tumbo who finished third in 1:06:00.68. Mutinda held on for 4th in a time of 1:06:39 and Bak rounded out the top five with a time of 1:06:42.

The women's race was a two-way battle until the turn-around point with Stephanie Rothstein-Bruce and Risper Gesabwa of Marietta, Ga. running side by side for the first eight miles. This duo was followed closely by Kellyn Johnson, Flagstaff, Ariz. Two minutes behind this first group of three, Mary Akor, Hawthorne, Calif., and Natalie Bak, Bend, Ore., battled for 4th.

As the runners turned around and raced for home, Rothstein-Bruce began to pull away, steadily increasing her lead. She broke the tape in a personal record time of 1:12:19, one one-hundredth of a secong over the second fastest time ever run by a woman on this course. Gesabwa finished 2nd in 1:13:40, followed by Johnson in 1:14:30, Akor in 1:17:49, and Bak in 1:17:54.

The Masters (over 40) race for the women featured a battle of three Big Sur masters legends. Lisa Harvey of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a former Olympian, took the title for the third straight year in 1:20:44, followed closely by Mary Coordt, of Elk Grove in 1:20:57. Coordt is a two time Big Sur International Marathon Champion. This was the 3rd consecutive year that these two finished first and second in the Masters Division.

Christine Kennedy of Los Gatos, a four-time Masters Champion. finished third in 1:24:53. Kennedy's time shattered the 55-59 age group record by almost 10 minutes and she now owns the age group record for 45-49, 50-54, and 55-59.

Men's Masters division was won by Chris Knorzer of Rocklin in 1:12:13, closely followed by Tony Torres of Cedar Glen in 1:12:33.  Third place went to Martin Koller of Bergisch Gladbach, Germany in 1:19:26.

The 10th edition race included 7,000 runners who enjoyed absolutely perfect running conditions. With virtually no wind, and temperatures in the low 50s, the runners were able to enjoy one of the most scenic runs anywhere with bright sunshine and crashing waves along the Pacific shoreline.

Source: Big Sur Half Marathon Date: November 19, 2012

 

10th Big Sur Half Marathon

Monterey, CA, Sunday, November 18, 2012

MEN

1) Ben Bruce, 30, Flagstaff, AZ                  1:04:46  $3000

2) Samuel Kosgei, 28, Santa Fe, NM (UGA)         1:06:00     $1800

3) Fred Tumbo, 34, Santa Fe, NM (KEN)            1:06:00     $1200

4) Joseph Mutinda, 38, Santa Fe, NM              1:06:14       $900

5) Ryan Bak, 31, Bend, OR                        1:06:42      $600

6) Eddie Ernest-Jones, 35, Boise, ID (GBR)       1:08:58      $300

7) Mark Pilja, 32, San Francisco, CA             1:09:32       $150

8) Jesus Campos, 28, King City, CA                   1:10:40        $75

9) Adam Roach, 28, Monterey, CA                  1:11:32

10) Chris Knorzer, 43, Rocklin, CA                    1:12:14       $500m

11) Tony Torres, 43, Cedar Glen, CA                   1:12:34      $300m

m = Earned Masters prize money

 

WOMEN

1) Stephanie Rothstein-Bruce, 28, Flagstaff, AZ  1:12:19  $3000

2) Risper Gesabwa, 23, Marietta, GA (KEN)        1:13:40   $1800

3) Kellyn Johnson, 26, Flagstaff, AZ             1:14:30     $1200

4) Mary Akor, 36, Hawthorne, CA                1:17:49      $900

5) Natalie Bak, 27, Bend, OR                     1:17:54       $600

6) Julia Mallon, 33, Santa Rosa, CA              1:19:23      $300

7) Jenny Wilson, 29, Concord, CA                 1:19:53      $150

8) Emily Larrimer, 32, San Diego, CA             1:20:15       $75

9) Lisa Harvey, 42, Canada                       1:20:44       $500m

10) Mary Coordt, 43, Elk Grove, CA               1:20:57      $300m

16) Christine Kennedy, 57, Los Gatos (IRL)     1:24:54      $100m

m = Earned Masters prize money

 

Full results can be found at: www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org