Defending Champions Challenged by Stiff Competition – Kara Goucher Expected to Challenge Kiptoo for Women’s Half Marathon on Monterey Bay Title

A field of 32 elite runners will lead the pack at the 2015 Half Marathon on Monterey Bay on Sunday, November 8.  Defending champions Jacob Chemtai and Sarah Kiptoo will be attempting a “three-peat” as both compete to defend their 2013 and 2014 titles against a highly competitive field.

Headliner Kara Goucher is the biggest threat to Kiptoo, 26, a member of the Amerikenyan Running Club. The 37-year-old from Boulder, Colorado is a two-time Olympian (2008 and 2012), a bronze medal winner in the 2007 World Championships 10K, and is one of only seven American women ever to run 10,000-meters under 31 minutes. Her half marathon personal record (PR) of 1:06:57 on a downhill course is nearly three minutes faster than the Half Marathon on Monterey Bay’s current course record.

In addition to Kiptoo and Goucher, this year’s women’s field includes many Monterey Bay race veterans and a handful of talented newcomers. Kristen Zaitz, who finished 3rd in Monterey last year (1:14:37) leads the list, joined by Serkalem Abrha, 4th last year (1:14:58) and recent winner of the Twin Cities Marathon, and Jenna Boren, 7th last year (1:17:04). Returning to lead the master’s field (ages 40+) is five-time master’s champion Christine Kennedy.  This seasoned runner from Los Gatos, CA, recently became the oldest woman ever to run the marathon in less than three hours. She also holds the world half marathon age group record for both 57-year-olds and 59-year-olds – which she set at this race last year.

                The men’s race promises to be extremely competitive as well. Chemtai, the two time defending champion, will battle his friend and training partner Nelson Oyugi, who has finished 2nd the last two years. Three additional Kenyans are expected to be in the lead pack: Benson Cheruiyot, runner up in the 2011 Half Marathon on Monterey Bay, Macdonard Ondara, champion from 2007 and 2010, and his training partner, Elisha Barno, winner of the 2015 Grandma’s Marathon (2:10:36) and runner-up in last month’s Twin Cities Marathon (2:11:39).  Barno has the fastest personal record (PR) in the field with a 1:01:44 earlier this year.

               Set to challenge this foursome are Ethiopian Tesfaye Alemayehu, who just ran a 1:03:49 half, and Americans Zach Hine (1:03:54), and Jameson Mora (1:04:57). They will be joined by a group of fast Americans who will be attempting to join Zach and Jameson by breaking 1:05 to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials and earn a $500 qualifier bonus. The top three master’s finishers from last year, Chris Knorzer, Jair Sanchez, and Will Allan, are all returning and challenging the Masters course record of 1:10:29 along with Kenyan Meshack Kirwa, who has run 1:04 this year.

               “The master’s, men’s and women’s course records are all in serious jeopardy,” said Steve Butler, elite athlete coordinator for the Half Marathon on Monterey Bay, presented by organizers of the Big Sur International Marathon. “The most scenic sections of our course are also out-and-back so it will be exciting for almost all participants to see these top runners battling for the prize money and records.”

               The race features a purse of $20,000 in prize money and bonuses including a bonus for the top three male and female American finishers and a $500 bonus to any runner who qualifies for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for the first time with a 1:05 or better for men or a 1:15 or better for women.

               The course begins and end in downtown Monterey, CA, with more than 75% along the scenic coastal waterfront in Monterey and Pacific Grove.  More than 8,000 runners are expected to turn out for the 13th annual competition.

 

 

Elite Runners for Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay

(As of 23 October 2015)
MEN

Bib      Athlete Name, Age, Current Residence, (Country if not U.S.), bio including Personal Record (PR); (Qualified) indicates runner has already qualified for the 2016 U.S. Marathon Trials set for February 13 in Los Angeles

4         Alemayehu, Tesfaye, 31, Antioch, CA (Ethiopia), recently won the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon for the fifth consecutive year. Half Marathon PR – 1:01:36

5         Barno, Elisha, 30, Santa Fe, NM (Kenya), member of Amerikenyan Running Club, has won four races this year and set two course records, including his Half Marathon PR – 1:01:44, the new course record at the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon. Won Grandma’s Marathon this year and last month finished 2nd at the Twin Cities Marathon

8         Campos, Jesus, 30, Fresno, CA, Former Big Sur International Marathon champion; 8th here in 2012; Half Marathon PR – 1:07:10

1         Chemtai, Jacob, 28, Santa Fe, NM (Kenya), Two time defending champion of our race, winning two years ago in his Half Marathon PR and repeating last year. His PR of 1:02:44 in 2013 missed our course record by only 11 seconds. Finished 3rd last month in the Twin Cities Marathon

32        Cheruiyot, Benson, 32, Valparaiso, IN (Kenya), won the Rock n Roll Arizona Half Marathon this year in

            1:04:15, beating America’s fastest half marathoner, Ryan Hall, by one second; 5th here in 2013 (1:03:37) and

            2nd here in 2011 (1:03:53); Half Marathon PR – 1:02:51

TBD     Davidson, Sean, 23, runs for the Asics Aggies in San Luis Obispo, CA; ran a 1:05.21 on 18 October 2015 at Humboldt Half Marathon.

30       El Mabchour, Karim, 33, Albuquerque, NM (Morocco), Won the Cypress 10K this year (29:55), Half Marathon PR 1:03:11

10       Hine, Zach, 28, Dallas, TX, 2nd American (behind Ryan Hall) in the 2011 Boston Marathon, ran his PR at the 2012 Olympic Trials (2:16:40), Half Marathon PR 1:03:54 (Qualified)

14       Kipruto, Nicholas, 31, Copperas Cove, TX, Active Duty – US Army, 6th in this year’s Army 10 Miler (48:50), Half Marathon PR 1:05:33

15       Kirwa, Meshack, 41, Santa Fe, NM, member of Amerikenyan Running Club, finished 10th overall and was Master’s Champion at this year’s Grandma’s Marathon (2:16:06), Half Marathon PR 1:02:51, has run 1:04 as a Master.

TBD     McCandless, Tyler, 29, Boulder, CO, finished 4th in this year’s Pittsburgh Marathon (2:18:29), Half Marathon PR 1:03:16 (Qualified)

16       Mora, Jameson, 31, Paso Robles, CA, 8th overall in last year’s California International Marathon (2:16:40), Half Marathon PR 1:04:57 (Qualified)

17       Ondara, Macdonard, 30, Santa Fe, NM, member of Amerikenyan Running Club (Kenya), 2007 and 2010 champion of this race. Joins Jacob Chemtai in attempting to become first three time winner. Half Marathon PR 1:01:11

18       Oyugi, Nelson, 23, Santa Fe, NM (Kenya), 2nd here each of the last two years; Winner of last year’s Indianapolis Mini Marathon in a course record 1:01:53, which is his PR; Won this year’s Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon in 1:02:53

 

29       Richards, Malcolm, 33, San Francisco, CA, 7th in last year’s California International Marathon (2:15:58), 16th in this year’s Half Marathon National Championships in his PR 1:03:26 (Qualified)

 

20       Roach, Adam, 31, Monterey, CA, three time Big Sur International Marathon champion; Adam agreed to run 1:15 last year and paced two American women to qualifying times for the Olympic Trials; Half Marathon PR – 1:08:42

 

24       Wykes, Dylan, 32, Vancouver, BC, 2012 Olympian, finished 20th in the Olympic Marathon for his native Canada, Half Marathon PR 1:02:14

 

25       Young, Justin, 36, Louisville, CO, 4th in this year’s Edmonton Half Marathon in his PR 1:05:06

 

 

 

WOMEN

Bib      Athlete Name, Age, Current Residence, (Country), bio including Personal Record (PR)       

 

7         Boren, Jenna, 38, Menlo Park, CA, 7th here last year; 4th in last year’s San Jose Half Marathon in her PR – 1:15:10

 

27       Coordt, Mary, 46, Elk Grove, CA, Master’s Champion here in 2013, 2nd Master here in 2010, 2011, and 2012; two time Big Sur International Marathon Champion, Four-time Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier; Half Marathon PR – 1:18:48

 

34       Fullove, Shaluinn, 37, Palo Alto, CA. 2008 Olympic Trials marathon qualifier, personal best of 2:43.33 at California International Marathon; 36:10 10K PR.

 

3         Goucher, Kara, 37, Boulder, CO, two time Olympian, Bronze Medalist in 2007 World Championships, one of only 7 US women to run under 31 minutes at 10K, fastest US Half Marathon ever with her PR 1:06:57. Has finished 3rd overall in both the Boston and New York City Marathons. (Qualified)

11       Johnson, Lauren, 36, Portland, OR, 4th here in 2008 (1:16:47), 3rd here in 2009 (1:17:04); returns after 5 years. (Qualified)

12       Kadavy, Jenny, 32, Clayton, CA, A regular in our Top 10; 8th in 2013; 6th in 2012, 6th in 2010, 8th in 2009, 7th in 2007; Half Marathon PR – 1:19:17 (Qualified)

13       Kennedy, Christine, 60, Los Gatos, CA, USATF 2011 Master’s Athlete of the Year; ran the 2nd fastest time ever at Big Sur International Marathon; five time masters winner here; holds three different age group course records at this race; World Record Holder for 57 year olds and 59 year olds in Half Marathon; oldest woman ever to break 3 hours in the marathon.

2         Kiptoo, Sarah, 26, Santa Fe, NM (Kenya), Member of Amerikenyan Running Club; Two-time Defending Champion of this race, ran 2nd fastest time ever in our race in 2013, which is also her PR – 1:11:21; 4th in last month’s Twin Cities Marathon

28       Serkalem, Abrha, 28, Albuquerque, NM (Ethiopia) 4th here last year (1:14:58), Won this year’s Twin Cities Marathon (2:31:40), Half Marathon PR 1:13:23

22       Tyler, Tori, 27, Danville, CA, won this year’s Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, 8th in last year’s California International Marathon (2:38:48), Half Marathon PR 1:15:45 (Qualified)

23       Wells, Brooke, 30, San Francisco, CA, local star from Carmel High School; 8th here in 2011; 5th here in 2009; Half Marathon PR – 1:16:42 (Qualified)

31       Abnet Yeshanbel, Simegn, 29, Albuquerque, NM (Ethiopia), 3rd last month in TwinCities Marathon (2:32:44), 2nd in this year’s Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon (1:11:44), Half Marathon PR 1:11:31

26       Zaitz, Kristen, 34, Broomfield, CO, 3rd here last year (1:14:37), Winner 2014 Austin, TX Half Marathon (1:15:02); Half Marathon PR – 1:13:12 (Qualified)

Julie Armstrong