USA Track & Field – Bersagel and Kleppin with huge PRs to lead Team USA in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN — Team USA saw career performances by Annie Bersagel (Victoria, Minn.) and Lauren Kleppin (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) to highlight the 2014 IAAF/AL World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Bersagel, in her first race since November, bettered her previous half marathon best by nearly two minutes, finishing 13th in 1:10:09. She was quickly followed by teammate Kleppin, who was 14th with a PR of her own, crossing in 1:10:15.

Team USA's women put forth a strong team effort, finishing fifth in the overall team standings with a time of 3:32:45, the best combined time for an American team since 2009 (3:34:24).

On the men's side, Josphat Boit (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) turned in a personal best of 1:01:32 to lead the U.S. men in Copenhagen, aiding Team USA to a seventh-place team finish.

The next IAAF events on the horizon for Team USA are the World Race Walking Cup (May 3-4) and the inaugural World Relays Championships (May 24-25).

Full results can be found on IAAF.org.

 

2014 IAAF/AL Bank World Half Marathon Championships

Team USA Women's Finishes

13 – Annie Bersagel 1:10:09 (PR)

14 – Lauren Kleppin 1:10:15 (PR)

34 – Clara Santucci 1:12:21 (PR)

36 – Mattie Suver 1:12:41

44 – Wendy Thomas 1:14:06

Team USA Men's Finishes

21 – Josphat Boit 1:01:32 (PR)

33 – Tyler Pennel 1:02:19

35 – Matt Llano 1:02:24

39 – Shadrack Biwott 1:02:27

46 – Fernando Cabada 1:02:53