Demesse Tefera
CARLSBAD, Calif. – (January 23, 2011) – Two first-time race champions and two defending half-marathon champions three-peated to claim victories at the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon events held Sunday under clear skies and temperatures that ranged from the high 50s to high 60s.
Demesse Tefera, 28, of Ethiopia won the marathon men’s division in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 28 seconds. Originally registered for the weekend’s half-marathon, Tefera switched to the 26.2-mile jaunt the day before because he did not feel his fitness level was strong enough to compete with the half-marathon line-up.
“There has been quite a bit of snow and cold in Washington DC where I train so I have not been able to train adequately,” said Tefera.
Shingirai Badza of Zimbabwe was the runner-up, finishing in 2:29:11, with Sergio Gonzalez, 24, of California rounding out the podium with a third place finish of 2:30:28 in his first-ever marathon.
In the women’s marathon, Mary Akor, a multi-U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, took off fast and was briefly challenged before her victory, finishing in 2:45:51. Challengers included the Emily Belli, 33, of San Diego, who placed second woman overall (2:46:18), and Joey Bonfiglio of Carlsbad who finished third (2:48:53) in her 26.2 mile debut.
In the half-marathon men’s division, two-time LA Marathon champion Wesley Korir of Kenya was victorious for the third year in a row, winning in 1:02:46, while countrywoman Jane Kibii also three-peated, defending her title in 1:12:33.
More than 8,500 runners and walkers from 48 states and 11 foreign countries participated in Sunday’s Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon.
The scenic 26.2- and 13.1-mile races started and finished at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real in Carlsbad and treated runners and walkers to tours of the Buena Vista Lagoon, the Village of Carlsbad and the scenic Pacific coastline before returning home to the finish line.
Twenty-seven musical bands entertained the thousands of participants, volunteers and spectators along the course throughout the morning. The event enlisted the help of more than 2,000 volunteers and benefited 19 official charities. Mirroring the national trend, both the marathon and half-marathon sold out month’s in advance of the event.
19th Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon
Carlsbad, CA, Sunday, January 23, 2011
MEN
1) Demesse Tefera (ETH) 2:27:28 $1000*
2) Shingirai Badza (ZIM) 2:29:11, $750*
3) Sergio Gonzalez (USA / CA), 2:30:28, $100
*includes $500 sub-2:30:00 bonus
WOMEN
1) Mary Akor (USA / CA), 2:45:51, $1500*
2) Emily Belli (USA / CA), 2:46:18 $750*
3) Joey Bonfiglio (USA / CA), 2:48:53, $600*
*includes $500 sub-2:58 bonus plus $500 sub-2:50:00 bonus
Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon
MEN
1) Wesley Korir (KEN), 1:02:46, $2500*
2) Macdonard Ondara (KEN), 1:02:58, $750
3) Samuel Kosgei (UGA), 1:03:21, $750
*includes $1000 first sub-1:04:00 bonus
WOMEN
1) Jane Kibii (KEN), 1:12:33, $2500*
2) Misiker Demisie (ETH), 1:15:13, $750
3) Hirut Mandefro (ETH), 1:15:28, $300
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