Mario Macias
CARLSBAD, Calif. – (January 22, 2012) – Mario Macias of Alamosa, Colo. and Christine Kenney of New York City claimed victories at the 21st Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon held Sunday morning in Carlsbad under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to upper 50s.
Macias, 30, claimed a decisive wire-to-wire win in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 24 seconds. It was his first Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon appearance.
“I mainly used the race as a workout,” said Macias, a Mexican citizen. “I am used to running alone, but it is nice to have someone to push you. The cheers from the crowds helped a lot.”
Macias finished more than two minutes ahead of runner-up Jae Yung Hyung, 40, of Korea (2:25:03) and Jacques Sallberg, 37, of Pasadena, Calif. rounded out the podium finishing third in 2:29:11.
In the women’s division, Kenney, 33, also enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory, finishing in 2:53:07. “I love Carlsbad and would love to live here someday,” said Kenney who has a sister who lives in Carlsbad.
Sarah Hallas, 32, of Petaluma, Calif. finished second in 2:57:49, while Julie Brekke, 38, of La Jolla, Calif. took third (3:02:38).
In the half-marathon race, Africans took top honors with Ezkyas Sisay, 23, of Ethiopia winning the men’s race in 1:04:43 and Kenyan Everlyne Lagat, 31, claiming the woman’s crown, clocking a 1:12:44.
Sisay grabbed an early commanding lead, only to have the chase pack of Meshack Kirwa (KEN), Teklu Deneke (ETH) and Joseph Gray (Newcastle, Wash.) catch up to him just past the 4-mile mark.
“My goal was to maintain a pace fast enough for a 1:02 finish, but nobody would go with me,” said Sisay, who placed 9th in last November’s New York City Marathon. I knew I had enough speed to finish strong though and win.”
Kirwa took second in 1:05:10 and Deneke was third (1:05:16).
In the women’s race, Lagat and Jane Kibii, the three-time defending race champion, ran together for the first 8 miles before Lagat pulled away for her first Carlsbad victory.
“I knew Jane has won three times and I knew she was very good,” said Lagat. “I knew I needed to break away.”
Kibii, who according to her manager, Brad Poore, has been ill recently, finished second in 1:15:18, while Heather Jackson, a Carlsbad-based triathlete, finished third (1:16:11).
Overall, 8,468 runners and walkers from 46 states and 12 foreign countries participated in the 2012 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 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 22 official charities. Both the marathon and the half-marathon sold out months in advance.
21st Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon
Carlsbad, CA, Sunday, January 22, 2012
MEN
1) Mario Macias (MEX / CO), 2:22:24, $1500*
2) Jae Yung Hyung (KOR), 2:25:03, $750*
3) Jacques Sallberg (USA / CA), 2:29:11, $100
*includes $500 sub-2:30:00 and $500 sub-25:00 bonuses
WOMEN
1) Christine Kenney (USA / NY), 2:53:07, $1000*
2) Sarah Hallas (USA / CA), 2:57:49 $750*
3) Julie Brekke (USA / CA), 3:02:38, $100
*includes $500 sub-2:58 bonus
Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon
MEN
1) Ezkyas Sisay (ETH), 1:04:43, $2500*
2) Meshack Kirwa (KEN), 1:05:10, $750
3) Teklu Deneke (ETH), 1:05:16, $750
*includes $1000 first sub-1:04:00 bonus
WOMEN
1) Everlyne Lagat (KEN), 1:12:44, $2500*
2) Jane Kibii (KEN), 1:15:13, $750
3) Heather Jackson (USA / CA), 1:16:11, $300
*includes $1000 first sub-1:15:00 bonus
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