Magdalena Lewy Boulet
SAN FRANCISCO – On Saturday, August 27, the 2011 Giant Race welcomed 8,000-plus runners onto the field of the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants. There were four distances to choose from including a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Races presented by FedEx, which created an opportunity for every participant level. All courses took runners through San Francisco’s bay front streets and national parks and back to AT&T Park for a field finish and ballpark post-race party.
The half-marathon competition was led by top performances from two local Cal Berkeley alums. In the women’s race, 2008 Olympian Magdalena Lewy Boulet, 38, (Oakland) held off Clara Peterson, 27, (San Anselmo, CA) in a photo finish. Both received the same time of 1 hour, 14 minutes, 31 seconds and each was under the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying standard of 1:15:00. Another Bay Area local Jake Schmitt, 24, (Kentfield, CA) ran away with the men’s half-marathon in his debut at the distance. Schmitt covered the 13.1 miles in 1:04:51, also qualifying for 2012 Olympic Trials next January in Houston.
At the second event edition, Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain, a long-time supporter of Project Open Hand, served as the official starter for the 5K participants. Runners were later greeted by the surprise appearance of Giants closer Brian Wilson, who greeted half-marathoners at the 5 mile mark. Wilson provided high fives and words of encouragement to each passing runner.
The Giant Race is a benefit for the San Francisco-based charity Project Open Hand. Together, participants and sponsors such as AT&T, Safeway, Vaska, PG&E and FedEx raised more than $115,000 for Open Hand’s meal and nutrition services.
2nd Giant Race Half-Marathon
San Francisco, CA, Saturday, August 27, 2011
MEN
1) Jake Schmitt (CA), 1:04:51
2) Chris Chavez (CA), 1:05:28
3) Armen Vartanian (CA), 1:05:46
WOMEN
1) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA), 1:14:31
2) Clara Peterson (CA), 1:14:31
3) YiOu Wang (CA), 1:16:58
