PA/USATF Women Shine at San Jose Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Somers Smiths Betters Two U.S. Age Group Records
(From Mark Winitz)
Pacific Association/USATF women captured the top five places at the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on Sunday, October 3rd, but one women, in particular, inspired all others.
Linda Somers Smith (Arroyo Grande, CA), age 49, a 1996 Olympian in the marathon, secured second place and finished only 1 minute, 36 seconds behind female winner Blake Russell (Marina, CA), who was a 2008 Olympian in the marathon. According to Andy Carr, USATF Road Records Keeper, Somers Smith's phenomenal 1:13:32 at age 49 tops Colleen De Reuck's pending U.S. women's age 45-49 half marathon record of 1:16:30 set earlier this year at the Houston Half Marathon. Somers Smith also set a pending W45-49 20K record in route to the half marathon with a 1:09:42, shattering the current ratified 20K record of 1:14:13. In addition, she bettered the unofficial U.S. W49 single age record of 1:27 for the half marathon distance.
Russell (1:11:55), Somers Smith, and third place female Rachel Booth (Mountain View, CA, 1:14:46) all bettered USATF's women's half marathon standard of 1:15:00 for entry into the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials.Somers Smith is a seven-time qualifier for the Trials. having previously qualified for the 2012 Trials at the 2010 Honda LA Marathon with a 2:36:33 "A"-standard performance.
Annie Bersagel, 27, of Stanford, CA finished fourth in 1:16:29. Lauren Johnson, 31, of Palo Alto, CA was fifth in 1:16:43.
Full results for the race will be available at:
http://san-jose.competitor.com/
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:Amana Miyamae, 858-692-8488
[email protected]
Meb Rocks to Victory in San Jose ·
Reigning NYC Marathon Champion defends San Jose title and sets
sights on November
U.S. Olympian Blake Russell wins women's race ·
Field of more than 13,000 entrants includes Bay Area superstars
Roger Craig & Brandi Chastain San Jose, CA - October 3, 2010-
On a perfect autumn morning in the Bay Area, reigning New York City Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighisuccessfully defended his title at the 2010 Rock _n_ Roll San Jose Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 1 minute and 45 seconds. Keflezighi, with Mammoth Track Club teammate Patrick Smyth pacing, opened upa lead within the first three miles, hitting the 5K mark at 14:20. He never looked back, keeping a significant lead straight to the finish. As he looks ahead to the ING New York City Marathon on November 7, the 2009 champion of both races says he is hoping for a double repeat performance. “I felt strong and maintained, Keflezighi said. My training is coming alongas planned and I hope it goes the same. This is the race I really enjoythough. New York will be all business.”
Teammates Brian Medigovich and Paul Hefferon, representing the Hansons BrooksDistance Project of Rochester Hills, Michigan, came in second and third,running 1:04:55 and 1:05:55, respectively.
Blake Russell, who represented the U.S. in the marathon at the BeijingOlympics, made a successful return to racing after the birth of her firstchild, winning the women_s race in a swift 1:11:55. “It's so exciting because it's hard to win a race as an elite and you reallylearn to cherish it, she said. It was a learning experience and definitelymentally tougher than I expected but you keep pushing. The course was great and the music and spectators definitely helped.”
She took the lead early and said she achieved her goal of staying under a5:30 pace. Coming in behind Russell were 49-year-old Linda Somers Smith(1:13:31) and Rachel Booth (1:14:46).
The sold-out half marathon celebrated its 5th anniversary with 13,000participants, the largest field in the race's history. Thousands ofspectators joined in the fun, cheering enthusiastically along the course. Theday was capped off with a post-race concert in Plaza de Cesar Chavez by the platinum selling band Blues Traveler.
Race founder and three-time Superbowl champion Roger Craig took part, running a 1:45:25. Taking in the scene, Craig expressed pride at the event’s growth over the past 5 years. “The energy out there today was amazing, he said. It was a smooth race andI talked to so many runners who were impressed with how well organized itwas. It's really neat to see this city embracing the event. San Jose knowshow to party.”
Next year Dodge will become title sponsor of the race’s sixth edition. The2011 Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon is set for Sunday, October 2. 2010
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Top Five Male Finishers
Place Name Age Hometown Time
1 Meb Keflezighi 35 Mammoth Lakes, CA 1:01:45
2 Brian Medigovich 23 Rochester Hills, MI 1:04:55
3 Paul Hefferon 24 Rochester Hills, MI 1:05:55
4 Daniel Tapia 22 Castroville, CA 1:06:46
5 Kevin Castille 38 Lafayette, LA 1:06:47
Top Five Female
FinishersPlace Name Age Hometown Time
1 Blake Russell 35 Pacific Grove, CA 1:11:55
2 Linda Somers-Smith 49 Arroyo Grande, CA 1:13:31
3 Rachel Booth 29 Mountain View, CA 1:14:46
4 Annie Bersagel 27 Stanford, CA 1:16:28
5 Lauren Johnson 31 Palo Alto, CA 1:16:43
About The Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half MarathonA Competitor Group event, the Rock _n_ Roll San Jose Half Marathon willcelebrate its 5th anniversary welcoming 13,000 participants on Sunday,October 3rd. Known as California_s fastest half marathon, the event is opento runners and walkers from novice to professional. The Health & Fitness Expokicks off the weekend at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Friday andSaturday, October 1st & 2nd. The event features more than a hundred retailersand the very latest in running gear, nutrition and training. The Health &Fitness Expo is free and open to the public. More than 20 live bands andhundreds of local high school cheerleaders will entertain and cheer onparticipants along the scenic course. The event concludes with a finish lineparty and a headliner concert on the sand. For more information or toregister for the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon, visitwww.san-jose.competitor.com <http://www.san-jose.competitor.com> or call(800) 311-1255.###
