FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ondoro Snaps Ethiopian Streak in Chevron Houston Marathon,
Korir Takes Thrilling Aramco Houston Half Marathon Victory
HOUSTON (January 15, 2017) - Late-race breakaways led to first-time wins in
the Chevron Houston Marathon Sunday, and Leonard Korir of the United States
outleaned race record-holder Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia in the Aramco
Houston Half Marathon on a humid, windy morning that hampered times in the
longer races.
ONDORO, ASSEFA RACE TO MARATHON TITLES
After a runner-up finish in 2014 and a third-place effort in 2013, Meskerem
Assefa of Ethiopia extended her nation's dominance in the women's marathon
with a 2:30:18 to notch her first win and extend to 11 the streak of
Ethiopian victories. Assefa and defending champion Biruktayit Degefa ran
together until the 25-kilometer mark, where Assefa made a subtle move to
put six seconds on Degefa over the next 5K. Steadily moving away from
Degefa, Assefa hit 35K in 2:03:44, 26 seconds in front, and her lead
increased to 40 seconds by 40K. Fighting cramps, Assefa held on over the
final two kilos to win by 26 seconds as Degefa crossed the line at 2:30:44.
Local favorite Becky Wade, a former Rice all-American in track and field,
was the top U.S. finisher, taking third in 2:35:57.
Kenya's Dominic Ondoro snapped an eight-race winning streak by Ethiopian
men with his strong finish over the final four kilos, clocking 2:12:05.
Ondoro was part of a large pack early in the race, which was whittled down
to five at the 25K mark. The group became four over the next 5K, with last
year's runner-up, Yitayal Atnafu of Ethiopia hanging on Ondoro's shoulder.
Also in the group were Atnafu's countrymen Abayneh Ayele, a 2:06 man, and
Andualem Shiferaw. Between 35K and 40K, Ondoro and Atnafu pulled away, with
Ondoro breaking Atnafu and taking a 10-second lead by 40K. Atnafu had no
answer for Ondoro's strength in the final two kilos and ended up second in
2:12:33. Assefa and Ondoro each earned $45,000 for their respective wins in
the Chevron Houston Marathon.
Elkanah Kibet took honors as the top American man, placing sixth in
2:17:25.
NYARUAI 4TH FASTEST EVER, KORIR THRILLS WITH NARROW WIN IN HALF
Veronicah Nyaruai Wanjiru of Kenya helped control the pace through the
early stages of the women's half marathon and then rolled out to a
12-second lead over Dera Dida Yami of Ethiopia by the 15K mark. Nyaruai's
move dropped defending champion and race record-holder Mary Wacera of
Kenya, and Jordan Hasay of the U.S. had moved up to fifth. Running by
herself, Nyaruai added six seconds to her margin by 20K, with Hasay up to
third. The last stretch saw Nyaruai lose some of her lead to Dida Yami, but
she had enough to finish in 67:58, the fourth-fastest time in race history.
That earned her a $10,000 time bonus.
Wacera passed Hasay to finish third in 68:38, but the former Oregon
all-American shattered the American race record in fourth with her 68:40
that put her at No. 6 on the all-time U.S. list.
The most exciting finish of the day came from Korir and Lilesa, who elbowed
each other as they approached the line. Korir came away with the win as
both men were awarded a time of 61:14. A group of 10 men went through 10K
in 28:51, and by the next 5K mark Korir and Lilesa were nine seconds back
of Yigrem Demelash and Samsom Gebreyohannes.
Fikadu Tsadik and Hiskel Tewelde Ghebru were in a group of four with Korir
and Lilesa at 20K, but all eyes went to the pair of Korir and Lilesa down
the final stretch. The duo made a mad dash to the tape to finish three
seconds ahead of Ghebru and Tsadik, with Korir clocking the sixth-fastest
time in race history. Wanjiru and Korir each picked up $20,000 for their
victories in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.
For more information on the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco
Houston Half Marathon, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) annually
organizes the nation's premier winter marathon, half marathon, and 5K. Over
250,000 participants, volunteers and spectators make Chevron Houston
Marathon Race Day the largest single-day sporting event in Houston. A
founding member of Running USA, the HMC hosts the IAAF bronze labeled
Aramco Houston Half Marathon and silver labeled Chevron Houston Marathon.
For four consecutive years, the events have garnered Gold Certification
from the Council of Responsible Sport and were awarded the 2015 AIMS Green
Award for industry-leading sustainability initiatives.Race Weekend
generates over $50 million in economic impact for the region annually. In
2016, the Run for a Reason Charity Program raised $2.3 million, while the
Houston Marathon Foundation supported youth and community running
initiatives. Televised annually by broadcast partner ABC13, 2016 was the
first time that the event was syndicated live nationally and
internationally on ESPN3 and the Longhorn Network. Host to 16 U.S. Half
Marathon Championships since 2005 and the 1992 women's Olympic Trials
Marathon, the HMC also conducted the 2012 men's and women's U.S. Olympic
Trials Marathon.
For more information, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or call
713.957.3453.
###
|
