Deena Kastor comes in 3rd at this years Bay to Breakers race
22-year-old Sammy Kitwara of Kenya was the first professional runner to cross the ING 2009 Bay to Breakers finish line winning the race in a course record time of 33 minutes, 31 seconds.
The previous record of 33 minutes, 42 seconds by fellow Kenyan Ismael Kirui was set back in 1993 at the infamous San Francisco 12K.
“I feel very well but very hot,” Kitwara said, all smiles. He said he knew he was going to win because of how he did during training in Kenya. This visit is his first in the Bay Area and he’s thrilled to be here.
“I love this place. It’s the best place,” he said. “The beaches, the chance to relax with no one bothering you, it’s like Kenya.”
According to the San Francisco Examiner:
"The first woman to cross the finish line was 26-year-old Ethiopian Teyba Erkesso.
“I’m happy,” she said, after setting a personal best time of 38 minutes, 29 seconds.
Lineth Chepkurui, 21, of Kenya, came in second among the women, with a time of 38 minutes, 35 seconds. In third place was Olympian Deena Kastor, 36, of Mammoth, with a time of 39 minutes, 5 seconds."
Deena Kastor was the first America women to finish the race, and the first America man to cross the finish line was 29-year-old Justin Young of Boulder, Colo.
The first place winners each take home $25,000.
You can see and search all the complete results HERE.
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Comments
Each winner receives $7,000 for the victory and Sammy Kitwara earned an additional $25,000 for the equalizer bonus, the ING Battle to the Breakers. Women start 4:40 before the men. Course record is $3,000 and the ING Hayes St. Summit Award (first male and female to top of Hayes St. hill) wins $5,000. Total won by Sammy Kitwara was $40,000. Total for Teyba Erkesso was $7,000. - Josh Muxen, Elite Athlete Manager for ING Bay to Breakers 12k.
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