Track & Field/Road Racing Roundup: First Weekend of October

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The first weekend of October saw a plethora of road races including the first major U.S. marathon of the fall, the Chicago marathon. For many elite runners it was a chance for redemption after not making the Olympic team and extend their summer fitness. Here is what happened this weekend.

Chicago Marathon- The women’s race came down to a 1 second difference. Ethiopia’s Atsede Baysa held off Kenya's Rita Jeptoo for a 1-second win in 2:22:03. Defending three-time champion Liliya Shobukhova was fourth in 2:22:59. The US’s Renee Metilver Baille told us in an interview that she would break 2:28 and she did just that with a time of 2:27:17, the fifth fastest debut in American history. The lead pack slowly dropped runners mile by mile until it was pared down to the 2 runners and Baysa barely made it across the line first.

Tufts Health Plan 10-K-Chelsea Reilly made an impressive 10-K debut  by winning the 10k title in 32:41. She won with a long sprint to the line over Tara Erdmann 32:46. Hanson Brook’s Neely Spence, finished third 32:51.

Rock N Roll San Jose Half Marathon-Bay Area Track Club’s Clara Horowitz Peterson took home the win with a time of 1:12:52 and was unchallenged the entire way. Peterson will run her second marathon at the California International Marathon in December. Natalie Sokolovo was second in 01:15:38 and Allison Maxson was third in 01:17:38.

USA 10 Mile- Janet Cherobon-Bawcom was able to take a win over Kara Goucher at a shorter distance when she cruised to the win in a time of 53: 43. Kara Goucher finished in 53:56 and third place Alisha Williams (54:08).

World Half Marathon Championships- Meseret Hailu led Ethiopia to an upset victory in the team race with a time of 1:08:55. Her teammate, Feyse Tadese, was second in 1:08.56. Kenya’s Paskalia Chepkorir Kipkoech was third in 1:09.04. The first US runner was Maegan Krifchin in 1:12.58 for 13^th place. Shalane Flanagan was 25^th in a time of 1:14.41. 

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