By Clay Shaw
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Flat and fast course at the Philly RnR Half Marathon on September 16, 2018, but rather humid. One man went out and blitzed the course in 59:16. Shura Kitata of Ethiopia ran all alone for the entire race, winning by nearly four minutes. Parker Stinson of Eugene, OR was second in 1:03:01, with Cam Levins of Canada finishing third in 1:03:09. Rio Olympics Medalist, Feyisa Lilesa was fifth in 1:04:04, and was welcomed by hordes of supporters. Remember his protest (against the Ethiopian Government in 2016), as he finished second in the Olympic Marathon? Abdi Abdirahman of Tucson, AZ was the top Masters and sixth overall in 1:04:06.
Desiree Linden of Michigan was the women’s champ in 1:11:48. Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, AZ was second in 1:12:06. Roberta Groner from NJ was third overall and top Masters, in a 1:12:20 PB. Former U of New Hampshire star and Australian citizen Rosie Donegan ran 1:13:27 in her debut at the distance, good for fifth overall.
TOP 15 MEN
- 59:16 Shura Kitata ETH
- 1:03:01 Parker Stinson OR
- 1:03:29 Cam Levins CAN
- 1:03:26 Panuel Mkungo KEN
- 1:04:04 Feyisa Lelisa ETH
- 1:04:06 Abdi Abdirahman (41) AZ
- 1:04:13 Mohamed Hrezi LBA
- 1:04:33 Jarrett LeBlanc LA
- 1:04:36 Daniel Kemoi KEN
- 1:05:12 Reece Edwards AUS
- 1:05:17 Berhanu Dare ETH
- 1:05:33 Ian Lamere WI
- 1:06:34 Lucas Stalnaker MD
- 1:06:58 Mark Leininger NJ
- 1:07:08 Oscar Medina CA
TOP 15 WOMEN
- 1:11:48 Desiree Linden MI
- 1:12:06 Kellyn Taylor AZ
- 1:12:40 Roberta Groner (40) NJ
- 1:12:46 Kinsey Middleton CAN
- 1:13:27 Rosie Donegan AUS
- 1:13:39 Sarah Pease TX
- 1:13:46 Kaitlyn James AZ
- 1:14:13 Anne-Marie Blaney FL
- 1:14:27 Sarah Sellers AZ
- 1:14:55 Ivette Mejia NY
- 1:15:22 Olivia Pratt WI
- 1:15:30 Vianney DeLaRosa MEX
- 1:16:12 Amanda Marino NJ
- 1:16:29 Julia Roman-Duval MD
- 1:17:22 Nicolette Mateescu NJ
Samantha Creath 34th female
Rosie Donegan AUS 5th female
Parker Stinson 2nd male
Olivia Pratt WI 12th female
Julia Roman Duval Maryland 14th female
Julia Roman Duval Maryland 14th female
Desiree Linden Michigan 1st female RNR Half
Annemarie Blaney MI 8th female
Shura Kitata ETH wins in 59:16
Rosie Donegan AUS 5th female
Roberta Groner New Jersey 3rd female 1st master
Roberta Groner 57 Rosie Donegan 60 Olivia Pratt 96
Parker Stinson and Panuel Mkungo
Nicolette Mateescu, Deanna Ardrey, and Julia Roman Duval
Kaitlyn James AZ 7th female
Feyisa Lilesa ETH 5th male
Feyisa Lilesa and Clay Shaw
David Kemoi, Cam Levins, Feyisa Lilesa
Cam Levins Canada 3rd male
Categories: Race Coverage
Runner's Gazette 