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Gezahegn, Merachi Win 48th Annual Houston Marathon

By mitchpa on February 7, 2020 • ( 0 )

by Clay Shaw

HOUSTON, TX, JANUARY 19, 2020—Askale Merachi of Ethiopia has always been one of my favorite athletes. She was one of my invited athletes for the Lancaster Race Against Racism 5K, was a house guest before her win at the 2017 Tom Ausherman Memorial 5 Miler, and a two-time winner of the Broad Street 10 Miler in Philadelphia. Through the past few years with hard work and training, Askale improved steadily. Some eye-catching results in New York City races, followed by a 2:24:13 win in Los Angeles in 2019, which is now the fastest women’s marathon time ever in California. Joan Benoit Samuelson’s mark of 2:24:52 set in the 1984 LA Olympics lasted 35 years. Askale hails from the famous running town of Bekoji, and is first cousin of the great Derartu Tulu.

In Houston, Askale trusted her training and broke from the others just 10K into the race, and went on to win in a new personal best of 2:23:29. Headwinds in the final 10K slowed her and the men as they may have had course records on an ideal day. Two-time Houston champion Biruktayit Degefa of Ethiopia was second in 2:24:47. Malindi Elmore of Canada set a new Canadian record of 2:24:50. The first USA runner was Adriana Nelson of Colorado who had an OQ of 2:33:18 and finished 8^th. Of special interest, Neely Spence-Gracey, former Shippensburg star, admittedly not in peak shape after three years of injury, did an OQ of 2:44:03, to earn a spot at the starting line in Atlanta.

Kelkile Gezahegn of Ethiopia turned on the jets in the final 5K to win easily in 2:08:36. Bonsa Dida of Ethiopia was second in 2:10:37. Amanuel Mesel of Eritrea was third in 2:11:04. Gezhagen and the other podium finishers along with Benson Seurei of Bahrain 2:11:51 (4^th), and Stephen Scullion of Ireland 2:11:52, 5^th and a PB, had separated themselves after 15 miles. Craig Hunt of Arizona was the top USA runner with an 8^th place finish, an OQ. Twelve men and 18 women earned OQs in Houston on the last day of qualification.

In the half-marathon Jemel Yimer of Ethiopia won in a thrilling finish with a 59:25, Bernard Ngeno of Kenya was one second back in 59:26, and Shadrack Korir was two seconds back in third with a 59:27. Hitomi Niiya of Japan set a national record of 1:06:38 in winning the half-marathon. Brillian Kipkoech of Kenya was second in 1:08:08, and Caroline Chepkoech of Kenya was third in 1:08:13.

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