by Clay Shaw

Jacksonville, FL, March 20, 2021—Emily Sisson of Phoenix, AZ gapped the strong women’s elite field almost right away at the 44^th Gate River 15K in Jacksonville, Florida.  Sisson won by well over a minute, in 48:09, and also won the “gender battle” over the male winner.  The women had a six-minute start ahead of the men with an extra $5000 to the person who crossed the finish line first.  The race served as the US 15K Championship.  With 6731 finishers, the Gate River Run 15K was the largest USA race in over a year, since the pre-pandemic Los Angeles Marathon in early March 2020.  The 2021 Gate River Run 15K was capped at 8000, well under its usual 12,000 plus, as part of COVID protocols.

Lindsay Flanagan of Boulder, CO was second in 49:15.  Emily Durgin of Flagstaff, AZ was third in 49:29.  Makena Morley of Bozeman, MT was fourth in 49:38.  Erika Kemp of Brookline, MA was fifth in 50:10.  All top five women had personal bests, as did 17 of the top 20. 

Clayton Young of Provo, UT had the strongest finish among men with his win in 43:52.  Biya Simbassa of Flagstaff, AZ was second in 43:54.  Shadrack Kipchirchir of Colorado Springs was third in 43:55.  Nicholas Montanez of Mammoth Lakes, CO was fourth in 43:55.  Kirubel Erassa of Fishers, IN was fifth in 43:57.  12 of the top 17 men had personal bests. 

Top Women

1. 48:09 Emily Sisson, 29, Phoenix, AZ
2. 49:15 Lindsay Flanagan, 29, Boulder, CO
3. 49:29 Emily Durgin, 26, Flagstaff, AZ
4. 49:38 Makena Morley, 25, Bozeman, MT
5. 50:10 Erika Kemp, 26, Brookline, MA
6. 50:14 Grayson Murphy, 25, Bozeman, MT
7. 50:25 Maggie Montoya, 25, Boulder, CO
8. 50:31 Laura Thweatt, 32, Superior, CO
9. 50:36 Sarah Pagano, 29, Boston, MA
10. 50:44 Diane Nukuri, 36, Flagstaff, AZ
11. 50:48 Paige Stoner, 25, Charlottesville, VA
12. 50:42 Emma Bates, 28, Boise, ID
13. 51:06 Sally Kipyego, 35, Eugene, OR
14. 51:31 Dakota Lindwurm, 25, Eagan, MN
15. 51:39 Breanna Sieracki, 25, Burnsville, MN
16. 51:46 Tristin VanOrd, 26, Raleigh, NC
17. 51:41 Madison Offstein, 24, Pensacola, FL
18. 51:56 Roberta Groner, 42, Ledgewood, NJ
19. 52:09 Carrie Verdon, 27, Superior, CO
20. 52:25 Katrina Coogan, 27, Boston, MA

Top Men

1. 43:52 Clayton Young, 27, Provo, UT
2. 43:54 Biya Simbassa, 27, Flagstaff, AZ
3. 43:55 Shadrack Kipchirchir, 32, Colorado Springs, CO
4. 43:55 Nicolas Montanez, 27, Mammoth Lakes, CA
5. 43:57 Kirubel Erassa, 27, Fishers, IN
6. 43:57 Colin Bennie, 25, Charlottesville, VA
7. 44:02 Frank Lara, 25, Westminster, CO
8. 44:02 Reed Fischer, 25, Boulder, CO
9. 44:04 Chris Derrick, 30, Portland, OR
10. 44:15 John Raneri, 29, Flagstaff, AZ
11. 44:21 Sam Chelanga, 36, Niceville, FL
12. 44:41 Alex Monroe, 28, Longmont, CO
13. 44:41 Rory Linkletter, 24, Flagstaff, AZ (CAN)
14. 44:41 Matt McClintock, 27, Blowing Rock, NC
15. 44:46 Sydney Gidabuday, 24, Boulder, CO

Categories: Race Coverage

Tags: 2021, featured, Gate River Run 15K