Sullivan and Kiptoo Win the 2024 Philadelphia Distance Run

By Clay Shaw

Philadelphia, PA, September 15, 2024—Susanna Sullivan of Reston, VA was delighted with her personal best performance and win at the Philadelphia Distance Run in 1:09:42.  The PDR, in its 45th year, is a half marathon.

Mercy Chelangat of Kenya was second in 1:10:22. Jessie Cardin of Rochester Hills, MI was third and also ran a personal best with a 1:10:35.  Amber Zimmerman of Philadelphia was fourth in 1:12:50.  Anne-Marie Blaney of Rochester Hills, MI was fifth in 1:13:21. The first master was Heidi Peoples of Clarks Summit, PA in 1:20:11, 15th overall.

Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya, who is based in Flagstaff, AZ basically “drove the bus” the entire way.  He stayed true to his pace and won in 1:01:22. Athanas Kioko of Kenya was second in 1:01:27, a personal best for him. Tsegay Tuemay Weldlibanos of Eritrea was third in 1:01:50. Tsegay was the 2021 PDR champion and runner-up last year.  Zach Panning of Grosse Pointe. MI was fourth in a personal best of 1:02:48. Emad Bashir-Mohammed of Aurora, CO was fifth in his half marathon debut, in 1:04:07.  Barry Keane of Ireland was sixth in his half marathon debut in 1:04:11.  Loc O of Williamsburg, PA was top master in 1:12:51.

The PDR had 3043 finishers, up from 2417 in 2023. There was also a 5K with 949 finishers. Mackenzie Greenfield of Philadelphia was the top woman in 18:10; she had a close race with Georganne Watson of Phoenixville who ran 18:13 in her Chicago Marathon tune-up. Emily Babay of Philadelphia was third in 19:35.

Bo Shepherd of Philadelphia won the 5K in 16:08.  He was followed by more Philadelphians, Dylan Servis in 16:17 and James Barber in 16:54.  The fifth overall runner Thierno Barry, running for Students Run Philly Style, won his 15-19 age group in 17:11.

Full Results

Top Women

  1.  1:09:42 Susanna Sullivan, 34, Reston, VA
  2. 1:10:22 Mercy Chelangat, 27, Kenya
  3. 1:10:35 Jessie Cardin, 28, Rochester Hills, MI
  4. 1:12:50 Amber Zimmerman, 32, Philadelphia, PA
  5. 1:13:21 Anne-Marie Blaney, 31, Rochester Hills, MI
  6. 1:13:23 Laura Thweatt, 36, Superior, CO
  7. 1:13:25 Amy Davis-Green, 27, Lake Orion, MI
  8. 1:15:51 Abby Hong, 25-29,Manhattan Beach, CA
  9. 1:16:25 Grace Moore, 25, Wayne, PA
  10. 1:17:29 Izzi Gengaro, 20-24, Stanford, CA
  11. 1:18:03 Katie Florio, 31, Philadelphia, PA
  12. 1:18:19 Rosie Weber-Kearns, 31, Australia
  13. 1:18:21 Melanie Vlasic, 25-29, Hatfield, PA
  14. 1:19:23 Diane Neubauer, 35, Ambler, PA
  15. 1:20:11 Heidi Peoples, 44, Clarks Summit, PA

Top Men

  1.  1:01:22 Wesley Kiptoo, 28, Kenya
  2. 1:01:27 Athanas Kioko, 29, Kenya
  3. 1:01:50 Tsegay Tuemay Weldlibanos, 28, Eritrea
  4. 1:02:48 Zach Panning, 28, Grosse Pointe, MI
  5. 1:04:07 Emad Bashir-Mohammed, 20-24, Aurora, CO
  6. 1:04:11 Barry Keane, 26, Ireland
  7. 1:04:48 Phil Parrot-Migas, 31, Canada
  8. 1:05:06 JP Flavin, 26, Rochester Hills, MI
  9. 1:05:11 Ben Kendell, 28, Troy, MI
  10. 1:05:19 Peter Borger, 25, Malvern, PA
  11. 1:05:22 Daniel Johanning, 30, Costa Rica
  12. 1:05:55 John Boerjesson, 32, Sweden
  13. 1:06:18 Kevin McDonnell, 34, Cherry Hill, NJ
  14. 1:07:18 Ben Fleischer, 24, Scotch Plains, NJ
  15. 1:07:39 Seth Slavin, 25, Greenbelt, MD
The Philadelphia Art Museum provides a fantastic race start photo at the golden hour (7:30 AM).
The wheelchair athletes starting the PDR.
Susanna Sullivan of Reston, VA wins the PDR half marathon in a personal best of 1:08:42.
Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya won the Philadelphia Distance Run (half marathon) in 1:01:22. He led the entire way.
Winter Parts of State College, PA was tops in the non-binary group in 1:12:37.
PDR podium finishers: Mercy Chelangat of Kenya was second, Susanna Sullivan of Virginia was first, and Jessie Cardin of Michigan was third.
Liberty Track Club of Philadelphia had a strong presence with seven athletes in the Top 25.
Non-binary podium: Jacklyn Vasko third, Winter Parts first, and Josh Fernandez second.
Mercy Chelangat of Kenya was second in 1:10:22
Izzi Gengaro of Stanford, CA was tenth in 1:17:29.
Katie Florio of Philadelphia was eleventh in 1:18:03.
Rosie Weber-Kearns of Sydney, Australia was twelfth in 1:18:19.
Heidi Peoples of Clarks Summit, PA was 15th overall and top master in 1:20:11.
Diane Neubauer of Ambler, PA celebrates her 1:19:23, placing 14th.
Athanas Kioko of Kenya is happy with his personal best of 1:01:27, as he finished second, just five seconds behind Kiptoo.
Zach Panning of Grosse Pointe, MI was fourth with a personal best of 1:02:48. Panning was the top American.
Josh Fernandez of Philadelphia was second in the non-binary group in 1:17:12.
Emad Bashir-Mohammed of Aurora, CO was fifth in 1:04:07. Barry Keane of Ireland was sixth in 1:04:11. Both men were making their half marathon debut.
Phil Parrot-Migas of London, Ontario, Canada was seventh in 1:04:48.
Gregory Jaindl of Macungie, PA was 16th in 1:08:06.
Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya passes the Freedom Band along Kelly Drive.
Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya turns off the Falls Bridge on his return towards the finish during the PDR.
John Boerjesson of Sweden leads Daniel Johanning of Costa Rica during the PDR. Boerjesson was 12th in 1:05:55; Johanning was 11th in 1:05:22.
Barry Keane of Ireland and Emad Bahir-Mohammed of Aurora, CO ran together much of the way, finishing just four seconds apart in the debut at the half marathon distance. Bashir-Mohammed was fifth, Keane was sixth.
Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya leads Tsegay Tuemay Weldlibanos of Eritrea in the PDR.
Wesley Kiptoo #111 of Kenya led the entire way. Athanas Kioko (left) of Kenya, Tsegay Weldlibanos (white sunglasses) and Amanuel Mesel #122, both of Eritrea, form the 4-man pack early in the race.


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1 reply

  1. As USUAL- never a single mention of Seniors results

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