Sammy Kiplagat
DALLAS – (March 25, 2012) – Under bright blue skies and sunny conditions, more than 14,500 entrants took to the start line for the 3rd Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Texas-based Kenyan Sammy Kiplagat and University of Oregon graduate Mattie Suver, who recently moved to Austin, each registered victories, running 1 hour, 5 minutes and 45 seconds and 1:17:40, respectively.
The 38-year-old Kiplagat made his defining move at a water station approaching 11 miles to seize victory. Samuel Kosgei of Uganda finished second with a time of 1:06:01, followed by Craig Leon in 1:06:07.
“I know I didn’t have the finishing speed so I had to make my move to win,” said Kiplagat, a resident of Hidalgo, TX who won his second half-marathon this month. “This was my first time running a Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon event and the whole course, the atmosphere was fantastic.”
Kiplagat, Kosgei and Leon, along with fourth place finisher Benazzouz Slimani, ran in a tight pack for the first 10 miles, separating themselves early on in the race from the rest of the field. Passing the 10K mark in 31:32, all four runners took turns in the lead pushing the pace. But it was Kiplagat who made the decisive move, catching the other runners off guard.
“We had a nice group together for nine, ten miles and then at eleven miles he put on a heck of a move. He was on the other side of the road and when we got water, all of a sudden he was gone and we really didn’t have a chance to respond,” said Leon, who was back racing for his third consecutive weekend after running in the Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston this past January. “I’m still trying to get my legs back under me and I’m focused on the USA 25K Championships in May. I loved the course and you can’t beat this weather. Living in Oregon, I hadn’t seen the sun in two weeks.”
On the women’s side, Suver, 24, took the lead during the first mile and never relinquished it on her way to victory. It was Suver’s first time running in Dallas after moving to Texas two months ago.
“This was a great race there are some cool neighborhoods in Dallas,” said Suver, who won the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon last summer. The weather was perfect, lots of sunshine and warmth. Texas is awesome. We love it so far and we’ve really noticed the hospitality here. It’s really exciting; everyone here is so welcoming in Texas. I already feel like part of the community here.”
More than 14,500 entrants made up the largest field in the three year history of the event. The 13.1 mile city course started in downtown Dallas at City Hall and finished at Fair Park, adjacent to the Cotton Bowl, making its way through uptown and scenic Highland Park neighborhoods. Participants were treated to a post-race concert at the finish line headlined by American Idol star James Durbin. The fourth Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is set for Sunday, March 24, 2013.
3rd Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon
Dallas, TX, Sunday, March 25, 2012
MEN
1) Sammy Kiplagat, 38, Kenya, 1:05:45, $1500*
2) Samuel Kosgei, 27, Uganda, 1:06:01, $500
3) Craig Leon, 27, Eugene, OR, 1:06:07, $300
4) Benazzouz Slimani, Garland, TX, 1:06:24, $1000*^
5) Logan Sherman, 26, Dallas, TX, 1:08:25, $600*^
9) Josh Trevino, 28, Dallas, TX, 1:11:26, $200^
WOMEN
1) Mattie Suver, 24, Austin, TX, 1:17:40, $1000 (not eligible for TX prize money)
2) Becky Angeles, 35, Murphy, TX, 1:21:05, $1000*
3) Heidi Morse, 29, Grapevine, TX, 1:23:20, $1100*^
4) Juli Koenegstein, 25, Stillwater, OK, 1:27:00, $200
5) Kristen Rosenau, 27, Oklahoma City, OK, 1:27:44, $100
8) Abby Perone, 26, Colleyville, TX, 1:28:50, $500*^
9) Shelley Kaiser, 32, Dallas, TX, 1:29:27, $200^
*To qualify for Texas money athletes must have been a resident for at least 12 months from race day.
^Dallas prize money means athlete must live within the Dallas Metroplex.
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