Olympian, Kenyan Win Women's, Men's Field in Big Sure Half Marathon

By Bay City News Service

An Olympian and a Kenyan were the first place finishers Sunday in the women’s and men’s divisions of the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay, organizers said.

The race started at 6:55 a.m. and took runners through Monterey and Pacific Grove, organizers said.

Boulder, Colo. resident Kara Goucher, 37, won the women’s division with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 13 seconds, according to organizers.

Kenyan Elisha Barno, 30, won the men’s division with a time of 1:03:04, the third fastest time in race history, organizers said.

Runners have been racing in the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay each year for the past 13 years, according to organizers.

Goucher’s time was the second fastest in race history among the women, organizers said. Belainesh Gebre holds the record with a time of 1:09:43, marathon spokesperson Julie Armstrong said.

Ian Dobson holds the overall race record with a time of 1:02:33 set in 2006, Armstrong said.

Kenyan Meshack Kirwa set a record in the male Master’s division, which hosts runner’s 40 years old and older, with a time of 1:04:25, organizers said.

He finished eighth overall, according to organizers.

(Photo of Kara Goucher courtesy of Big Sur International Marathon)