December 6, 2012
New
Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, Bachelor star Sean Lowe, Twilight
Actress Nikki Reed and American Idol finalist Paul McDonald finish
half-marathon; U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi paces group of 1:30 of
half-marathoners; new mid-strip finish line, other race improvements
deliver only Las Vegas running experience.
LAS
VEGAS – Under the neon lights of Las Vegas Boulevard and a new
mid-strip finish line adjacent to the Mirage Volcano, Sunday night (Dec.
2) runners from all 50 states and 52 countries participated in the 2012 Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
It’s a running experience that only Las Vegas could deliver, with more than 100 couples partipating in the ‘Run Through Wedding’ at New York New York, and a pre-race performance KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, the spectacular production at MGM Grand Las Vegas, who delivered a special performance on the start line stage just moments before the race began. (Image credit, right: Ryan Bethke.)
The women’s marathon lasted just under three hours, but in the end victory came down to the final few seconds. Romanian Nuta Olaru outlasted Andrian Neal of Colorado Springs, Colo., by two seconds, winning the women’s race in 2 hours, 51 minutes and 31 seconds.
“It was a tough course today,” said the 42-year-old Olaru, who trains in Boulder, Colo. “But I like Las Vegas. I like this competition because the last part is in the dark.”
The duo, who ran together for most of the redesigned 26.2-mile route, crossed the 10K mark in 38:18, 40 seconds clear of the rest of the field. Passing halfway in 1:22:34, Olaru and Neal were over two minutes up on eventual third-place finisher Dani Fisher (2:59:20), before turning into a tremendous headwind that plagued runners in both the marathon and half marathon. Olaru was three seconds up on Neal at the 20-mile mark (2:07:32), the most the two were separated all day. In the end, it was Olaru who won the battle with Neal — and the wind.
“It was tough because there were strong winds but I’m happy because I won,” Olaru said. “This is my dream.”
In the men’s marathon, 36-year-old Kenyan Jonathan Ndambuki, who trains in Santa Fe, New Mexico, crossed the finish line in 2:32:24 to win by 58 seconds over Steve DeKoker of Seattle. Ndambuki, who also won the 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon, was on his own for the last 20 miles of the race. After an opening 5K of 16:42 that saw four runners still in contention, Ndambuki began to string things out, hitting the 10K in 33:10 with a six-second advantage on eventual fourth-place finisher Jesse Armijo (2:43:38).
The men’s half-marathon featured another exciting finish, as a three-man battle between Kenyan Francis Maundu, Costa Rican Olympian Cesar Lizano and former University of Portland cross-country star Craig Hopkins materialized by the 10K mark. In the end, it was Hopkins who was strongest, breaking the tape in 1:07:23, five seconds ahead of Maundu. Lizano, who won the Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon two weeks ago, finished third in 1:07:42.
The trio passed 10 miles together in 50:48, on pace for a sub-1:06:30 finish, before turning back onto the world-famous Strip and headfirst into a relentless wind. They stayed together until just before the 12-mile marker when Hopkins turned on the after-burners and ran away with the victory.
Bradi Hutchison, a sub-34 minute 10K runner who recently graduated from Idaho State, made her debut in the women’s race a memorable one, winning in 1:19:34, over a minute ahead of second-place finisher Paige Biglin (1:20:47). Hutchison, who was 21 seconds back of Biglin at 5K (17:59 to 18:20), held a steady effort from start to finish, passing 10 miles in 59:22 — a 50-plus second lead which she added to over the final 5K.
U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi, who on presented a special commemorative marathon bib to Clint Bowyer at the NASCAR awards on Friday night, paced a group of 1:30 half marathoners, enjoying the scenic tour of Las Vegas Boulevard. A handful of notable celebrities were also on hand for the event, including Twilight Actress Nikki Reed and American Idol finalist Paul McDonald (2:35:18), suspended New Orleans Saints football coach Sean Payton (2:18:32), Bachelor star Sean Lowe (2:23:05) and actress Nicole Sullivan (1:57:35).
Registration for the 2013 event will open on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 with a special promotion.
2012 Zappos Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada
Marathon
MEN
1) Jonathan Ndambuki, 2:32:24
2) Steve Dekoker, 2:33:21
3) Sam Robinson, 2:41:09
4) Jesse Armijo, 2:43:38
5) Noel Fernandez, 2:44:51
6) Nicholas Browne, 2:47:42
7) Kameron Ulmer, 2:48:15
8) Samuel Bradbury, 2:48:32
9) Leighton Katsuda, 2:49:20
10) Russell Slade, 2:49:45
WOMEN
1) Nuta Olaru, 2:51:31
2) Andrian Neal, 2:51:32
3) Dani Fischer, 2:59:20
4) Erika Huerta, 3:00:37
5) Sandra McClellan, 3:03:16
6) Crista Kundu, 3:06:37
7) Amy Laughter, 3:11:01
8) Kellie Nickerson, 3:13:46
9) Ruby Bode, 3:15:14
10) Jodie Isomura, 3:17:31
Half-Marathon
MEN
1) Craig Hopkins, 1:07:23
2) Francis Maundu, 1:07:28
3) Cesar Lizano, 1:07:42
4) Roosevelt Cook, 1:12:07
5) Brandon Dworak, 1:12:10
6) Patrick McAuliffe, 1:12:54
7) Andrew Duncan, 1:14:17
8) Daniel Blouin, 1:14:20
9) Anthony Solis, 1:15:10
10) Jordon Welling, 1:15:19
WOMEN
1) Bradi Hutchison, 1:19:34
2) Paige Biglin, 1:20:47
3) Megan Rolland, 1:24:06
4) Heidi Greenwood, 1:24:55
5) Amelia Slagle, 1:26:08
6) Amanda Gramly, 1:26:59
7) Courtney Olsen, 1:27:19
8) Emma Miller, 1:27:40
9) Clerc Simpson, 1:28:07
10) Jodie Tilley, 1:28:44
For complete results, photos and more, visit StripatNight.com
LAS
VEGAS – Under the neon lights of Las Vegas Boulevard and a new
mid-strip finish line adjacent to the Mirage Volcano, Sunday night (Dec.
2) runners from all 50 states and 52 countries participated in the 2012 Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.It’s a running experience that only Las Vegas could deliver, with more than 100 couples partipating in the ‘Run Through Wedding’ at New York New York, and a pre-race performance KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, the spectacular production at MGM Grand Las Vegas, who delivered a special performance on the start line stage just moments before the race began. (Image credit, right: Ryan Bethke.)
The women’s marathon lasted just under three hours, but in the end victory came down to the final few seconds. Romanian Nuta Olaru outlasted Andrian Neal of Colorado Springs, Colo., by two seconds, winning the women’s race in 2 hours, 51 minutes and 31 seconds.
“It was a tough course today,” said the 42-year-old Olaru, who trains in Boulder, Colo. “But I like Las Vegas. I like this competition because the last part is in the dark.”
The duo, who ran together for most of the redesigned 26.2-mile route, crossed the 10K mark in 38:18, 40 seconds clear of the rest of the field. Passing halfway in 1:22:34, Olaru and Neal were over two minutes up on eventual third-place finisher Dani Fisher (2:59:20), before turning into a tremendous headwind that plagued runners in both the marathon and half marathon. Olaru was three seconds up on Neal at the 20-mile mark (2:07:32), the most the two were separated all day. In the end, it was Olaru who won the battle with Neal — and the wind.
“It was tough because there were strong winds but I’m happy because I won,” Olaru said. “This is my dream.”
In the men’s marathon, 36-year-old Kenyan Jonathan Ndambuki, who trains in Santa Fe, New Mexico, crossed the finish line in 2:32:24 to win by 58 seconds over Steve DeKoker of Seattle. Ndambuki, who also won the 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon, was on his own for the last 20 miles of the race. After an opening 5K of 16:42 that saw four runners still in contention, Ndambuki began to string things out, hitting the 10K in 33:10 with a six-second advantage on eventual fourth-place finisher Jesse Armijo (2:43:38).
The men’s half-marathon featured another exciting finish, as a three-man battle between Kenyan Francis Maundu, Costa Rican Olympian Cesar Lizano and former University of Portland cross-country star Craig Hopkins materialized by the 10K mark. In the end, it was Hopkins who was strongest, breaking the tape in 1:07:23, five seconds ahead of Maundu. Lizano, who won the Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon two weeks ago, finished third in 1:07:42.
The trio passed 10 miles together in 50:48, on pace for a sub-1:06:30 finish, before turning back onto the world-famous Strip and headfirst into a relentless wind. They stayed together until just before the 12-mile marker when Hopkins turned on the after-burners and ran away with the victory.
Bradi Hutchison, a sub-34 minute 10K runner who recently graduated from Idaho State, made her debut in the women’s race a memorable one, winning in 1:19:34, over a minute ahead of second-place finisher Paige Biglin (1:20:47). Hutchison, who was 21 seconds back of Biglin at 5K (17:59 to 18:20), held a steady effort from start to finish, passing 10 miles in 59:22 — a 50-plus second lead which she added to over the final 5K.
U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi, who on presented a special commemorative marathon bib to Clint Bowyer at the NASCAR awards on Friday night, paced a group of 1:30 half marathoners, enjoying the scenic tour of Las Vegas Boulevard. A handful of notable celebrities were also on hand for the event, including Twilight Actress Nikki Reed and American Idol finalist Paul McDonald (2:35:18), suspended New Orleans Saints football coach Sean Payton (2:18:32), Bachelor star Sean Lowe (2:23:05) and actress Nicole Sullivan (1:57:35).
Registration for the 2013 event will open on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 with a special promotion.
2012 Zappos Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada
Marathon
MEN
1) Jonathan Ndambuki, 2:32:24
2) Steve Dekoker, 2:33:21
3) Sam Robinson, 2:41:09
4) Jesse Armijo, 2:43:38
5) Noel Fernandez, 2:44:51
6) Nicholas Browne, 2:47:42
7) Kameron Ulmer, 2:48:15
8) Samuel Bradbury, 2:48:32
9) Leighton Katsuda, 2:49:20
10) Russell Slade, 2:49:45
WOMEN
1) Nuta Olaru, 2:51:31
2) Andrian Neal, 2:51:32
3) Dani Fischer, 2:59:20
4) Erika Huerta, 3:00:37
5) Sandra McClellan, 3:03:16
6) Crista Kundu, 3:06:37
7) Amy Laughter, 3:11:01
8) Kellie Nickerson, 3:13:46
9) Ruby Bode, 3:15:14
10) Jodie Isomura, 3:17:31
Half-Marathon
MEN
1) Craig Hopkins, 1:07:23
2) Francis Maundu, 1:07:28
3) Cesar Lizano, 1:07:42
4) Roosevelt Cook, 1:12:07
5) Brandon Dworak, 1:12:10
6) Patrick McAuliffe, 1:12:54
7) Andrew Duncan, 1:14:17
8) Daniel Blouin, 1:14:20
9) Anthony Solis, 1:15:10
10) Jordon Welling, 1:15:19
WOMEN
1) Bradi Hutchison, 1:19:34
2) Paige Biglin, 1:20:47
3) Megan Rolland, 1:24:06
4) Heidi Greenwood, 1:24:55
5) Amelia Slagle, 1:26:08
6) Amanda Gramly, 1:26:59
7) Courtney Olsen, 1:27:19
8) Emma Miller, 1:27:40
9) Clerc Simpson, 1:28:07
10) Jodie Tilley, 1:28:44
For complete results, photos and more, visit StripatNight.com
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