(David Cheruiyot, of Kenya, right, trails Kasime Adilo of Ethiopia as they prepare to make the turn onto Allen Parkway during the Chevron Houston Marathon.)
Kenya’s David Cheruiyot, 37, won the Chevron Houston Marathon in an official time of 2:12:32, his third win in the race.
Cheruiyot is only the second runner to win the event three times (2008, 2006, 2005) — joining countryman Stephen Nbungu who had three consecutive wins from 1998-2000.
Ethiopia’s Dire Tune, 22, set a record — an official time of 2:24:40 — in the women’s event today, breaking her own mark of 2:26:52, set last year. Worknesh Tola, 30, of Ethiopia, finished second in 2:35:37. Tune is the first repeat winner since 2000 and the third overall to win the race twice.
Cheruiyot pulled 13 seconds clear of Ethiopia’s Kasime Adilo over the last 400 meters of the 26.2-mile race.
More than 20,000 took part in today’s races, according to organizers.
Colorado-based James Carney won the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, also the USATF National Championship, with a time of 1:02:21.
Kate O’Neill ran 1:11:57 to take the women’s title.
Carney’s pace was 4:46 per mile while O’Neill averaged 5:30 for the event.
Results:
MARATHON
Men
1. David Cheruiyot, Kenya, 2:12:32
2. Kasime Adilo, Ethiopia, 2:12:45
Women
1. Dire Tune, Ethiopia, 2:24:40 * Course record.
2. Worknesh Tola, Ethiopia, 2:35:37
HALF MARATHON for U.S. championship 2008
Men
1. James Carney, Lafayette, Colo., 1:02:21
2. Jason Lehmkuhle, Minneapolis, 1:02:32
3. Steve Sundell, Redwood City, Calif., 1:03.21
Favored Dan Browne, Beaverton, Ore., finished 17th, 1:05:38.
Master:
1. Sean Wade, HOUSTON, 1:07:43.
* Last year Californian Ryan Hall set an American record of 59:43.
Women
1. Kate O’Neill, Palto Alto, Calif., 1:11:57.
2. Desiree Davila, Rochester Hills, Minn., 1:12:10.
3. Serena Burla, Columbia, Mo., 1:12:10.
Master:
1. Colleen De Reuck, Boulder, Colo., 1:14:58 (De Reuck holds the course record, 1:10:55, set 2004.
Defending champion Elva Dryer didn’t finish in the top 25.