+- Running Information Forums (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Country and General Discussion (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Forum-Country-and-General-Discussion)
+--- Forum: USA (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Forum-USA)
+---- Forum: Pre-Event News (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Forum-Pre-Event-News)
+---- Thread: Top Field for America's Finest City Half (/Thread-Top-Field-for-America-s-Finest-City-Half)
Top Field for America's Finest City Half - TheEd - 17-08-2012
SAN DIEGO - (August, 2012) - The 35th America's Finest City Half Marathon (AFC Half) will feature a sold-out field of more than 8,000 elite, recreational and inspirational runners hailing from 45 states and 16 countries, according to Neil Finn Sports Management, Inc., the event organizer. The AFC Half and the accompanying AFC 5K are for set for Sunday, August 19.
Tesfaye Sendeku of Ethiopia will toe the start line with Americans Scott Bauhs of California and Jeffrey Eggleston of Arizona. Sendeku, who finished second at the 2011 AFC Half in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 18 seconds, recently set a new course record at the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon in 1:02:38.
Bauhs, a 2012 Olympics Trials qualifier in the 5000 and 10,000 meter events, finished third at the 2012 Aramco Houston Half Marathon, setting a personal record in 1:01:30. He holds a 27:48 10,000 meter personal record. Eggleston, a 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, won the San Francisco Half Marathon in 1:03:54, a course and personal record.
The men's elite field also includes Carlos Trujillo of Idaho, Thomas Frazer of Ireland and Meshack Kirwa of Kenya. Kirwa won the 2012 Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon last January in 1:05:10.
In the women's race, Masters standout Ludmila Petrova, 43, of Russia will join a decidedly younger field of American women, including Californians Natasha LaBeaud and Sopana Eap. Petrova placed second at the 2008 New York City Marathon in 2:25:43, surpassing the world record of 2:26:51 for women over 40. LaBeaud, 24, finished third at the 2011 AFC Half (1:18:14), while Eap, 31, holds a 1:16 half-marathon personal best.
Notable entrants also include San Diego residents Gordy Adsit, 58, Jerry Albert, 75, and David Parker, 62 - all of whom have run all 34 previous AFC Half editions. Additionally, six heart transplant recipients are entered in the half-marathon and 20 members of the Wounded Warrior Project will be participating in the 5K.
Competitors in the half-marathon will vie for $13,700 in prize money and bonuses. The AFC Half course records are 1:02:24 for the men (Peter Githuka (KEN), 2000) and 1:10:28 for the women (Belainesh Gebre (ETH), 2010).
The AFC Half point-to-point course starts at the Cabrillo National Monument runs along the San Diego Bay and through downtown before finishing in historic Balboa Park. The accompanying AFC 5K starts and finishes in Balboa Park.
Produced by Neil Finn Sports Management, Inc., the 2012 America's Finest City Half Marathon will benefit the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, Cancer Patients Alliance and other local charities. During its 34-year history, the AFC Half has raised more than $3.4 million for non-profit organizations.