Posted: November 10, 2005

Athletics: Sundell, Hanscom Win Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay

MONTEREY, Calif. - (November 6, 2005) - The depth of the field was the story at the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay this Sunday. This was the strongest field the race has ever seen with ten athletes running 1 hours, 10 minutes or faster. Up front running fans were treated to an exciting six-way battle that would not be decided until the last half-mile. Steve Sundell of the Nike Farm Team emerged victorious with a time 1:05:20; just eight seconds shy of the course record. The 2004 Big Sur Marathon champion Ibrahim Limo finished second in 1:05:38. Ryan Bak, Fasil Bizuneh, Lyle Weese and Scott Nagelkerke all representing the Big Sur Distance Project finished third thru sixth, respectively.

On the women's side, Heather Hanscom of the Nike Farm Team running her first race since recovering from the injury that kept her out of the 2005 World Championship Marathon led wire-to-wire finishing in a time of 1:17:24. Alisha Williams of the Big Sur Distance Project, primarily a track runner, claimed second place in her first race ever over four miles. She finished the 13.1 mile course in 1:18:25. Camille Herron of Corvallis, Dina Rosenthol of San Jose and Sarah Hallas of Two Rock rounded out the top five for the women.

The race started fairly conservatively up front with splits of 5:09 and 5:11 through the first two miles. The lead pack of fifteen was soon whittled down to six as Big Sur Distance Project athletes Bak and Bizuneh took the lead and promptly dropped the pace, running a 4:50 split on the uphill third mile.

Bak, Bizuneh and Weese shared the lead over the next five miles keeping an honest pace of 5:00-5:05 per mile. After the turn around at the eight mile mark, Ibrahim Limo surged "to see if anyone responded." When everyone covered the move, Limo knew "it was too early."

When the pack passed the ten mile mark in 50:35, Limo tried again. He surged to the lead and for the first time got some separation from the pack. His lead did not last long as Bak not only covered the move, but passed Limo and continued to push the pace. Limo and Sundell were the only two to cover Bak's break.

At the 11 mile mark, Sundell surged and never let up as he covered the last two miles of the course in 9:10 to go unchallenged to the tape.

"This was my first road race in six years and the longest race I've ever run, so I wanted to be patient" Sundell said later.

In the women's race, Heather Hanscom took the pacing duties early on. Camille Herron settled in right behind her. Hanscom and Herron together passed the 7 mile mark in exactly 41:00, a 5:51 per mile pace with Alisha Williams about forty seconds back.

At the turn-around at the 8 mile mark, Hanscom got some separation from Herron and never looked back. She extended her lead over the last five miles winning comfortably in a time of 1:17:24.

"This race was a good test for me." Hansom said. "I've been training at altitude, and this my first effort at sea level, so I didn't know what to expect."

Williams picked up the pace on the second half of the course and was able to catch Herron at the ten mile mark. Williams then pulled away to finish in 1:18:25 to Herron's 1:19:21.

3rd The Half Marathon on Monterey Bay - Monterey, CA, Sunday, November 6, 2005

MEN
1) Steve Sundell, CA, 1:05:20
2) Ibrahim Limo, KEN, 1:05:38
3) Ryan Bak, CA, 1:05:53

WOMEN
1) Heather Hanscom, CA, 1:17:24
2) Alisha Williams, CA, 1:18:25
3) Camille Herron, OR, 1:19:21

Complete results can be found at: BSIM.org.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.