Posted: October 15, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Ondara, Makunzi Win Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon San Jose

American Khannouchi frustrated with results From Ian Monahan, Elite Racing SAN JOSE, Calif. - (October 14, 2007) - Kenyans McDonald Ondara and Magdalene Makunzi won the second Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon San Jose on Sunday. Ondara, 23, covered the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 1 minute, 11 seconds, while Makunzi, 24, broke the tape in 1:09:58. The men's race culminated in a sprint to the finish as Ondara, who led the majority of the race, beat the 27-year-old Tanzanian John Yuda by just two seconds. "I was sort of afraid of him," said Ondara of his closest competitor Yuda. "It was very hard to predict," Ondara added about planning his final kick. After mile three, the men's lead pack began to thin out, gradually dropping American Khalid Khannouchi. The four-time Chicago Marathon champion was clearly frustrated with his 1:05:04 time. "It was a great day for the race," Khannouchi said. "But, this is not what I expected. I thought I would run 1:03:00." Despite his criticism of today's performance, Khannouchi, 35, who used the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon as a tune-up for next month's Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City, remained optimistic about his preparation for the November 3 race. "It's in me," Khannouchi said. "I will have to go home and work on my speed. I'm running against time now." Makunzi dominated the women's race, finishing more than a minute faster than second place Megumi Oshima from Japan. "After five kilometers I pushed," said Makunzi. "I looked behind and they had dropped back. I was thinking of a time of 68:00, but I am happy with today." Makunzi's finishing time was a personal best by seven seconds. 2nd Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon - San Jose, CA, Sunday, October 14, 2007 MEN 1) McDonald Ondara (KEN), 1:01:11, $8000 2) John Yuda (TAN), 1:01:13, $5000 3) Hillary Kipchumba (KEN), 1:01:32, $3000 4) Tom Nyariki (KEN), 1:02:17, $2000 5) Charles Munyeki (KEN), 1:02:58, $1500 6) Scott Bauhs (USA / CA), 1:03:04, $1250 7) Daniel Kipkoech (KEN), 1:03:15, $1000 8) Boaz Cheboiywo (KEN), 1:03:41, $750 9) George Misoi (KEN), 1:04:14, $600 10) Joseph Ngetich (KEN), 1:04:17, $500 WOMEN 1) Magdalene Makunzi (KEN), 1:09:58, $8000 2) Megumi Oshima (JPN), 1:11:14, $5000 3) Everlyne Lagat (KEN), 1:11:35, $3000 4) Rose Kosgei (KEN), 1:12:42, $2000 5) Caroline Cheptanui (KEN), 1:12:49, $1500 6) Maria Elena Valencia (MENX), 1:13:26, $1250 7) Melissa White (USA / MI), 1:13:41, $1000 8) Anne Jelegat (KEN), 1:13:44, $750 9) Dot McMahan (USA / MI), 1:14:51, $600 Complete results at: RnRsj.com. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest