Baker, Cooper-Scott Win Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon
Korir, Kibii keep half-marathon crowns; sold-out event field of 8,200

E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page Related info: Running USA

By Patrice Malloy
Posted Monday, 25 January, 2010

From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA

CARLSBAD, Calif. - (January 24, 2010) - Two first-time Carlsbad champions and two defending champions claimed victories at the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon events held on Sunday under cool, partly cloudy conditions.

Brian Baker, 24, of Beaumont, Calif. won the marathon men's division wire-to-wire in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 39 seconds. It was the third fastest winning time in the event's 18-year history and his first attempt at the 26.2-mile distance.

His sub-two hour, 19-minute time qualified Baker for the 2012 U.S. Olympics Marathon Trials. "My goal was to run a sub-2:19:00 marathon and qualify for the Trials," said Baker.

Jacques Sallberg of Pasadena, Calif. was the runner-up, finishing in 2:23:41, while Jameson Mora of Arroyo Grande, Calif. was third (2:24:02).

Haley Cooper-Scott, 29, a professional triathlete from Spokane, Wash., won the women's division in 2:57:20. Morgan Sjogren of Oceanside, Calif. was second in 3:02:58 in her first-ever marathon and Jolene Vanyo placed third (3:04:34).

In the half-marathon men's division, Wesley Korir of Kenya was victorious for the second year in a row, winning in 1:04:04, while countrywoman Jane Kibii also defended her title in 1:14:00.

More than 8,200 runners and walkers from 48 states and 11 foreign countries participated in Sunday's Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon.

The scenic 26.2 and 13.1 mile races started and finished at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real in Carlsbad and treated runners and walkers to tours of the Buena Vista Lagoon, the Village of Carlsbad and the Pacific coastline before returning home to the finish line.

Twenty-eight musical bands entertained the thousands of participants, volunteers and spectators along the course throughout the morning. The event enlisted the help of over 2,000 volunteers and benefited 19 official charities. Both the marathon and the half-marathon sold out months in advance.

18th Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon
Carlsbad, CA, Sunday, January 24, 2010

MEN
1) Brian Baker (USA / CA), 2:18:39, $2500*
2) Jacques Sallberg (USA / CA), 2:23:41, $1250**
3) Jameson Mora (USA / CA), 2:24:02, $1100**
*includes $500 sub-2:30:00 bonus plus $500 sub-2:25:00 bonus and $1000 sub-2:20:00 bonus
**includes $500 sub-2:30:00 bonus and $500 sub-2:25:00 bonus

WOMEN
1) Haley Cooper-Scott (USA / WA), 2:57:20, $1000*
2) Morgan Sjogren (USA / CA), 3:02:58, $250
3) Jolene Vanyo (USA / CA), 3:04:34, $100
*includes $500 sub-2:58 bonus

Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon
MEN
1) Wesley Korir (KEN), 1:04:04, $1500
2) Tesfaye Bekele (ETH), 1:04:12, $750
3) Edward Tabut (KEN), 1:05:48, $300

WOMEN
1) Jane Kibii (KEN), 1:14:00, $2500*
2) Everlyne Lagat (KEN), 1:14:56, $750
3) Johanna Bonfiglio (USA / CA), 1:19:52
*includes $1000 first sub-1:15:00 bonus

Full results and more at: www.carlsbadmarathon.com