Chirchir, Gesabwa Take Allstate Life Insurance Miami Beach 13.1 Marathon
Winners earn $13,100 in newly sponsored national half-marathon series
By Gary Ferman, US Road Sports
Posted Thursday, 8 March, 2012
From Ryan Lamppa, Running USAMIAMI - (March 4, 2012) - With a mile remaining at the Allstate Life Insurance Miami Beach 13.1 Marathon® Sunday morning, Kenyan native Eric Chirchir pulled away from runner-up and countryman Philemon Terer.
That's when he began thinking how he'd spend the $13,100 half-marathon winner's purse that he was eligible for.
The first thing he'll do with the money?
"Supply a present to my daughter," Chirchir said. "She's 3-years-old."
Chirchir, 28, had no problems shaking off the muggy conditions from the 80 degree temperatures that affected some runners. After crossing the finish line, Chirchir knelt and kissed the ground.
"At the 11th mile, I was feeling comfortable and strong," said Chirchir, who ran 1 hour, 3 minutes, 55 seconds - 27 seconds ahead of Terer. "I was thinking to finish the race quick. I increased the pace, knew the pace was high and saw he could not match my pace."
Terer won $1000, while third place finisher Tesfaye Alemayehu, who is from Ethiopia, earned $500.
Risper Gesabwa made it a Kenyan sweep with a 1:17:07 finish on the women's side, well ahead of the 1:22:40 time of Melbourne Beach's Angela Cobb. Gesawaba also won $13,100. Boca Raton's Sara Gomez placed third in 1:29:31, but was not awarded prize money since she did not register or qualify as an elite runner.
Gesabwa, 22, previously won the 13.1 Marathon Los Angeles in 1:14:37, and she called the $13,100 prize "a jackpot."
"It was very hot, but for me, it was not bad. My coach and my husband have been training me so much for this," Gesabwa said. "When they told me about the jackpot, they told me to focus on it. They trained me for it - my husband said if I followed the schedule, I would win the jackpot. I will thank my God, ask God to help me to use the money well because it can make my life change."
Adding Miami flair to the race: A basketball-dribbling racer in a LeBron James jersey and a man who ran while juggling.
"It was a great event," said David Scott, General Manager and Race Director for US Road Sports & Entertainment of Florida. "The men, around mile nine it started to separate. One and two were together for like three miles. And then (Chirchir) took a big lead, really pulled away."
The Karhu 5K was held in conjunction with the 13.1 Marathon for those runners and walkers looking for a shorter distance. The winner was 21-year-old Spencer Deleveaux with an 18:05 finish, edging out 44-year-old Dutch Hendricks by four seconds. Deleveaux is a University of Miami senior majoring in biochemistry, and he's a member of the Hurricanes' running club.
The top 5K women's finisher was 32-year-old Sadie Wells in 19:56, placing sixth overall. Wells is a CrossFit trainer on Miami Beach.
The event, which featured 2,952 runners in the 13.1 race and 732 in the Karhu 5K, has a new name in 2012 thanks to the Allstate Life Insurance Company title sponsorship.
4th Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Miami Beach
Miami, FL, Sunday, March 4, 2012
MEN
1) Eric Chirchir (KEN), 1:03:55, $13,1000
2) Philemon Terer (KEN), 1:04:22, $1000
3) Tesfaye Alemayehu (ETH), 1:05:29, $500
WOMEN
1) Risper Gesabwa (KEN), 1:17:09, $13,100
2) Angela Cobb (USA / FL), 1:22:41, $1000
3) Sara Gomez (USA / FL), 1:29:31, $500
Full results and more at: www.131marathon.com
