Two-time London Marathon champion Martin Lel of Kenya outpaced his countryman and half-marathon world record holder Sammy Wanjiru at the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in New Orleans Sunday, winning in 1:01:07.
The top men ran a little slower than they are capable of going (Wanjiru’s world record is 58:33), largely because Lel and Wanjiru both have been logging heavy miles in preparation for April’s London Marathon. Nevertheless, after finishing Lel said, “I felt very comfortable the whole way. I had good legs today.”
On the women’s side, Ethiopia’s Berhane Adere, age 36, won the Half Marathon in New Orleans in 1:07:52, the fastest women’s half-marathon time ever run in America. She won a thrilling duel with New Zealand’s Kim Smith, who finished a close second in 1:07:55.
A total of 13,000 runners participated in the two races.
Results Summary
Men
- Martin Lel 1:01:07
- Sammy Wanjiru 1:01:33
- Shadrack Biwott 1:01:40
- Martin Fagan 1:02:11
- McDonald Ondara 1:02:26
- Mike Morgan 1:02:56
- Robert Scribner 1:05:43
- Anthony Gallo 1:06:17
- Abebe Yimer 1:06:34
- Neil McDonagh 1:06:51
Women
- Berhane Adere 1:07:52
- Kim Smith 1:07:55
- Azalech Maresha 1:09:46
- Lisa Paulson 1:13:15
- Ramilya Burangulova 1:13:38
- Diane Nukuri 1:14:25
- Erin O’Mara 1:21:08
- Sarah Skotty 1:21:18
- Varinka Barbini 1:22:20
- Elizabeth Chenoweth 1:23:05
Results for all participants would be made available soon on the event website results page.
