DANIEL SALEL, MARY WACERA WIN B.A.A. HALF MARATHON CROWNS
B.A.A. Half Marathon Champs Also Win 2015 Distance Medley
By Chris Lotsbom
BOSTON (11-Oct) — Kenyans Daniel Salel and Mary Wacera (see attached
image) made triumphant returns to Boston today, claiming wins here at
the 15th annual B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Making decisive moves
in the final mile, Salel and Wacera entered Franklin Park’s White
Stadium out front, securing their first B.A.A. Half Marathon titles with
times of 1:00:56 and 1:10:21, respectively. Under crystal clear skies
(and a comfortable temperature of 49-degrees F),
a field of 6,412 athletes started the race.
From the start in Franklin Park, Salel and fellow Kenyan Stephen Sambu
established their dominance on the competition. Prior to the race, the
pair discussed plans of attacking the event record of 1:00:34, set by
two-time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa
in 2013. After five miles, Salel and Sambu were all by their lonesome,
side by side racing along Boston and Brookline’s picturesque Emerald
Necklace park system.
“We have raced a long time together. I knew he was a very strong guy, so
we agreed we wanted to maybe push the pace so we can maybe break the
course record,” described Salel. Hitting 10 kilometers in 28:26, Salel
and Sambu soon passed Jamaica Pond and the Arnold
Arboretum. Returning to Franklin Park, it was anyone’s race.
Familiar with his compatriot’s strong finishing abilities, Salel chose
to make a bid for the win while in Franklin Park Zoo, knowing there was
roughly a mile left in the competition.
“After 11 miles I started pushing there. I pulled away and I go [in the
zoo]. I was very confident that everything can happen and I knew I could
win,” said Salel, winner of this year’s B.A.A. 10K. The move worked to
perfection, as Salel quickly gaped the two-time
defending B.A.A. Distance Medley champion. By the time he entered
Franklin Park’s White Stadium for the sprint to the finish, Salel’s gap
was 22 seconds.
Breaking the tape in 1:00:56, Salel was all smiles. His victory not only
earned him the $10,000 first-place prize, but also a $20,000 bonus for
winning two of the three B.A.A. Distance Medley events.
“It is very special to me because I have been trying. This is the third
time I’ve come here. In 2013 and 2014, I came in second,” Salel said,
following a ceremonial victory lap in front of fans. “Today I am very
happy to win.”
Salel credited his energy and win to the people of Boston who cheered
him on from start to finish. Those on the course waved and shouted words
of encouragement to the 24-year-old.
“When you turn to come back you see people waving to you, which was so
nice. The crowd was so happy and they kept you confident,” he said. “I
like running here. I hope to come back and run the Boston Marathon.”
Placing second was Sambu in 1:01:18, followed by Kenya’s Eliud Ngetich
in third (1:02:40). The B.A.A.’s own Eric Ashe was the top American,
fourth in 1:05:48. Ethiopia’s Raji Assefa rounded out the top five in
1:05:53.
For Mary Wacera, today’s race served as a bit of redemption. Last year,
Wacera was forced to drop out mid-race due to a knee injury. In 2015,
she was determined to prevail stronger than ever and take home the
title.
Through 5 kilometers in 16:38 and 10 kilometers in 33:31, a group of
four women had congregated out front. Included among the pack were
Wacera, 2015 Boston Marathon champion Caroline Rotich, last year’s
B.A.A. Half Marathon runner-up Cynthia Limo, as well as
Ethiopian Belaynesh Oljira.
Similar to the men’s race, the women’s contest would be decided in the
final miles. Approaching the Franklin Park Zoo, Limo established a gap
of roughly ten yards on Wacera, with Rotich and Oljira an additional ten
yards back. At that point, Wacera was unsure
she’d be able to catch up.
“I didn’t think I could close the gap. It just happened, I don’t know
how,” said Wacera. Minutes later, she’d have a second wind of energy.
Despite the building fatigue in her muscles, the mother of one daughter
pushed on, thinking about the bonus incentives
she’d earn if she finished first.
“I had a surge to close the gap because in the back of my mind I was
thinking about the bonus. In the front of my mind was Cynthia; in the
back of my mind was the bonus,” she said with a laugh. Wacera quickly
caught up and passed Limo.
With the crowd on their feet, Wacera came down the finishing straight in
full sprint mode, a step up on Limo. The title was hers in 1:10:21, one
second ahead of Limo. Oljira placed third in 1:10:41, followed by
Boston Marathon champion Rotich (1:10:45).
“It feels good. I have to forget how painful it is and I have to be
happy! It was a tough race,” said Wacera, taking home a total of
$30,000. Like men’s winner Salel, she won $10,000 for finishing first,
plus $20,000 for winning two B.A.A. Distance Medley races
(she won the B.A.A. 10K in June). With the money, Wacera plans to build
a home back in her native Nyahururu, Kenya. She’ll also take home a
shiny gold medal, which she plans to give to daughter Ann, who turns
5-years old this coming week.
“She loves to run and she’s always saying ‘Go Mommy, you have to win!” said Wacera. “She’ll be very happy.”
Rotich, who triumphantly won the Boston Marathon in April, was happy
with her fourth place performance. She enjoys racing in Boston, and is
now gearing up for the New York City Marathon on November 1.
“It was a good race and I am OK with what happened, but at the same time
I wanted to win,” said Rotich. “It’s good to be back in Boston.”
The top American woman was Clara Santucci of Dilliner, Penn., seventh place in 1:14:23.
In the push rim wheelchair division, New Jersey’s Tony Nogueira won for
the tenth time since 2003, finishing in 54:16. Nogueira has now won five
consecutive B.A.A. Half Marathon titles. Danvers. Mass.-native Carla
Trodella was the women’s wheelchair champion
in 2:54:44.
Also in the field were over 500 runners representing Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, raising funds to improve patient care and cancer research at
Dana-Farber. The B.A.A. Half Marathon has been presented annually by
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund
since 2003. Dana-Farber runners have raised more than $5 million USD
through this event over the past 12 years.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic
Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a
healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s
Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and
the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive
charity, youth, and year-round running programs, including high
performance athletes and running club. Since 1986, the principal sponsor
of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial.
The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along
with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New
York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in
2015. The 120th Boston Marathon will be
held on Monday, April 18, 2016. For more information on the B.A.A.,
please visit
www.baa.org.