SAN DIEGO – (August 10, 2014) – The 37th America’s Finest City Half Marathon (also known as the AFC Half) will feature defending and past champions – including the men’s course record holder –and a field of more than 7,000 elite, recreational and inspirational runners hailing from 45 states and 15 foreign countries, announced Neil Finn Sports Management, Inc., the event organizer. The AFC Half and the accompanying AFC 5Kare for set for Sunday, August 17, in San Diego.
In the men’s race, Nelson Oyugi, returning champion and current course record holder, will return to defend his title. The Kenyan blazed to a dramatic victory in 2013, setting a new course record of 1 hour, 1 minute, 58 seconds in his debut at the distance and just his second race on U.S soil. The previouscourse record (1:02:24) was set by Kenyan Peter Githuka in 2000.
Oyugi will toe the start line with Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Alemayehuwho placed third in 2013 (1:02:06), was victorious in 2012 (1:03:43) and was runner-up in 2011 (1:03:18). Canadian Rob Watson also brings strong credentials to the field, clocking a 1:03:22 personal-best at the 2013 NYC Half.
Seeded athletes also include Americans Anthony Solis, of Sacramento, Calif. who ran his personal best (1:04:35) at the 2014 USA Half Marathon Championships in Houston and Carlos Trujillo of Boulder, Colo. who brings a 1:03:16 half-marathon PR to the field.
In the women’s race a strong contingent of Americans will take to the scenic streets of San Diego, including Molly Pritz of Mountain View, Calif., who holds at 1:10:45 personal best and Lindsey Scherf, a four-time All-American at Harvard, now living in Chapel Hill, N.C. with a 1:11:45 PB. They will be joined by Caitlin Comfort of Madison, Wis., who placed third in the 2014 USA Half Marathon Championships in Houston, running a personal best of 1:12:16.
The field also incudes Kenya’s Sarah Kiptoo, who was victorious at both the 2013 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (1:12:26) and 2013 Grandma’s Marathon, setting a new course record (2:26:32).
Other notable entrants include San Diego residents Gordy Adsit, 60, Jerry Albert, 77, and David Parker, 64, who have run all 36 previous AFC Half editions
The AFC Half point-to-point course starts at the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma, runs along the San Diego Bay and through downtown before finishing in historic Balboa Park. The accompanying AFC 5K starts and finishes in Balboa Park.
Competitors in the half-marathon will vie for $13,700 in prize MONEY
and bonuses.
Produced by Neil Finn Sports Management, Inc., the 2014 America’s Finest City Half Marathon will benefit the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and other local charities. During its 36-year history the AFC Half has raised more than $3.4 million for non-profit organizations.
For more information, please visit www.afchalf.com or call (760) 692-2900
(c) 2014 RunningUSA, all rights reserved, used with permission
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