By Duncan Larkin
Arguably the best road racer currently in the United States—Lineth Chepkurui seen here last winter braving a Boulder winter! © Take The Magic Step
Lineth Chepkurui is having a road-racing season like no other. In the span of six weeks, the 22-year-old Kenyan has won the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, the Crescent City Classic, and Lilac Bloomsday 12K. And on Sunday, she crossed the line first at the 99th Annual ING Bay to Breakers 12-kilometer race in San Francisco (California). Her winning time, 38:07 (5:07 per mile), bettered her own world best for that distance, 38:10 minutes, which was set at the Lilac Bloomsday earlier this month. In the men’s race, Sammy Kitwara of Kenya won in 34:15.
KIMbia’s Lineth Chepkurui was also the first person to cross the finish line. To make the race even more enjoyable and exciting, organizers offer a Battle to the Breakers bonus—giving the women a 4:51 head start over the men. Chepkurui led the race the entire time and ran relatively unopposed. She also collected the race’s second prize, the Hayes Street Summit bonus, which is awarded to the first woman and man to run up the course’s steepest hill. The second-place finisher and current world cross-country champion, Emily Chebet of Kenya, was 34 seconds behind Chepkurui in 38:41, while third place went to Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia in 39:34.
The men’s race was much closer with Peter Kirui of Kenya racing Sammy Kitwara all the way to the finish line. Kirui was given the same time as Kitwara: 34:15. Third place went to Tilahun Regassa of Ethiopia who finished further back in 35:30.
There aren’t many races like the Bay to Breakers. As much carnival as serious road race, the Bay to Breakers is filled with tens of thousands of participants dressed in wide-ranging costumes—from literally nothing, to something as outlandish as Star Wars characters and sumo wrestlers. The race’s name derives from the course itself, which begins in the northeast end of the downtown San Francisco area, along the bay, and passes to the west section of the city where it finishes along the “breakers” of the Pacific Ocean. This year participants ran in weather conditions with temperatures in the 50 degrees Fahrenheit and overcast skies.
And besides the fun and the fast runners, there’s also the most important aspect of the race: the charities. Some of the proceeds of the race benefit charities like the ING Run for Something Better program, a national campaign that funds free, school-based running programs and introduces children to the benefits of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle choices.
