Wade, Ray win 1st annual Houston Half Marathon
With 33-year-old Ray Ceaser Martinez and 32-year-old Vaughn Gibbs tucked in behind the entire way, 40-year-old Sean Wade scored his 8th career Warm-Up Series win on Sunday by posting a 1:12:51.2 finish in today's Houston Half Marathon.
Martinez, a Kenyan Way participant who was running his very first half marathon today, was just three-hundreths of a second behind under Wade's watchful eye as they came down the finishing stretch. Gibbs finished less than 5 seconds later in 1:12:56.0. (Martinez was 10th overall in the 2005 ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run 10K and won his 30-34 age group with a time of 35:18. Wade won that race in 31:18.)
As the female runners completed the first loop of the course, relay runner Agustina Foglietta, who completed the first half in 40:28, led with Heidy Lozano second and triathlete Autumn Ray third. But by the time runners completed their second loop, the 26-year-old multi-sport star had passed Lozano, last year's 30k overall winner, as they held on to their finish while 39-year-old Lisa Tilton-McCarthy grabbed third 23 seconds in front of Susan Walters.
Ray won the event in a time of 1:23:39.6 while Lozano clocked a finish of 1:24:17.9. Tilton-McCarthy, who won last weekend's Huntsville Half Marathon, was third in 1:25:22.2.
Warm-Up Series Data
Sean Wade has won the 20k/Half six of the last eight years.
Six years ago today, Rudy Rocha won the 20k in 1:06:58.9 and last year, Baytown's hometown favorite finished second to Luis Armenteros. His 8th Warm-Up Series win is 5th all-time.
Francisco Perez, 41, captured his third Masters Warm-Up Series win in four tries. He won Masters division of the 20k last year in 1:11:36.9 and the 30k in 1:50:47.8. He was less than a minute from making it a clean sweep a year ago as Bernie Weber won the Masters in the 25k last season in 1:35:21.6.
After finishing second in the 25k last year and punching her Invited Runner ticket to the Houston Marathon, triathlete Autumn Ray won her first Warm-Up series race. Last year she covered the 25k distance in a 6:49 pace while hammering out a 6:23 pace today to win.
43-year-old Heidy Lozano won the 30k last December outright with a time of 2:04:48.3. Therefore, today's second place finish to Ray gives her a second consecutive Warm-Up Series win.
Chevron Houston Marathon Invited Runner Status
If my information is correct, five (5) men and just two (2) women secured Invited Runner status as a result of today's race. They are as follows:
Male
Sean Wade (Open, 1:12:51.2, best time under 1:18:29)
Francisco Perez (M40, 1:14:43.5, best time under 1:20:29)
Edward Fry (M50, 1:25:15.1, best time under 1:26:44)
Allan Conley (M60, 1:31:01.2, best time under 1:34:31)
Ino Cantu (M70, 1:40:26.6, best time under 1:45:05)
Female
Autumn Ray (Open, 1:23:39.6, best time under 1:30:08)
Heidy Lozano (F40, 1:24:17.9, best time under 1:133:20)
Carole Uttecht met the female 50-59 standard today; however, she already secured her invitation with her performance in the 2006 Chevron Houston Marathon.
Two weeks ago at the USA 10-Miler, the Houston Striders' Ted Traynor was one minute, 44.3 seconds off of the men's 50-59 standard for that distance. Today, as one of the top veterans runners in town, Traynor met the half marathon standard but watched Edward Fry outsprint him to the finish line by two (2) seconds, 1:25:15.1 to 1:25:17.1.
Special Congratulations
Lots to eventually talk about today; however, I want to extend two big congratulations to Jan Poscovsky and Vic Kaiser. While they spent a little extra time on the course today than both of today's winners, they deserve recognition as well as winners and the front runners.
Jan did today's half marathon in 3:19:29.4 a week after doing the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (which was her third and personal best of 6:41:09) and Vic came very, very close to breaking three hours in his race distance PR and - in fact - he did! Chip time of 2:59:56.3! I had the pleasure, as I walked the course (out to the turnaround on Shepherd and back) to cheer people on, to see both of them on the course in the latter stages of the race.
Best of the Bloggers
Edwin Quarles (BARRA) - 1:38:52.8 PR!
Keith Kelleher - 1:49:35.7 PR!
Joe Carey (BARC) - 1:49:43.2 PR!
Bill Cox (HS) - 2:00:16.2 Debut!
James David Dykas (HF) - 2:01:06.0 PR!
Jessica Alexander (HS) - 2:01:54.8
Holden Choi (HS) - 2:02:29.6 PR!
Barbara Boone - 2:05:19.2
Bob Entwhistle - 2:07:15.0
June Vidrine (HS) - 2:31:13.2 Debut!
Jaclyn Dykas (HF) - 2:31:41.9 (hubby blogs for her!)
Jennifer Kim (HS) - 2:56:29.8 Debut!
Vic Kaiser (HS) - 2:59:56.3 Debut!
Jan Poscovsky (FBF) - 3:19:29.4
Overall Numbers
Today's race featured 2,576 runners that included a record 131 relay teams (up from last year's high of 96 finishing teams). The former 20K event featured 2,636 finishers per the results on the houstonhalf.com website. The last seven years are listed here as follows:
2000 - 1,873 finishers (no relay)
2001 - 2,229 (including 36 teams)
2002 - 2,380 (including 36 teams)
2003 - 2,453 (including 58 teams)
2004 - 2,636 (including 95 teams)
2005 - 2,391 (including 96 teams)
2006 - 2,576 (including 131 teams)
Not counting the relay teams, this year featured the highest percentage of female finishers since 2000 - 48.7%. The complete numbers are as follows:
2000 - 59.8% male (1,120 to 753 female)
2001 - 58.0% male (1,250 to 907 female)
2002 - 56.2% male (1,296 to 1,012 female)
2003 - 55.2% male (1,288 to 1,045 female)
2004 - 52.7% male (1,289 to 1,157 female)
2005 - 53.2% male (1,169 to 1,030 female)
2006 - 51.3% male (1,187 to 1,127 female)
Record number of runners in the following age groups were seen in the following groups:
+ Female 19-U (19)
+ Female 20-24 (67)
+ Female 35-39 (224)
+ Female 45-49 (135)
+ Female 55-59 (35)
+ Male 60-64 (44)
+ Male 65-69 (17)
Best of HARRA Presidents
Tom Stilwell (2005-2006) - 1:26:33.9
Anna Sumrall Helm (Current) - 1:35:34.4
Joe Sellers (2000-2002) - 2:11:29.3
Martinez, a Kenyan Way participant who was running his very first half marathon today, was just three-hundreths of a second behind under Wade's watchful eye as they came down the finishing stretch. Gibbs finished less than 5 seconds later in 1:12:56.0. (Martinez was 10th overall in the 2005 ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run 10K and won his 30-34 age group with a time of 35:18. Wade won that race in 31:18.)
As the female runners completed the first loop of the course, relay runner Agustina Foglietta, who completed the first half in 40:28, led with Heidy Lozano second and triathlete Autumn Ray third. But by the time runners completed their second loop, the 26-year-old multi-sport star had passed Lozano, last year's 30k overall winner, as they held on to their finish while 39-year-old Lisa Tilton-McCarthy grabbed third 23 seconds in front of Susan Walters.
Ray won the event in a time of 1:23:39.6 while Lozano clocked a finish of 1:24:17.9. Tilton-McCarthy, who won last weekend's Huntsville Half Marathon, was third in 1:25:22.2.
Warm-Up Series Data
Sean Wade has won the 20k/Half six of the last eight years.
Six years ago today, Rudy Rocha won the 20k in 1:06:58.9 and last year, Baytown's hometown favorite finished second to Luis Armenteros. His 8th Warm-Up Series win is 5th all-time.
Francisco Perez, 41, captured his third Masters Warm-Up Series win in four tries. He won Masters division of the 20k last year in 1:11:36.9 and the 30k in 1:50:47.8. He was less than a minute from making it a clean sweep a year ago as Bernie Weber won the Masters in the 25k last season in 1:35:21.6.
After finishing second in the 25k last year and punching her Invited Runner ticket to the Houston Marathon, triathlete Autumn Ray won her first Warm-Up series race. Last year she covered the 25k distance in a 6:49 pace while hammering out a 6:23 pace today to win.
43-year-old Heidy Lozano won the 30k last December outright with a time of 2:04:48.3. Therefore, today's second place finish to Ray gives her a second consecutive Warm-Up Series win.
Chevron Houston Marathon Invited Runner Status
If my information is correct, five (5) men and just two (2) women secured Invited Runner status as a result of today's race. They are as follows:
Male
Sean Wade (Open, 1:12:51.2, best time under 1:18:29)
Francisco Perez (M40, 1:14:43.5, best time under 1:20:29)
Edward Fry (M50, 1:25:15.1, best time under 1:26:44)
Allan Conley (M60, 1:31:01.2, best time under 1:34:31)
Ino Cantu (M70, 1:40:26.6, best time under 1:45:05)
Female
Autumn Ray (Open, 1:23:39.6, best time under 1:30:08)
Heidy Lozano (F40, 1:24:17.9, best time under 1:133:20)
Carole Uttecht met the female 50-59 standard today; however, she already secured her invitation with her performance in the 2006 Chevron Houston Marathon.
Two weeks ago at the USA 10-Miler, the Houston Striders' Ted Traynor was one minute, 44.3 seconds off of the men's 50-59 standard for that distance. Today, as one of the top veterans runners in town, Traynor met the half marathon standard but watched Edward Fry outsprint him to the finish line by two (2) seconds, 1:25:15.1 to 1:25:17.1.
Special Congratulations
Lots to eventually talk about today; however, I want to extend two big congratulations to Jan Poscovsky and Vic Kaiser. While they spent a little extra time on the course today than both of today's winners, they deserve recognition as well as winners and the front runners.
Jan did today's half marathon in 3:19:29.4 a week after doing the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (which was her third and personal best of 6:41:09) and Vic came very, very close to breaking three hours in his race distance PR and - in fact - he did! Chip time of 2:59:56.3! I had the pleasure, as I walked the course (out to the turnaround on Shepherd and back) to cheer people on, to see both of them on the course in the latter stages of the race.
Best of the Bloggers
Edwin Quarles (BARRA) - 1:38:52.8 PR!
Keith Kelleher - 1:49:35.7 PR!
Joe Carey (BARC) - 1:49:43.2 PR!
Bill Cox (HS) - 2:00:16.2 Debut!
James David Dykas (HF) - 2:01:06.0 PR!
Jessica Alexander (HS) - 2:01:54.8
Holden Choi (HS) - 2:02:29.6 PR!
Barbara Boone - 2:05:19.2
Bob Entwhistle - 2:07:15.0
June Vidrine (HS) - 2:31:13.2 Debut!
Jaclyn Dykas (HF) - 2:31:41.9 (hubby blogs for her!)
Jennifer Kim (HS) - 2:56:29.8 Debut!
Vic Kaiser (HS) - 2:59:56.3 Debut!
Jan Poscovsky (FBF) - 3:19:29.4
Overall Numbers
Today's race featured 2,576 runners that included a record 131 relay teams (up from last year's high of 96 finishing teams). The former 20K event featured 2,636 finishers per the results on the houstonhalf.com website. The last seven years are listed here as follows:
2000 - 1,873 finishers (no relay)
2001 - 2,229 (including 36 teams)
2002 - 2,380 (including 36 teams)
2003 - 2,453 (including 58 teams)
2004 - 2,636 (including 95 teams)
2005 - 2,391 (including 96 teams)
2006 - 2,576 (including 131 teams)
Not counting the relay teams, this year featured the highest percentage of female finishers since 2000 - 48.7%. The complete numbers are as follows:
2000 - 59.8% male (1,120 to 753 female)
2001 - 58.0% male (1,250 to 907 female)
2002 - 56.2% male (1,296 to 1,012 female)
2003 - 55.2% male (1,288 to 1,045 female)
2004 - 52.7% male (1,289 to 1,157 female)
2005 - 53.2% male (1,169 to 1,030 female)
2006 - 51.3% male (1,187 to 1,127 female)
Record number of runners in the following age groups were seen in the following groups:
+ Female 19-U (19)
+ Female 20-24 (67)
+ Female 35-39 (224)
+ Female 45-49 (135)
+ Female 55-59 (35)
+ Male 60-64 (44)
+ Male 65-69 (17)
Best of HARRA Presidents
Tom Stilwell (2005-2006) - 1:26:33.9
Anna Sumrall Helm (Current) - 1:35:34.4
Joe Sellers (2000-2002) - 2:11:29.3
posted by WalkSports.com | 3:18 PM
4 Comments:
Wow!! Bloggers all kicked some major booty! Congrats to EVERYONE!
Makes me sad I wasn't there. :(
Thanks for your support, Jon!
I needed it today :-)
Thanks for the great race summary.
Have you seen any of the results from the HARRA Fall Series? There's nothing on the website and there's been nothing in ITR.
E-mail me privately at news(at)harra.org and I'll be more than happy to respond. I have a policy of not addressing anonymous comment posts. Thanks for your kind words and understanding.
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