San
Antonians Jose Munoz, Elizabeth Eder become city’s first marathon
champions; Country singer Jo Dee Messina runs 13.1-mile event before
headlining post race concert
by Dan Cruz, Competitor Group -Courtesy of Running USA
SAN ANTONIO (Nov. 11, 2012) – The Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & Half Marathon benefiting Susan G. Komen celebrated
its 5th birthday in style on Sunday, Nov. 11 when more than 25,000
entrants from all 50 states and 22 countries took to the city’s
downtown streets.
No runner arrived at the start line with better credentials than Kenya’s Stanley Biwott (right, Competitor Group), who is undefeated in five races this year, including victories at the Paris Marathon (2:05:11) and Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon (1:00:03). Biwott arrived in San Antonio through New York City, where he was a favorite to win the ING New York City Marathon
last Sunday before it was canceled last weekend after Hurricane Sandy
devastated the region. He was the first to cross the finish line
outside the Alamodome, winning the men’s half-marathon in 1 hour, 1
minute and 11 seconds, breaking the previous event record of 1:02:50
set by U.S. Olympian Brian Sell in 2008.
“This was a good test for me, I knew that I
could do something in New York,” said Biwott, who was acknowledging
the cheering spectators and bands throughout the route. “I liked the
spectators and I like San Antonio. They cheer for me a lot.”
Dawn Grunnagle of Dallas
was first in the women’s half-marathon, finishing in 1:18:09. A
1,500-meter specialist on the track, it was her second consecutive
half-marathon victory after winning the Allstate Life Insurance Dallas 13.1 Marathon two weeks ago.
San Antonio resident Jose Munoz emerged
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victorious in the marathon with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 53
seconds. The 27-year-old took the lead at the 17-mile mark, passing
Kenyan Abraham Rutto, who finished second with a time of 2:33:03.
“When I passed him I told him to come up
beside me and run with me,” Munoz said following the race. “But he
said, ‘No, man, you’re too strong.’ Once he told me that, I said,
‘This is mine.’”
Cross-country coach Elizabeth Eder, a graduate of Trinity Christian High School in San Antonio, won the women’s marathon in 3:06:20. She was followed by Erin Ruyle
of Georgetown, who finished in second at 3:15:46. Like Biwott, Eder
wasn’t supposed to be in San Antonio. She had also been scheduled to run
the New York City Marathon last weekend.
Not to be outdone, perhaps the performance of the day belonged to country music superstar Jo Dee Messina,
who finished the half-marathon in 2:36:50 and took the stage
approximately one hour later, headlining the event’s finish-line concert
outside the Alamodome. To the delight of thousands of runners in the
audience, Messina performed wearing her half-marathon finisher’s
medal, CEP compression socks and bright blue running shoes.
“Today was awesome, it could not have gone
any better,” said Messina, who boarded a tour bus to Austin
immediately following the concert. “Those bands out there on the
course motivated me for our show; they really help break up the miles
when you’re out there running. Living and promoting a healthy
lifestyle is important to me as a mother and to combine it with my
passion for music was a dream come true.”
This year’s event marked the 5th edition
of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & Half Marathon in San Antonio. Over
the event’s 5-year history in San Antonio, runners have raised nearly
$6 million for charity and out of town visitors have pumped millions
more into the local economy.
5th Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon and Half-Marathon
San Antonio, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
Men’s Half-Marathon
1) Stanley Biwott, 26, Kenya, 1:01:09, $1,000
2) Ernest Kebenei, 27, Kenya, 1:04:15, $500
3) Shadrack Biwott, 27, Eugene, OR (Kenya), 1:06:51, $250
Women’s Half-Marathon
1) Dawn Grunnagle, 34, Dallas, TX, 1:18:07, $1,500*
2) Tia Kool 24, Austin, TX, 1:18:27, $750*
3) Lucy Kurget, 30, Round Rock, TX (Kenya), 1:19:06, 375*
Men’s Marathon
1) Jose Munoz, 27, San Antonio, TX, 2:27:51. $2,000*
2) Abraham Rutto, 29, Kenya, 2:33:01, $500
3) Jeremy Daum, 26, San Antonio, TX, 2:34:44; $750*
Women’s Marathon
1) Elizabeth Eder, 25, Fort Worth, TX, 3:06:18, $2,000*
2) Erin Ruyle, 34, Georgetown, TX, 3:15:44, $1,000*
3) Elizabeth Eder, 44, Fort Worth, TX, 3:06:18, $500*
For complete results, photos and more, visit Competitor.com