Kenyans take top spots in Las Vegas Marathon

Tiffany Brown

Kenyan Caroline Rotich was the top female runner with a time of 2:29:47 in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 | 9:57 a.m.

Updated Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 | 2:19 p.m.

Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon

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More than 27,000 runners battled through near-freezing temperatures Sunday morning to race down the Strip and through Las Vegas as part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

The adverse conditions didn’t seem to bother Kenya’s Caroline Rotich, who was the first runner to cross the finish line in the marathon with a time of 2:29:47.

“My coach told me not to really push hard for the first halfway, so I tried to keep on and not push really hard,” Rotich said. “But after 20 miles, I tried to push a little hard so I could catch the lady in front of me.”

Rotich won the women’s division of the marathon, while fellow Kenyan Christopher Toroitich took home the men’s title with a time of 2:15:15.

Despite Toroitich’s faster time, Rotich won the grand prize of $25,000 for finishing first because the women were given a 19-minute head start.

“This is going to be really good for me,” Rotich said.

Rotich, who was a relatively unknown runner before Sunday’s victory, took control of the race at the 26-mile mark when she passed Russia’s Alevtina Ivanova, who was one of the favorites to win the marathon.

Rotich edged out Ivanova by 18 seconds in the end.

The men’s race wasn’t quite as close. Toroitich beat the second-place finisher, Ethiopia’s Terefe Yae, by nearly a minute and a half.

The most excitement of the morning came right before Yae crossed the finish line. Entering the final 20 yards, Yae and Assefa Tesfave, also from Ethiopia, were dead even.

But Yae was able to pull away from Tesfave with a longer stride and beat him by one second for second place.

“In my country, he is always with me and finishing high,” Yae said.

The first American finisher came two minutes later when Stephen Haas from Indiana crossed the finish line in fifth place. Shortly after, Abebe Yimer became the first finisher from Clark County with a time of 2:24:50.

Yimer won the Las Vegas Marathon last year. But even Yimer said this year’s race was more enjoyable with the Competitor Group taking over and making it a Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon for the first time.

“Last year, a lot of people were complaining that the marathon organizers were not good,” Yimer said. “Rock ‘n’ Roll, I know, is very nice. It’s going to be in Las Vegas for the future.”

Marathon organizers packed the course with entertainment. Fireworks and skydivers preceded the starting gun.

Local bands, including Where The Fallen Lie and Leaving Springfield, and high school cheerleading squads, including Legacy and Shadow Ridge, performed at every mile.

Even Toroitich said he enjoyed the environment.

“I’m so excited because this is my first marathon in Las Vegas,” Toroitich said. “I enjoyed everything in Las Vegas.”

Despite winning the race, Toroitich said he was capable of a faster time.

He said his pace of 5:10 was actually slower than he trained for.

“It was not the pace I wanted,” Toroitich said. “The problem was the weather.”

Rotich had no complaints after the race.

It was her first victory in a marathon. She plans to enjoy it and has no plans to run another marathon any time soon.

“Maybe next year,” Rotich said, “because I’m going to take it easy for now.”