by Larry EderThe 2011 Honda LA Marathon, presented by K-SWISS, is still in progress for most of the 26,000 starters, but the elite races have been decided!
Markos Geneti, 2010 Carlsbad 5,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
Markus Geneti, running his debut marathon, ran a new course record of 2:06:35, the number six debut marathon of all time. Geneti, known for his fast 3,000m and 5,000m times, mostly indoors, used his 13:00 5,000 meter speed to just blast the course record into the present!
On the women’s side, Amy Hastings, in her debut, lead over Buzenesh Deba, who lives in the Bronx, NY. Deba went by Hastings as Geneti went by the lead group of three women about 1:36 into the race, (just past 20 miles).
Geneti flew by and Deba followed, with Hastings and Deba breaking Dibaba, the third runner on the women’s elite side. Hastings stayed with Deba until Deba busted away about 22 miles.
Buzunesh Deba ran 2:26.34 for the victory. Afterwards, she told the assembled media: “My husband wanted me to run a 2:24, but I don’t like running in the rain.”
Buzenesh Deba, 2010 ING New York City Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Amy Hastings was rewarded by running a 2:27:03, in her debut, making her a real prospect for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Amy had planned to run the Houston Marathon, but had an achilles problem, so ran the half there, hitting a 1:14, which disappointed her. Honda LA was a whole different matter for Hastings, who hit the halfway in 1:14.06, and ran a negative split on a rolling, challenging course! Great job by Amy Hastings !
Amy Hastings, 2011 Aramco Houston Half Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
More details to come. To follow the race, please check out www.lamarathon.com, and www, KTLA.com!
