by Larry Eder
RYAN NEELY AND KIMBERLY O’DONNELL WIN
2014 SAN LUIS OBISPO MARATHON
Husband and Wife Joe Thorne and Kara Thorne Take the Half Marathon Titles
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – On a clear, sunny Central Coast morning Ryan Neely (25 years) and Kimberly O’Donnell (24 years), both from Walnut Creek, California were the overall male and female winners respectively at the 2014 San Luis Obispo Marathon, Half Marathon + 5K presented by LeftLaneSports.com.
Both Neely and O’Donnell broke course records with Neely crossing the finish line in 2:34:46 and O’Donnell in 3:04:33. In a rather cute twist Neely and O’Donnell are a dating. The previous marathon record for the men was held by Joe Thorne of Arroyo Grande, California with a time of 2:37:58 in 2013. The previous women’s record was Carin Serba of San Luis Obispo held the previous women’s record of 3:16:33 in 2012.
Van McCarty, the 2012 San Luis Obispo Marathon men’s winner, placed second with a time of 2:38:43. Boone Ebel from Chandler, Arizona crossed the line in third place with time of 2:41:14. On the women’s side, Erika Schaeffer from Newbury Park, California placed second with a time of 3:08:38 and Ellie Ryan of San Luis Obispo, CA placed third with a time of 3:10:44.
Prize money was added to the race for the first time this year. Neely and O’Donnell took home $500 each, McCarty and Schaeffer won $250 each and Ebel and Ryan took home $100.
Husband and wife team of Joe (30 years) and Kara Thorne (31 years) of Arroyo Grande, California dominated the half marathon field. Joe, last year’s marathon winner opted for the half marathon because of his competition schedule. He set a blistering course record, completing the 13.1 miles in 1:12:18, a good six minutes off the record held by 2013 half marathon winner Samuel Denman. He held a blistering 5:32 pace on a hilly course. Kara wasn’t too far behind Joe, crossing the line in 1:21:07, a good four minutes off previous record held by 2013 half marathon winner Sarah Hallas. She held a fast 6:12 pace average.
Andrew Petersen of San Luis Obispo, California placed second in the half marathon with a time of 1:14:42 and James Kelley of San Luis Obispo was third with a time of 1:15:47. Anna Vanderstelt-Frank from Bakersfield, California was the second place female in the half marathon with a time of 1:22:30 and Nicole Aha from Davis, California crossed the line in third with a time of 1:24:34.
Prize money for the half marathon winners Joe and Kara Thorne is $300, Petersen and Vanderstelt-Frank took home $150 each and Kelly and Aha received $75.
Complete race results can be found at http://www.slomarathon.com/
