Meb Keflezighi, Blake Russell Rock to Victory at RNR San Jose, release, by Larry Eder

                         Meb wins RNR San Jose in 1:01.45, photo by PhotoRun.net.

Meb Rocks to Victory in San Jose

·        
Reigning NYC Marathon Champion defends San
Jose title and sets sights on November

·        
U.S. Olympian Blake Russell wins women’s
race

·        
Field of more than 13,000 entrants
includes Bay Area superstars Roger Craig 
& Brandi Chastain

San Jose, CA – October 3, 2010- On a perfect autumn morning in the Bay
Area, reigning New York City Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi successfully
defended his title at the 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose
Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 1 minute and 45 seconds.

Keflezighi, with Mammoth Track Club teammate Patrick Smyth pacing, opened up a
lead within the first three miles, hitting the 5K mark at 14:20. He never
looked back, keeping a significant lead straight to the finish. As he looks
ahead to the ING New York City Marathon on November 7, the 2009 champion of
both races says he is hoping for a double repeat performance.

“I felt strong and maintained,” Keflezighi
said. “My training is coming along as planned and I hope it goes the same. This
is the race I really enjoy though. New York will be all business.”

Teammates Brian Medigovich and Paul Hefferon, representing the Hansons
Brooks Distance Project of Rochester Hills, Michigan, came in second and third,
running 1:04:55 and 1:05:55, respectively.

Blake Russell, who represented the U.S. in the marathon at the Beijing
Olympics, made a successful return to racing after the birth of her first
child, winning the women’s race in a swift 1:11:55.

“It’s so exciting because it’s hard to win a race as
an elite and you really learn to cherish it,” she said. “It was a
learning experience and definitely mentally tougher than I expected but you
keep pushing. The course was great and the music and spectators definitely
helped.”

She took the lead early and said she achieved her goal of staying under
a 5:30 pace. Coming in behind Russell were 49-year-old Linda Somers Smith
(1:13:31) and Rachel Booth (1:14:46).

The sold-out half marathon celebrated its 5^th anniversary
with 13,000 participants, the largest field in the race’s history. Thousands of
spectators joined in the fun, cheering enthusiastically along the course. The
day was capped off with a post-race concert in Plaza de Cesar Chavez by the
platinum selling band Blues Traveler.

Race founder and three-time Superbowl champion
Roger Craig took part, running a 1:45:25. Taking in the scene, Craig expressed
pride at the event’s growth over the past 5 years.

“The energy out there today was amazing,” he said. “It was a smooth race
and I talked to so many runners who were impressed with how well organized it
was. It’s really neat to see this city embracing the event. San Jose knows how
to party.”

Next year Dodge will become title sponsor of the race’s sixth edition.
The 2011 Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon is set for Sunday, October
2.

2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose

Top
Five Male Finishers

Place        Name                         Age     Hometown                          Time

1     Meb  Keflezighi          35        Mammoth Lakes,
CA                        1:01:45

2    Brian Medigovich      23        Rochester
Hills, MI               1:04:55

3    Paul Hefferon                        24        Rochester Hills, MI               1:05:55

4    Daniel Tapia               22        Castroville, CA                                   1:06:46

5    Kevin Castille             38        Lafayette,
LA                          1:06:47

Top Five Female Finishers

Place        Name                         Age     Hometown                          Time

1     Blake Russell             35        Pacific
Grove, CA                   1:11:55

2    Linda Somers-Smith 49        Arroyo Grande, CA                1:13:31

3    Rachel Booth             29        Mountain View, CA               1:14:46

4    Annie Bersagel          27        Stanford,
CA                          1:16:28

5    Lauren Johnson        31         Palo Alto, CA                          1:16:43           

About The Rock ‘n’ Roll San
Jose Half Marathon

A
Competitor Group event, the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon will celebrate
its 5th anniversary welcoming 13,000 participants on Sunday, October 3^rd.
Known as California’s fastest half marathon, the event is open to runners and
walkers from novice to professional. The Health & Fitness Expo kicks off
the weekend at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center
on Friday and Saturday, October 1^st & 2^nd. The event
features more than a hundred retailers and the very latest in running gear,
nutrition and training. The Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the
public. More than 20 live bands and hundreds of local high school cheerleaders
will entertain and cheer on participants along the scenic course. The event
concludes with a finish line party and a headliner concert on the sand.  For more information or to register for the
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon, visit www.san-jose.competitor.com or
call (800) 311-1255.

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