Runners go toe to toe in annual 15K race

BY SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Sunday, October 30, 2011
10/30/11 at 7:25 AM

It was a battle for first place all the way to the finish line at Saturday's Tulsa Run.

The 15K winner, Josphat Boit of Fayetteville, Ark., finished with a time of 44:10, just three seconds ahead of Macdonard Ondara of Santa Fe, N.M., who won last year's Tulsa Run.

Ondara and third-place finisher Samuel Kosgei, who crossed the finish line at 46:35, are with the AmeriKenyan Running Club based out of Santa Fe.

Ondara's wife, 9-month-old baby and mother were at the race to see him run. It was the first time his mother, Esher Ondara, had ever seen her son compete.

"It's good. I'm feeling happy," she said.

The first female to cross the finish line was Mulu Seboka of Hebron, Ky., with a time of 51:54. After her was Tonya Nero of New York with a time of 53:01 and Lana Lacey of Norman at 56:34.

The first Oklahoman to finish was Kyle King of Jenks, who finished fourth with a time of 48:04.

The first-place finishers in the 15K race each won $3,000, second place got $1,000 and third place received $500.

Special Olympics of Oklahoma is this year's nonprofit organization benefactor and will receive $25,000 from the race.

In addition to the 15K race, the Tulsa Run also held a 5K race, a 2K fun run, a 5K wheelchair race and 15K race for race-walkers.

More than 10,000 people registered for one of the races this year, said race director Marcia Whitaker. Almost half signed up for the 5K, which had an increase in participants.

"This is perfect weather. We could not ask for better weather," Whitaker said. "So many people have told us it's a favorite run. It's a great community run. They feel a part of it."

Scott Robinson, president of the AmeriKenyan Running Club, said his runners really like this race.

"It's a good distance," Robinson said. "Both (Ondara and Kosgei) are preparing for early 2012 marathons. It fits in their training schedule. We have family in Tulsa as well.

"I think they did what they came for, which was run a solid race. The weather was ideal. The race again was perfectly organized."

This year's race conditions were almost identical to last year's, including weather and course, which took the 15K runners south on Boulder Avenue, east on 15th Street, south on Utica Avenue, west on 21st Street, then south onto Riverside Drive before coming back north and making a final turn north on Denver Avenue to the finish line in front of the BOK Center.

Next year, participants will have a new Tulsa Run course to contend with, Whitaker said, because construction will be going on in and around the Finish Line Festival venue near the BOK Center.

"We're going to have to change it up next year," Whitaker said. "We'll check with runners from Tulsa and get input," she said.

Celebrity runners

This year's two celebrity runners met their goals this year by crossing the finish line of the 34th annual Tulsa Run for the first time.

Julie Chin, meteorologist with KJRH channel 2, finished the 15K race in 1:48.30, and Bert Marshall, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, crossed the finish line in 2:01.05.

"After months of training, it feels good to accomplish both of my goals - to cross the finish line and to cross before my wife," Marshall said. "It was exciting to run with my fellow Tulsans and others who are making a difference in their health."

Chin said it was amazing to be a part of such a large event with so many people.

"It was my first time, but it won't be my last," she said. "I never thought I would ever do the Tulsa Run. I never thought I could go that far. If I can do it, anyone can do it."

Marshall said being a celebrity runner challenged him to do his best.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it with Julie Chin and to hopefully have encouraged others," he said.

Original Print Headline: Photo finish: Racer wins by mere seconds

Sara Plummer 918-581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Josphat Boit of Fayetteville, Ark., crosses the finish line in first place, followed by Macdonard Ondara of Santa Fe, N.M., during the Tulsa Run 15K on Saturday. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World

Mulu Seboka of Hebron, Ky., nears the finish as the first female finisher in the 34th annual Tulsa Run on Saturday. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World

Celebrity runner Julie Chin speaks to runners before competing in the 15K race at the Tulsa Run on Saturday. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World