Peter Blomgren, Kristina Waite Are Top La Mesans in Carlsbad Marathon

Peter Blomgren was more than an hour behind the winner in Sunday’s Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon, but the 40-year-old has local bragging rights: He was the No. 1 La Mesa finisher in the 26-miler.

Blomgren clocked a net time of 3 hours, 26 minutes, 19 seconds in taking 103rd overall and 15th in his age group, according to official results. He averaged 7:53 a mile—and was one of 11 La Mesans to finish the longer race.

Top La Mesa woman at the Carlsbad marathon was Kristina Waite, 27, whose net time was 3:49:31.  She averaged 8:46 miles.

Some 103 La Mesans also finished the half-marathon Sunday morning, led by Brendan Concannon and Susan Loeber, both 32.  Concannon fnished 270th overall in 1:35:23, and Loeber was 369th—but was 20th in her age group.

In the military division, La Mesa’s Scott Chirgwin, 29, took 12th in the marathon with a net time of 4:18:34.  In the women’s military race,  La Mesa’s Kelsey Preston, 28, was sixth 4:02:25.

Christopher Viernes, 36, was the top La Mesa military member in the half-marathon, clocking  2:05:52, and Jessica Salvatore, 30, was the No. 1 La Mesa military woman in the 13.1-miler, finishing in 2:41:29.

Mario Macias of Alamosa, CO, and Christine Kenney of New York City claimed victories at the morning race under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to upper 50s.
 
Macias, 30, claimed a decisive wire-to-wire win in 2:22:24 in his first Carlsbad Marathon appearance.
 
“I mainly used the race as a workout,” said Macias, a Mexican citizen. “I am used to running alone, but it is nice to have someone to push you. The cheers from the crowds helped a lot.”
 
In the women's division, Kenney, 33, also enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory, finishing in 2:53:07.

“I love Carlsbad and would love to live here someday,” said Kenney who has a sister who lives in Carlsbad.
 
In the half-marathon race, Africans took top honors with Ezkyas Sisay, 23, of Ethiopia winning the men's race in 1:04:43 and Kenyan Everlyne Lagat, 31, claiming the woman's crown, clocking a 1:12:44.
 
Sisay grabbed an early commanding lead, only to have the chase pack of Meshack Kirwa (KEN), Teklu Deneke (ETH) and Joseph Gray (Newcastle, Wash.) catch up to him just past the 4-mile mark.
 
Overall, 8,468 runners and walkers from 46 states and 12 foreign countries took part in the marathon and half-marathon.
 
The 26.2- and 13.1-mile races began and finished at Westfield Plaza Camino Real in Carlsbad and treated runners and walkers to tours of the Buena Vista Lagoon, the Village of Carlsbad and the Pacific coastline before returning home to the finish line.

Twenty-seven musical bands entertained the thousands of participants, volunteers and spectators along the course throughout the morning, according to event spokeswoman Patrice Malloy.
 
The event enlisted the help of more than 2,000 volunteers and benefited 22 official charities. Both the marathon and the half-marathon sold out months in advance.
 
Top finishers in 21st Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon
 
MEN

• 1) Mario Macias (MEX / CO), 2:22:24, $1500
• 2) Jae Yung Hyung (KOR), 2:25:03, $750
• 3) Jacques Sallberg (USA / CA), 2:29:11, $600

WOMEN

• 1) Christine Kenney (USA / NY), 2:53:07, $1000
• 2) Sarah Hallas (USA / CA), 2:57:49 $750
• 3) Julie Brekke (USA / CA), 3:02:38

Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon

MEN

• 1) Ezkyas Sisay (ETH), 1:04:43, $1500
• 2) Meshack Kirwa (KEN), 1:05:10, $750
• 3) Teklu Deneke (ETH), 1:05:16, $750

WOMEN

• 1) Everlyne Lagat (KEN), 1:12:44, $2500
• 2) Jane Kibii (KEN), 1:15:13, $750
• 3) Heather Jackson (USA / CA), 1:16:11