Last fall was the inaugural running of the Buffalo ThunderHalf Marathon, the first large professionally sponsored road race to come to
northern New Mexico
in some time. The race is the brainchild of Santa Fe attorney Joseph Karnes, financial
advisor Antonio Lopez, and educator Abraham Kosgei - all decorated runners and
marathoners in their own right. The goal is to establish a destination running
event in Santa Fe,
possibly growing to the marathon distance race over the long term. Karnes has
experience helping with the organization of the California International and
Big Sur Marathons in California and he sees no
reason why the same type of event can't be built here in Santa Fe with all the city has to offer as a
vacation destination and sweet outdoor play-land.
As might be expected, I'm fairly keyed-up about this new
development. Just as Santa Fe's
trails system is really coming together as a first-rate network it looks like
we've suddenly landed a first-rate racing event on the roads. The timing is uncanny. Perhaps not coincidentally, IMBA has taken notice and will be hosting this year's Mountain BikeWorld Summit here in town. That sound you hear - is my face exploding.
So, we're psyched. But does the race show promise? I think
it does. Last year's race drew a significant amount of interest and a sizable turnout
of 700+ finishers. The organizing team hopes to double that number this year. Prize
money and an active recruiting effort of local elites resulted in a stacked
field up front. Champion Sam Kosgei ran to a wicked-fast time of 1:04:49 at
6500ft altitude. That is remarkably fast. It's no surprise that it is
believed to be the fastest half marathon ever run in New Mexico. Meshak Kirwa ran second, and UNM All-American Rory Fraser
finished two minutes back in third. The remaining top ten was rounded out by
local road racing pros including Pat Kiptum, Bernard Langat, and three time
Quad Cities Marathon champ Andrew Musava. Super-Mike Ehrmantraut held on for
top trail-runner's honor in 12th. Hi-fives for my man Mike.
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| Kosgei at the line - courtesy of Max Mujynya |
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| Ashley Quintana out on the course - Max Mujynya |
In the womens race, champ Atalelech Asfaw blazed to a
1:15:55 finish, over three minutes clear of the womens field and good enough
for 11th overall. Former NCAA star Kay Ulrich of Los
Alamos claimed runner-up honors in 1:19:23. San Francisco Marathon champ Emily Field of Nambe grabbed the final podium spot a minute back.
Emily is coached by race founder Abraham Kosgei.
What then can be expected in the event's sophomore year? A lot more awesomeness apparently. Early planning for the September 2012 race includes a Saturday Athletes Expo at the Convention Center, the involvement and corporate financial backing of Nike N7 and Whole Foods Market, appearances from VIP guest and 1964 Olympic 10,000m Champion Billy Mills as well as Nike-sponsored pro Alvina Begay of the Navajo Nation. I've been told to look for the half-page race advertisement in the upcoming May issue of Runners World Magazine. It will be exciting to watch this event get off the ground.
Related Posts:
- 2012 Buffalo Thunder Half - A Brief Meeting with Billy Mills
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| The fleet-footed Uffe Schwender lights up near the finish - Max Mujynya |
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| Dr. Joe Vigil presenting an award to the indomitable Vin Kelley - Max Mujynya |
What then can be expected in the event's sophomore year? A lot more awesomeness apparently. Early planning for the September 2012 race includes a Saturday Athletes Expo at the Convention Center, the involvement and corporate financial backing of Nike N7 and Whole Foods Market, appearances from VIP guest and 1964 Olympic 10,000m Champion Billy Mills as well as Nike-sponsored pro Alvina Begay of the Navajo Nation. I've been told to look for the half-page race advertisement in the upcoming May issue of Runners World Magazine. It will be exciting to watch this event get off the ground.
Related Posts:
- 2012 Buffalo Thunder Half - A Brief Meeting with Billy Mills
View Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon in a larger map
| Overall | Name | Finish | Pace | ||
| 1 | Sam | Kosgei | 1hr 4m49s | 4:57 | |
| 2 | Meshack | Kirwa | 1:06:10 | 5:03 | |
| 3 | Rory | Fraser | 1:06:45 | 5:06 | |
| 4 | Jonathan | Ndambuki | 1:08:01 | 5:12 | |
| 5 | Jacob | Kirwa | 1:08:47 | 5:15 | |
| 6 | Simon | Sawe | 1:08:49 | 5:15 | |
| 7 | Patrick | Kiptum | 1:11:08 | 5:26 | |
| 8 | Josphat | Ndeti | 1:11:49 | 5:29 | |
| 9 | Andrew | Musava | 1:15:35 | 5:46 | |
| 10 | Bernard | Langat | 1:15:51 | 5:47 | |
| 11 | Atalelech | Asfaw | 1:15:55 | 5:48 | |
| 12 | Michael | Ehrmantraut | 1:17:22 | 5:54 | |
| 13 | Eugene | Hogue | 1:17:30 | 5:55 | |
| 14 | Stuart | Gillespie | 1:17:46 | 5:56 | |
| 15 | Kay | Ulrich | 1:19:23 | 6:04 | |
| 16 | Scott | Valdez | 1:19:35 | 6:05 | |
| 17 | Nicholas | Martinez | 1:19:53 | 6:06 | |
| 18 | Emily | Field | 1:20:38 | 6:09 | |
| 19 | Aaron | Padilla | 1:21:12 | 6:12 | |
| 20 | Roy | Collins | 1:21:24 | 6:13 |
| Womens Overall | Name | Finish | Pace | |
| 1 | Atalelech | Asfaw | 1hr15m55s | 5:48 |
| 2 | Kay | Ulrich | 1:19:23 | 6:04 |
| 3 | Emily | Field | 1:20:38 | 6:09 |
| 4 | Tanya | Collins | 1:26:01 | 6:34 |
| 5 | Sara | Wagner | 1:27:21 | 6:40 |
| 6 | Linsey | Sandoval | 1:27:44 | 6:42 |
| 7 | Liz | Turner | 1:27:50 | 6:42 |
| 8 | Ashley | Quintana | 1:31:56 | 7:01 |
| 9 | Jennifer | Steketee | 1:33:59 | 7:10 |
| 10 | Shannon | Zanelli | 1:34:24 | 7:12 |
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ReplyDeleteThis race is designed for the african runners they know their always going to win first place it's a drop in the bucket and easy money for them. I was there and we came along way for this race and there's alot of negativity in the air regarding one of the co-founders of this race, it's a bad idea and we won't be coming again. Yes and I did place.
ReplyDeleteI just read this for the first time. You have got to be joking. Designed for the African runners? What kind of racist and wrong headed statement is that? How can you design a race to favor anyone? The only thing you could argue is that people born at altitude would have an advantage. Negativity about one of the co-founders? We clearly were not at the same race.
DeleteYes, it's a foolish comment. Initially I had considered deleting it but chose instead to let the ignorance stand on its own. Perhaps another runner will recognize the author (who logged in from Kansas City). All of the men's top 10 train in New Mexico. The top 5 women are New Mexican and one from Flagstaff. All are terrific competitors.
DeleteI'd love to see this race build in participation and depth. There were some serious runners in this inaugural field.
Are you saying this course was designed for someone to hammer out a 1:04? Because you would be wrong if that's the case. This was a very strong field. Rory is British, and he seemed to run well enough for third. He's was also one of the top collegiate runners in the country last year.
ReplyDeleteWhat time is the slowest runner for women. I just don’t want to embarrass myself greatly if I can’t even reach that.
ReplyDelete