By Kurt Morris, World-Track
CHICAGO — American Kara Goucher used a valuable tactic to finish as the outright winner of Sunday’s inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half-Marathon.
Taking the lead after the 10-mile mark, after splitting 52:02, Goucher went on to clock 1:08:05 to win her first half-marathon in the United States.
"I felt I could run in the 67-68 minute range," said Goucher, who has won all three of her starts over the half marathon distance.
"The race was great, better than my preparations for Boston. It was awesome to be the first finisher and I wanted to enjoy the crowd.
"I really liked how the course changed up, there was never a stretch where it was dull, and you are going through the city, going over bridges and along the water. I really liked the course."
The 30-year-old American who in June won the 5000 metres title at the national trials, will now turn her attention to the 15 days preparation before the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.
Goucher used the Chicago race as a warm-up for challenging for the women’s marathon gold medal in Berlin on August 23.
These championships run from August 15-23.
Meanwhile, Chad Ware was the first male to cross the finishing line, after finishing second overall to Goucher in 1:08:24. He beat David Williams (1:08:49) and Emisael Favela (1:09:14).
“It was cool, it was different being right there with a woman,” said Ware. “I was right on the pace I was hoping to run and having Kara there definitely helped me get my PR.”
On the women’s side Connie Abbott was second in 1:21:50, with Amanda Domich (1:22:28) finishing third.
RESULTS
MEN
1 Chad Ware 1:08:24
2 David Williams 1:08:49
3 Emisael Favela 1:09:14
4 Daniel Jess 1:10:33
5 Christopher Peverada 1:11:36
6 Lewis Elliot 1:12:06
WOMEN
1 Kara Goucher 1:08:05
2 Connie Abbott 1:21:50
3 Amanda Domich 1:22:28
4 Suet-Fei Li 1:22:36
5 Jackie Pirtle-Hall 1:23:19
6 Tanya Bailey 1:24:48
