Flagstaff’s Diego Estrada, unsponsored but undaunted, continued his impressive comeback on the elite running scene on Saturday, using a late surge to win the USATF 25K Road Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich., is an American record time of 1:13:10.
Estrada, who finished second last weekend at the Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, pulled away from a pack of four just after the half-marathon mark. By Mile 14, he’d opened a significant lead. He beat Nico Montanez by 21 seconds. Biya Simbassa, who trains under coach Ryan Hall in Flagstaff, placed third at 1:13:44.
In the early going, Estrada, 34, wearing a “Salinas Valley Elite” singlet in honor of his hometown in Central California, held back. By the 5K mark, Teshome Mekonen, who berat Estrada at Bloomsday last weekend, assumed thre lead. Soon, though, a lead pack of four developerd, including Estrada. The pack remained tight by 15K, with runners trading the lead.
After the half marathon mark, Estrada mad ea decisive move to secure the victory. He earned $10,000.
Betsy Saina won the women’s race in 1:22:31. Flagstaff’s Emily Durgin was fourth in 1:23:08.
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