Flagstaff was well represented on the roads, both east and west, on Sunday.
First, at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, Hoka NAZ Elite’s Stephanie Bruce won her first race post-childbirth less than a year ago in 1:11:12, more than a minute ahead of Molly Bookmyer. Bruce won this race back in 2019, as well.
Teammate Wesley Kiptoo won his third straight men’s title in dominant fahion, his 1:01:31 more than three minutes ahead of second place Kenneth Cheserek, both runners hailing from Kenya.
Then, at the Bloomsday Run (just over 7 miles) in Spokane, Wash., McKirdy-trained Lesotho marathon runner Tebello Ramakongoana, who trains part-time in Flagstaff, got the victory in 34:40. Second place went to former NAU star Diego Estrada, who still lives in Flagstaff. Estrada’s time 34:50. NAZ Elite’s Matt Baxter finished sixth in 35:27.
In the women’s Bloomsday race, the top Flagstaff finisher was NAZ Elite’s Mercy Chelangat in sixth in 40:11, while Diane Nukuri was 10th in 42:30. Bozeman’s Makena Morley, whose younger sister Bryn runs for NAU, was the top American in fourth at 39:34. The race was won by Kenyan Sarah Naibei in 39:00.
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