Top runners in the 13-mile La Jolla Half Marathon finished slightly slower on Sunday, April 23 than last year, as five-time winner Nazario Romero didn’t show up to set the pace.
David Kloz from Carlsbad crossed the finish line first at 1:12:36, more than a minute shy of Romero’s 2005 time of 1:11:21. In 2005, Kloz tied for second place with an almost identical time of 1:12:29.
Katya Meyers sped across as the fastest female at 1:27:31, slightly faster than Susanne Davis’ time of 1:28:03 in 2005.
Brian Culley pulled into second place at 1:13:18; followed by Richard Weis at 1:13:56. David Easa finished fourth at 1:18:49, more than a minute slower than his 1:17:26 time in 2005 that placed him seventh. Joseph Galvin crossed in fifth place at 1:19:25.
Among La Jolla competitors, the top time was 1:23:38 for 21st place by 27-year-old Drew Nelson, followed by 34-year-old John Bongiorni at 1:26:27 for 35th place. Thirty-two-year-old Bryan “Animal” Leek finished in 42nd place at 1:27:29, followed closely by Seth Williams at 1:27:50 for 33rd place. Thirty-three-year-old Tara Wirtz finished as the 398th runner at 1:41:40 as the top female La Jollan.
The race was run under mostly sunny skies, with a cool breeze offering relief.