by Larry Eder
Top finishers: Hellen Jepkurgat, Jane Kibii, Angela Orjuela, Joanna Reyes (top 4), photo by The Shoe Addicts
The winner nearly did not get here. Her passport was less than six months from expiring, so she had to do an expedited Passport and Visa. Hellen Jepkurgat paid her way here, and took the lead from 14 miles and that party was over. Top Ethiopians, Mestawet Tufa and Kiruktayit Degefa folded, with Degefa finishing nine minutes back in fourth and Tufa not finishing. A titanic battle between Jane Kibii and Angela Orjuela was decided by six seconds at the finish. And Joanna Reyes, San Jose State grad, cross country runner at the newly ressurected program at Speed City, improved by fifteen minutes two seconds (from 2:50.58 to 2:37:56).
Moderated by Tom Feur, here’s the FaceBook LIVE video of the presser!
