Teshome Mekonen of Ethiopia ran down the final hill into Capitola barely ahead of Kenya’s Simion Chirchir to the finish line winning the 45th Wharf to Wharf annual six-mile road race from Santa Cruz to Capitola.
Mekonen finished in 27 minutes, 33 seconds, Chirchir trailed by a second at 27:34 barely ahead of Kenyans Silas Kipruto (27:41) and Isaac Mukundi (27:44). Mekonen earns $4,000 for his victory, 2nd is $3,000 for Chirchir, $2,000 for Kipruto and $1,000 for Mukundi.
Diego Estrada of Salinas was the first American, finishing sixth in 27:48. Scotts Valley High alum Nick Heath won the Top Local title finishing 13th in 30:10.
For the women Buze Diriba, a 23-year-old long-distance runner out of Ethiopia, finished first in 31 minutes, 19 seconds a minute off the course record set by Caroline Rotich (30:18) in 2014. She won the cash prize of $4,000 for first.
Monicah Ngige (31:36), of Kenya finished second earning $3,000 for second place for the second straight year.
Top American runner, who recently moved to San Francisco, was Mara Olson (32:21) finishing third. Olson was a three-time Division I track and field and cross country All-American for Butler University. Emily Infeld in 2013 was the last American winner of the women’s division.
Top local finisher was 22-year-old Nikki Hiltz of Aptos placing eighth (33:49) beating last year’s local winner, Amy Schnittger, who finished 14th (34:55). Hiltz now competes for the University of Arkansas at 1,500 meters.
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Unofficial Results
Men: *1. Teshome Mekonen, Ethiopia, 27:33; *2. Simion Chirchir, Kenya, 27:34; *3. Silas Kipruto, Kenya, 27:41; *4. Isaac Mukundi, Kenya, 27:43; 5. Nicholas Kirui, Kenya, 27:47.
Women: *1. Buze Diriba, Ethiopia, 31:19; *2. Monicah Ngige, Kenya, 31:36; *3. Mara Olson, United States, 32:21; *4. Samantha Silva, United States, 32:30; 5. Helena Schultz, United States, 33:00.
*Cash Prizes
