Off and running

CARLSBAD — Demesse Tefera of Ethiopia and Mary Akor of Hawthorne, Calif., claimed victories at the 19th Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon on Jan. 23. Tefera, 28, won the men’s division in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 28 seconds. Shingirai Badza of Zimbabwe was the runner-up, finishing in 2:29:11.
Sergio Gonzalez, 24, of Oceanside was the first San Diego County finisher, rounding out the podium with a third-place finish in 2:30:28. It was Gonzalez’s first marathon.
In the women’s division, Akor, a 2012 Olympics Trials Women’s Marathon qualifier, was victorious, finishing in 2:45:51.
Emily Belli, 33, of San Diego placed second woman overall and was the first San Diego County woman across the finish line, finishing in 2:46:18. Joey Bonfiglio of Carlsbad finished third in 2:48:53. It was her debut at the marathon distance.
In the half marathon race, Wesley Korir of Kenya was victorious for the third year in a row, winning in 1:02:04.
Jane Kibii of Kenya won the women’s half marathon division, also for a third-straight year, finishing in 1:12:33.
The event enlisted the help of more than 2,000 volunteers and benefited 19 official charities. Both the marathon and the half marathon sold out months in advance.
For more information and full results, visit carlsbadmarathon.com.
Above, San Diego resident Kim Hannah volunteers for Team Challenge from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America pass out water to runners along Jefferson Avenue.