Curtis Debuts in 1:01:52 for 9th Place at Philly Half Marathon

Bobby Curtis made his half-marathon debut this morning a big success at the Philadelphia Half-Marathon. He surpassed his 15th seed and finished 9th in 1:01:52 (4:44 per mile pace) and was the first American (and second non-African) finisher. His time bettered his own goals for the race; he was expecting something in the 1:02-1:03 range as he is, by his own admission, not yet at his highest level of fitness as he prepares for his marathon debut in November in New York. "I'm pleased with my race today," Curtis said. "I'm in the middle of heavy marathon training, so it was a respectable time."

Bobby's splits were:

5K: 14:32
10K: 29:09
10M: 47:08
13.1M: 1:01:52

Here are the top 10 finishers in the race:

    
    Name               Country     Time         Behind          Pace    
1.  Matthew Kisorio    Kenya       00:58:45     ---            04:29
2.  Sammy Kitwara      Kenya       00:58:48     +00:02.78      04:30
3.  James Mwangi       Kenya       01:00:43     +01:57.49      04:38
4.  Peter Kamais       Kenya       01:01:07     +02:21.42      04:40
5.  Julias Koskei      Kenya       01:01:21     +02:36.13      04:41
6.  Shawn Forrest      Australia   01:01:34     +02:48.75      04:42
7.  Abderrahim Goumri  Morocco     01:01:42     +02:56.37      04:43
8.  Hosea Macharinyang Kenya       01:01:43     +02:58.01      04:43
9.  Bobby Curtis       USA         01:01:52     +03:06.86      04:44
10. Markos Geneti      Ethiopia    01:02:01     +03:15.87      04:45

Here's the top 25 finishers:

1. Matthew Kisorio 58:46:00
2. Sammy Kitwara 58:47:00
3. James Mwangi 01:00:42
4. Peter Kamais 01:01:06
5. Julias Koskei 01:01:21
6. Shawn Forrest 01:01:34
7. Abderrahim Goumri 01:01:41
8. Hosea Macharinyang 01:01:42
9. Bobby Curtis Philadelphia PA 01:01:52
10. Markos Geneti 01:02:01

11. Samual Ndereba 01:02:08
12. Ridouane Harroufi 01:02:45
13. Chris Barnicle Newtonville MA 01:02:43
14. Jason Hartmann Boulder CO 01:03:38
15. Weldon Kirui 01:03:44
16. Vyacheslav Shabunin 01:03:51
17. Shadrack Biwott 01:03:56
18. Boaz Cheboiywo 01:04:09
19. McDonald Ondara 01:04:31
20. Matthew Eaton Bowling Green KY 01:04:36

21. Fred Joslyn Syracuse NY 01:04:37
22. Adam Goucher Portland OR 01:04:52
23. Paul Hefferon Rochester Hills MI 01:04:53
24. Tyler McCandless Boulder CO 01:04:59
25. David Berdan Owings Mill MD 01:05:53


Other Americans of note (1:05:00 is the qualifying standard for the US Olympic marathon trials)

Chris Barnicle: 1:02:43
Jason Hartmann: 1:03:38
Matt Eaton: 1:04:36
Fred Joslyn: 1:04:37
Adam Goucher: 1:04:52
Paul Hefferon: 1:04:53
Tyler McCandless: 1:04:59
Gian-Carlo Caccia: 1:06:03
Paul Canaday: 1:06:42
Carl Dusen: 1:06:52