New York Rooted Athletes Shine at the 10th Running of the United Airlines NYC Half

Press Release

New York, March 15, 2014—A pair of athletes with New York roots made their mark today, March 15, at the 2015 United Airlines NYC Half.

Former Iona College standout ​Leonard Korir (KEN) won the men’s race in 1:01:06, edging out top-returning entrant Stephen Sambu (KEN) in 1:01:07, and third-place finisher Juan Luis Barrios (MEX) in 1:01:14.

“I like New York. I went to school here,” said Korir. “I wanted to give all I could to win this race because I love this place.”

In the women’s field, Elmira, NY native Molly Huddle (USA) took first place in  1:08:31, tying the event record set last yearby Sally Kipyego. Huddle was followed by runner-up Joyce Chepkirui (KEN), in 1:08:42, and third-place finisher and 2014 champion Sally Kipyego (KEN) in 1:09:39.

“There's a great field with Sally and Joyce, Buzunesh and Desiree and a few other great Americans in the field,” said Huddle, the first American champion to win the United Airlines NYC Half. “So to come out on top was a great day for me. I really wasn't expecting it.”

Ernst Van Dyk (RSA) won the men's wheelchair division in 48:54, and Manuela Schär (SUI) won the women's wheelchair division in 54:38.

This was the 10th running of the United Airlines NYC Half–the first of five events in the NYRR Five-Borough Series. The professional athlete purse prize totals $115,000. The course took runners through a tour of Manhattan–through Central Park, Times Square, and down the West Side Highway to the finish in the financial district.

New this year at the United Airlines NYC Half was the NYRR Times Square Kids’ Run—a 1500-meter out-and-back road race on Seventh Avenue for children ages 7 to 18 that started and ended in Times Square. 1,000 kids, including 700 of NYRR’s Young Runners, competed in the high school, middle school, and elementary school divisions alongside top professional athletes and half-marathoners of all abilities  in the United Airlines NYC Half.​ 

Top five male finishers:

1.    Leonard Korir, 28, KEN                           1:01:06
2.    Stephen Sambu, 26, KEN                      1:01:07
3.    ​Juan Luis Barrios, 31, MEX                     1:01:14
4.    ​Lusapho April, 32, RSA                            1:01:21
5.    ​Andrew Bumbalough, 28, USA           1:02:04

Top five female finishers: 

1.    Molly Huddle, 30, USA                           1:08:31*
2.    Joyce Chepkirui, 26, KEN                       1:08:42
3.    ​Sally Kipyego, 29, KEN                            1:09:39
4.    ​Caroline Rotich, 30, KEN                        1:09:53
5.    ​Rkia El Moukim, 27, MAR                      1:10:14

*Ties event record

Top three men's wheelchair division finishers: 

1.    Ernst Van Dyk, 41, USA                          48:54
2.    Joshua George, 30, USA                        49:11
3.    ​Michel Filteau, 48, CAN                          52:25

Top three women's wheelchair division finishers: 

1.    Manuela Schär, 30, SUI                          54:38
2.    Susannah Scaroni, 23, USA                   54:58
3.    ​Tatyana, McFadden, 25, USA              56:54

Full results and coverage can be found later today at www.nyrr.org. We have posted print-quality photos of the winners for your use at NYRR’s online media center. Caption and credit information is contained in the metadata and in NYRR’s online media center; credit all photos “Courtesy of NYRR” unless otherwise specified.

Later today (by 5:00 p.m.), we will add additional editorial pictures that capture the day’s spirit to NYRR’s online media center. You may also use these with credit. If you have any questions about the pictures, please contact Peter Krebs ([email protected]). General Media inquiries should be directed to [email protected].

For the latest United Airlines NYC Half news, updates, features, and media information, please visit the NYRR online media center​ or follow us on Twitter @nyrrnews.