Kellyn Johnson Breaks GO! St. Louis Half Marathon Record

Jacob Chemtai Captures Men’s Half Title, Falls One Second Short of Setting New Record
David Glennon Wins Men’s Marathon Race, Jenny Graef First Women Marathoner

ST. LOUIS (MO) – April 6, 2014 – Kellyn Johnson, 27, from Flagstaff, AZ set a new women’s GO! St. Louis Half Marathon record, with a time of 1:11:51. On the men’s side Jacob Chemtai, 27, from Santa Fe, NM narrowly missed breaking the men’s half marathon record set in 2013 by Aaron Braun (1:03:13). Chemtai finished with a 1:03:14.

More than $17,000 in prize money was awarded to the half marathon invitational field, including a $5,000 prize for both Johnson and Chemtai.

Chemtai, out-dueled Jordan Chipangama, 25, Flagstaff, AZ, who finished with a time of 1:03:31. Chipangama competes for Northern Arizona Elite, and is quickly becoming a frequent top finisher at GO! St. Louis races. Chipangama also finished second in last year’s GO! St. Louis Half Marathon. Third place went to Stephen Pifer, 29, Louisville, CO with a time of 1:03:45. The top local elite was Big River Running’s Matt O’Connor, 27, St. Louis, MO., who finished sixth with a 1:05:32.

In the women’s field Johnson eclipsed Mattie Suver’s record of 1:12:22, set in 2013. She out-paced Pasca Cheruiyot, 27, who finished with a 1:15:09. Sarah Kiptoo, 24, Santa Fe, NM took home third place with a time of 1:16:31. Kiptoo also finished third in last year’s women’s half marathon.

In the marathon race, David Glennon, 32, from Boulder, CO outlasted the field, posting a 2:34:34. He was followed by second place finisher Stephen Marthy, 26, Saint Robert, MO, who with a time of 2:38:51. Finishing third in the marathon was Matthias Messner, 32 from Boulder, CO, with a time of 2:40:44. Zach Young, 30, Jackson, MO won the men’s wheelchair marathon with a time of 2:18:36.

In the women’s marathon race, Jenny Graef, 28 from Stillwater, OK was the first women to cross the line with a time of 2:57:18. Graef finished ahead of Lauren Mulac, 25, from Chicago, IL, and third place finisher Kendall Schler, 25, Columbia, MO.

Half Marathon – Men’s Invitational Division

Half Marathon – Women’s Invitational Division