Top male, female runners smash course records at Run for the River

Top runners broke course records at the 8th annual Run for the River in Kinston.

With a bright sun and a slight chill in the air Saturday morning, runners aged 8-72 years old took off from the Neuseway Nature Center, up Queen Street, through downtown neighborhoods and back toward the farmers’ market on Herritage Street.

Kiprono Kurgat, a Chapel Hill resident and native of Kenya, broke a three-year-old course record for the men by finishing the 8 kilometers at 23 minutes, 42 seconds. The old record was held by Devin Swann at 24 minutes even.

“It feels all right — so good,” Kurgat said as he caught his breath after crossing the finish line.

Caitlin Bullock, of Charlotte, erased the 28 minutes, one second mark made by Heather Magill in 2011 with her own time of 27 minutes, 15 seconds.

“It’s my first race as a married woman, so it feels good to win with my new name,” Bullock said.

Tibor Vegh, of Cary, entered the race with his wife, Kristina. They both placed third overall.

“It feels really nice, especially in a race like this,” Vegh said of his finish. He ran cross country and track at N.C. State. “It was very well-organized, and I just cannot say enough good things about the race.”

The event started out with a 1-mile run around Neuseway, and ended with prizes and a small celebration. The first-place winners took home $500 and a commemorative Lenox bowl. Second-place runners received $300, and those in third place received $150 each.

Adrian King of Pride of Kinston, which organized the event, said everything turned out well.

“People were a little bit slow signing on, which gave me a little bit of heartburn, but they’ve all flooded in as of this week, and then today,” King said. “And so, it’s really been a great race. We’ve got a great team putting the thing together.”

For more information on the race, go to downtownkinston.com/run.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.

Breakout Box

Top Three Males Overall

1. Kiprono Kurgat, Chapel Hill, 23:42 (new record)

2. Sandy Roberts, Raleigh, 24:09

3. Tibor Vegh, Cary, 24:44

Top Three Females Overall

1. Caitlin Bullock, Charlotte, 27:45 (new record)

2. Divina Jepkogei, Chapel Hill, 28:04

3. Kristina Vegh, Cary, 28:27

Winners by gender and age group:

Male, 1-14

Darius Collins Jr., Beaufort, 36:35

Female, 1-14

Sophia Jenkins, Kinston, 48:30

Male, 15-19

Nicolas Frankfort, Kinston, 33:14

Female, 15-19

Caroline Jones, Pink Hill, 35:52

Male, 20-24

Paul Springer, Cary, 25:17

Female, 20-24

No entrants

Male, 25-29

Geoffrey Clark, Cary, 31:51

Female, 25-29

Jamie Cain, New Bern, 39:59

Male, 30-34

Billy Askey, Cary, 27:17

Female, 30-34

Sarah Perkins, Goldsboro, 37:46

Male, 35-39

Troy Robinson, Kinston, 33:49

Female, 35-39

Kellie Davis, Raleigh, 34:34

Male, 40-44

Musa Gwansura, Roanoke Rapids, 27:12

Female, 40-44

Laura McPhaul, Kinston, 49:09

Male, 45-49

David Eckenrod, Goldsboro, 31:26

Female, 45-49

Billie Brinkley, New Bern, 42:18

Male, 50-54

Joe Clay Jones, Pink Hill, 34:19

Female, 50-54

Tina Kennedy, Beulaville, 40:35

Male, 55-59

Robert Dudley, Roanoke Rapids, 31:52

Female, 55-59

Joan Perry, Kinston, 37:03

Male. 60-99

Leon Arthur, Mt. Olive, 40:12

Female, 60-99

Valerie Murrah, Chapel Hill, 51:40