Kenya and Oakland Natives Win 2011 Wharf to Wharf

The spanned from Santa Cruz to Capitola Sunday morning with racers from across the world jaunting six miles along the coast.

Kenyan runners dominated the men’s race by obtaining the three top places. Meanwhile, Americans occupied two of the top three spots in the women's standings.

Silas Kipruto, 27, won the men's race with a final time of 26:56, despite complete unfamiliarity with the terrain.

“This is my first race [in the United States]. … I ran well,” Kipruto told Patch after the win.

The winner of the women’s race, 37-year-old Magdalena Lewy Boulet of Oakland, was overjoyed at having beaten her previous Wharf to Wharf time, with a 2011 finish of 30:49.

“The race felt amazing," she said. "I walked away with a big personal best from when I ran this the first time in 2008.”

Last year’s winner of the men’s race, Shadrack Kosgei, 26, finished second on Sunday with a time of 27:12. Kosgei was content with his overall performance despite failing to defend his title.

“I am really feeling good,” said Kosgei. “All of these guys are good friends of mine.”

Alemtsehay Misganaw, 31, of Ethiopia, finished second in the women's race at 32:12. Having finished second in the race twice before, she wasn't quite satisfied.

“I hope next year I can get No. 1,” she said.

The third-place finishers, Macdonard Ondara (27:29) and Nicole Hagobian (33:12), were pleased with their performances as well as the general nature of the course.

“[I enjoyed] the people side to side cheering at you. You don’t get tired when people cheer at you,” Ondara said.

For Hagobian, a 36-year-old San Luis Obispo resident, it was the string of live music along the course that kept her pumped up.

“The course goes by so fast," she said. "It's a great course with all the bands. It is probably my favorite race.”  

While out-of-towners were certainly the stars of the day, Santa Cruz County runners also made their presence felt.

“Every year that I am alive, I will be here,” said Beau Gradone-Rogers, 24, of Watsonville. 

A recent Chico State grad, Gradone-Rogers has run competitively since high school and earned top local runner recognition for this year's men’s race, finishing with a time of 30:25, good enough for 12th overall.

Not all runners participating in the six-mile run were on a competitive streak. Most, in fact, were running to simply have a good time and exercise.

“I am a fun runner,” said Don Rosevear, 53, of Mill Valley, who ran with his son, Calvin, 10. “We did very well this year.”

To see Patch's photo gallery from the race, click here. And don't miss the .