Courtesy: Running USA

Shadrack Hoff, one of South Africa's finest road racers and U.S. distance queen Deena Drossin (pictured) stole the show at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon as they grabbed the elite invitational titles and a $12,000 first place prize. Hoff (1:02:19) and Drossin (1:10:08) led a field of 15,000 runners and walkers through a scenic Virginia Beach course, featuring 13.1 miles of rock 'n' roll music and energetic high school cheerleading teams.

In a unique format for road racing, the elite women runners started 15 minutes before the men's field for optimal television coverage of the women's event. As the gun sounded at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center, Russia's Ludmila Petrova led a tight pack of determined competitors through a flat Virginia Beach course. Ethiopia's 1996 Olympic Marathon Champion Fatuma Roba, Russia's Lyubov Morgunova, Kenyans Margaret Okayo and Gladys Asiba and Deena Drossin stayed close through the 10K mark, passing through in 32:13. Petrova successfully pushed the pace as she approached mile 7, opening a 25-yard lead on the pack.

But it didn't take long for Drossin - a 2000 U.S. Olympian - to respond. Drossin, who lives in Mammoth Lakes, CA and is training for her first marathon (New York City on November 4), began closing in on Petrova at 8 1/2 miles and eventually captured the lead at 53:49.

"I wanted to take the lead and show her I was in this for the long haul," said Drossin of her exciting comeback. "With two miles to go, I really tried to push ahead and kept pushing all the way to the finish line."

Drossin, 28, a Team USA California member, turned onto the oceanfront boardwalk just before the 11 mile marker and never looked back. The Arkansas graduate broke the tape on the inaugural event in 1:10:08, a U.S. women's-only record. Jody Hawkins held the previous record (1:12:38) set at the World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland on September 27, 1998.

The last time an American woman bested a field of this quality in a major half-marathon was when Joan Samuelson ruled the American roads in the mid-1980s coming off her gold medal performance in the women's marathon at the 1984 Olympics. Her '84 American record of 68:34 withstood the Drossin challenge as the humid conditions did not lend themselves to reach such a rarified record.

"This was such an incredible event," continued Drossin, a five- time U.S. cross country champion. "The crowd support was great out there. The city of Virginia Beach has been such a fantastic host for all of the athletes, which has made this experience even more special for me."

Petrova, the 2000 New York City Marathon champion, finished second with a time of 1:10:36 and took home $7,000, while Okayo of Kenya collected $5,000 for third with 1:10:43.

The men's elite invitational proved every bit as exciting as was promised. With a field of world record holders, past major marathon champions and Olympians, Virginia Beach was ready for a thrilling race. The two pacesetters, Enock Mitei and David Kirui of Kenya, ran the first mile in 4:44, with the intent to go through the 10K mark in 28:40. The pack opened with a 4:58 first mile, causing the pacesetters to slow down in the early miles of the race. Mitei and Kirui went through 10K in 29:40 followed by a large men's pack in 29:44. As they dropped off the course, Kenya's Laban Kipkemboi decided to test the pack and press the pace. Fellow Kenyan John Gwako answered his challenge and stayed right with Kipkembio.

After the 10K, the pace dropped from 4:48 to 4:44 to 4:42, slowly eliminating athletes from the pack. By the turn onto the boardwalk at 11 miles, there were six men left including Kipkemboi, Gwako, three other Kenyans and Shadrack Hoff of South Africa. Hoff tucked himself into a pocket behind the leaders, trying to conserve his energy.

"I thought it was only Kipkemboi and I in the race to the finish," said Hoff. "I was surprised when John Gwako passed us with 700 meters to go. When John kicked, I tucked in next to him. With 300 meters to go, I felt him slow down. I started to kick much harder and was able to keep going with the finish line in sight."

Kipkemboi outkicked Hoff just last weekend to win the Crim 10 Miler in Flint, Michigan. Hoff remembered this and waited patiently today, pushing at exactly the right time to grab the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon title. A mere one second separated the first, second and third place finishers. Gwako finished second in 1:02:20 and grabbed $7,000, while Kipkembio crossed in 1:02:21 and took home $5,000.

"This was my wedding present to my wife," said Hoff, who is recently married and spending this Labor Day Weekend with his wife in Virginia Beach as a belated honeymoon.

The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon featured 15,000 participants from every state and several foreign countries. More than 20 live rock 'n' roll bands lined the course along with 14 local high school cheerleading squads competing for cash and prizes in a "Spirit on the Course" competition. The Counting Crows took the stage at 8pm for a post-race concert on the boardwalk which was free to all participants and volunteers.

Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

Virginia Beach, VA, Sunday, September 2, 2001

MEN

1) Shadrack Hoff, RSA 1:02:19 $12,000

2) John Gwako, KEN 1:02:20 $7,000

3) Laban Kipkembio, KEN 1:02:21 $5,000

4) Wilburforce Tael, KEN 1:02:30 $3,000

5) Ben Kimondiu, KEN 1:03:00 $2,000

6) Stephen Kiogora, KEN 1:03:06 $1,500

7) Rogers Rop, KEN 1:03:07 $1,000

8) Benson Mbithi, KEN 1:03:16 $750

9) Philip Tarus, KEN 1:03:27 $600

10) Simon Kasimili, KEN 1:03:37 $500

WOMEN

1) Deena Drossin, CA 1:10:08 $12,000

2) Ludmila Petrova, RUS 1:10:36 $7,000

3) Margaret Okayo, KEN 1:10:43 $5,000

4) Gladys Asiba, KEN 1:11:38 $3,000

5) Fatuma Roba, ETH 1:11:49 $2,000

6) Lyubov Morgunova, RUS 1:12:35 $1,500

7) Jane Omoro, KEN 1:13:38 $1,000

8) Kayoko Obata, JPN 1:13:52 $750

9) Ramila Burangulova, RUS 1:14:02 $600

10) Ichiyo Naganuma, JPN 1:14:09 $500