Koala/Luke's Houston Half Marathon Highlights

The top highlights of the 2009 Houston Half Marathon, sponsored by Koala Wellness Center and Luke's Locker and presented by the Houston Striders, were the Female Overall Winner and FLS's Autumn Ray (1:23:48) and HMSA's Gerardo Mora capturing the Male Masters title in 1:16:34.

Other age group winners included ALRC's Caroline Burum, as her 1:31:08 paced the Female 40-44 age group, holding off Kenyan Way's Vicki Melnick (2nd in 1:35:00) and ALRC's Martha Long (3rd in 1:35:16). The Tornados' Susan Walters captured the Female 45-49 age group with her tremendously impressive, 1:26:58 run, which placed her 7th on the All-Time Performance List, and beat out Jody Berry of the Houston Striders (1:30:09). Christie Lammers took home the Female 50-54 age group title with her monstrous 1:32:05 run, blasting away from Houston Harrier's Suzanne Day (2nd in 1:38:12) and ALRC's Suzy Seeley (3rd in 1:40:09). Harrier Donna Sterns continued her undefeated streak with her 1:40:15 win in the Female 55-59 age group, out-distancing herself from Strider Julie Rutledge by almost a mile (1:48:06). Houston Strider Judy Loy won the Female 70-74 age group with her 2:43:26 run.

On the Men's side, ALRC's George Alvarado easily handled the Male 1-19 age group with his 6:20 pace, 1:23:00 performance, holding off Ryan Dimarco's 1:28:44 run. Houston Strider Thomas King, Jr. pulled off quite the upset, capturing the Male 40-44 age group with his 1:17:37, fast enough to qualify for the Chevron Houston Marathon Local Invited Elite Status, and taking down Rudy Rocha (1:18:14) of the Bay Area Running Club and the Tornados Francisco Garza (1:21:35). HMSA's Joe Melanson won the Male 50-54 age group with his 1:22:15 performance, as Philip Trumbly of the Tornados placed 2nd in 1:24:07 and ALRC's Richard Peoples took home the bronze with his 1:24:23. Tornados teammates, Miguel Lopez and Jamal Jamalyaria placed first and second, respectively (1:27:01 and 1:29:22) in the Male 55-59 age group, while Terlingua's Ben Harvie won the Male 60-64 age group in a great 1:31:30. Don Brenner of the BCRR won the Male 70-74 age group in 1:47:32 over TWRC's Jim Braden (1:53:58).

Top 10 Overall Male Open
1:08:44 - Sean Wade (42), 2008
1:09:13 - Luis Armenteros, 2008
1:09:23 - Alex Moore, 2007
1:09:25 - Cole Dailey, 2009

1:10:44 - Luis Armenteros, 2007
1:11:50 - Colin Carroll, 2008
1:12:01 - Colin Wolfe, 2008
1:12:16 - Ray Martinez, 2008
1:12:19 - Ray Martinez, 2007
1:12:34 - Rudy Rocha, 2007

Top 10 Overall Male Master
1:08:44 - Sean Wade (42), 2008
1:12:52 - Sean Wade (40), 2006
1:13:53 - Wilmer Bustillos (43), 2008
1:14:13 - Jon Butler (45), 2007
1:14:27 - Joe Flores (48), 2007
1:15:25 - Francisco Perez (42), 2007
1:15:52 - Gerardo Mora (42), 2008
1:16:00 - Jacob Mazone (45), 2007
1:16:32 - Gerardo Mora (40), 2006
1:16:34 - Gerardo Mora (43), 2009

Top 10 Overall Female Open
1:21:40 - Kimberly Hager, 2007
1:22:15 - Kate Gorry, 2007
1:23:04 - Dawn Domaschk, 2008
1:23:09 - Heidy Lozano (44), 2007
1:23:13 - Lindsay Harkema, 2007
1:23:21 - Diana Hirst, 2008
1:23:40 - Autumn Ray, 2006
1:23:48 - Autumn Ray, 2009

1:24:12 - Heidy Lozano (45), 2008
1:24:18 - Heidy Lozano (43), 2006

Top 10 Overall Female Master
1:23:09 - Heidy Lozano (44), 2007
1:24:12 - Heidy Lozano (45), 2008
1:24:18 - Heidy Lozano (43), 2006
1:24:19 - Heidy Lozano (46), 2009

1:25:20 - Susan Walters (43), 2007
1:25:46 - Susan Walters (42), 2006
1:26:56 - Susan Walters (45), 2009

1:27:27 - Helen Grant (43), 2006
1:28:36 - Christie Lammers (50), 2007
1:29:16 - Caroline Burum (43), 2008