Slow and steady wins L.A. Marathon

It took 9,667 miles and 26 hours for Fred Mogaka to complete an arduous trip from Nairobi to Los Angeles, but not nearly that much to make it worthwhile.

The 28-year-old Kenyan was the fastest finisher in a relatively slow field for the 2007 Los Angeles Marathon and pulled away to win the 22nd annual race in 2 hours 17 minutes and 14 seconds.

With a late surge over the last mile, Mogaka not only beat three countrymen to win the men’s race but also crossed the finish line ahead of women’s race winner Ramilia Burangulova of Russia to win the $100,000 Banco Popular Challenge, in which the elite women were given a head start of 19:51 intended to tighten competition for the bonus.

Kenyans Moses Kororia and Christopher Kipyego finished second and third, respectively, in the men’s race.

Mogaka and Burangulova, who finished in 2:37.54 after overtaking early women’s leader Abebe Tola of Ethiopia, each claimed a $20,000 purse and a new car as a division winner.

The winning times were well behind those of last year’s top finishers, despite a revamped course with a steeper start but fewer hills overall. Benson Cherono of Kenya won the 2006 men’s race with a time of 2:08:40, and Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia clocked 2:25.10. Neither of the defending champions competed Sunday, but Mogaka found reason to be pleased with his performance.

“I was very happy with my time because I win,” said Mogaka, who was competing in only his third marathon and ran well off his personal-best time of 2:12.03, established in a runner-up finish at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in October.

Mogaka has joined the U.S.-based AmeriKenyans Running Club, a group formed in July by Scott and Vanessa Robinson, a Santa Fe, N.M., couple who have established a residential training camp for a dozen Kenyans.

The couple, for a 15% cut of the runners’ winnings, serve as sponsors and agents while providing coaches for the runners during three- to six-month stays in the U.S.

“We have them, and they have us,” Vanessa Robinson said.

Mogaka’s travails while traveling from his hometown of Ngong last week were the result of a last-second decision to compete, a four-hour layover in London, and a communication mix-up at Los Angeles International Airport that took time to sort out once he arrived Thursday.

“I said, ‘I can’t come because I’m not planning on it. I’m not ready,’ ” Mogaka said.

He proved himself wrong by edging out Kororia, who finished in 2:17:18, and Kipyego, who clocked 2:18.21.

The 45-year-old Burangulova waited until Tola began to labor at the halfway point and surrendered the lead at Mile 19.

The victory was Burangulova’s second in six weeks after taking the Miami Marathon on Jan. 28.

Alena Vinitskaya of Belarus clocked 2:42.54 for second, and Tola wound up third at 2:45.16.

Kurt Fearnley of Australia won the men’s wheelchair division in 1:23:40 for his second Los Angeles victory in three years. Shelly Woods of Britain won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:50.55.

lauren.peterson@latimes.com

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Top finishers

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*--* 1. Fred Mogaka, Kenya 2:17:14 2. Moses Kororia, Kenya 2:17:18 3. Christopher Kipyego, Kenya 2:18:21 4. Christopher Kipkoech Rutto, Kenya 2:18:45 5. Wilson Komen, Kenya 2:20:39 6. J.T. Service, San Jose 2:24:57 7. Cristian Villavicencio, Anaheim 2:28:16 8. Sergio Reyes 2:29:29 9. Ricky Moore 2:31:51 10. Tim Fahey, Alexandria, Va 2:32:12 11. Hector Lopez, Gardena 2:33:49 12. Rastislav Turecek, Slovakia 1:42:28 13. Alex Cardiasmenos 2:34:02 14. Johnny Loria, Costa Rica 2:34:42 15. Chris Farley 2:35:13 16. Bryan Glass, Normal, Ill 2:37:04 17. Daniel Feldman, Pasadena 2:38:12 18. Jason Effmann, Portland, Ore 2:38:34 19. John Dimoff, Beaverton, Ore 2:38:34 20. Robert Beamer, Santa Barbara 2:40:03 21. Fermin Secord, Guatemala 2:41:54 22. Juntaro Ito, Japan 2:43:41 23. Joakin Perez, Guatemala 2:44:35 24. Andres Dela Cruz Toma, Guatemala 2:45:30 25. John Mozer, Ft. Irwin, Texas 2:47:13 26. Chris Banks 2:47:34 27. Miguel Ramirez, Los Angeles 2:48:34 28. Yoshihisa Hosaka, Japan 2:49:04 29. Aniceto Espinoza, Burbank 2:50:09 30. Joseph Weiss, Albuquerque 2:50:40 31. Timothy Smith, Carpinteria 2:51:08 32. Ben Mejia, Pomona 2:51:11 33. Jose Cholula 2:51:25 34. Jaime Ortiz, Montclair 2:52:08 35. Alonzo Ramirez, Redondo Beach 2:53:27 36. Julian Romero, Pasadena 2:53:28 37. Hector Ochoa, Santa Ana 2:53:38 38. Francisco Lugo, Mexico 2:53:47 39. Ezequiel Hernandez, Rosemead 2:54:28 40. Sergio Fausto, South Gate 2:54:33 41. Carlos Galdamez, Huntington Park 2:54:36 42. Sergio Chavez, South Gate 2:55:17 43. Jesus Gonzalez, Los Angeles 2:56:14 44. Michael Mahurin, Culver City 2:56:23 45. Ian Nurse, Boston 2:57:00 46. Carlos Mendoza, Granada Hills 2:57:02 47. Michael Hurley, Alhambra 2:57:14 48. Josh Nordell, Mt. Baldy 2:57:54 49. Chuck Teixeira, Canyon Country 2:58:24 50. Robert Leonardo, Lancaster 2:58:26

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*--* TOP 50 WOMEN

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*--* 1. Ramilia Burangulova, Russia 2:37:54 2. Alena Vinitskaya, Belarus 2:42:54 3. Abebe Tola, Ethiopia 2:45:16 4. Jennifer Derego 2:48:40 5. Nathalie Higley, Redondo Beach 2:51:39 6. Maria Teresa Ramos 3:03:26 7. Katie Sobczak, Venice 3:06:10 8. Petra Graen, Canada 3:08:51 9. Erin Kaspar, Carpinteria 3:11:01 10. Annie Seawright, Hermosa Beach 3:14:16 11. Mary Buerner, Manhattan Beach 3:14:31 12. Elsa Ramirez, Monrovia 3:14:39 13. Yuri Kambara, Japan 3:15:07 14. Grace Gonzalez, Chino 3:16:07 15. Taimi Schweighardt, Temecula 3:16:41 16. Margarita Conde, Guatemala 3:16:50 17. Laura Chappell, Phoenix 3:17:24 18. Beth Lachut, Long Beach 3:17:24 19. Maura Musgrove, Upland 3:17:40 20. Nancy Rojas, Milton, Mass 3:17:50 21. Kim Detrick, Laguna Beach 3:18:31 22. Noriko Yamakura, Japan 3:18:53 23. Ana Guijarro, Arcadia 3:20:03 24. Shannon Hill, Pasadena 3:20:10 25. Yuriko Miyata, Los Angeles 3:20:11 26. Ashley Backman, Oceanside 3:20:54 27. Megan Brenner, Manhattan Beach 3:21:26 28. Tanya Zeferjahn, Victorville 3:21:50 29. Alice Perlowski, Los Angeles 3:22:17 30. Laura Aceves, Lomita 3:22:27 31. Patricia Anglano, Santa Monica 3:22:39 32. Carrie Blakemore, Carpinteria 3:22:42 33. Jodie Entrikin, Rancho Cucamonga 3:23:53 34. Amanda Chann, Moreno Valley 3:24:41 35. Rebecca Collins, New York 3:24:43 36. Laurel Adair, Los Angeles 3:25:01 37. Mary Button, Los Angeles 3:25:14 38. Michelle Mills, Keizer, Ore 3:26:03 39. Fabiola Pamatz, San Diego 3:26:06 40. Kristen Roune, Pasadena 3:26:18 41. Debbie Strosnider, Temecula 3:26:47 42. Ginna Hepp, Santa Monica 3:27:01 43. Susan Miranda, Scottsdale, Ariz 3:27:07 44. Katy Haynes, Palo Alto 3:27:09 45. Dolores Valencia, Chino Hills 3:27:45 46. Amanda Barreto, Chatsworth 3:28:17 47. Rachel Harris, Austin, Texas 3:28:22 48. Amy Slabich, West Hills 3:28:38 49. Christa Koot, Chino 3:28:38 50. Rossana Robinson, Westlake Village 3:29:15

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*--* TOP 25 WHEELCHAIR

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*--* 1. Kurt Fearnley, Australia 1:23:40 2. David Weir, England 1:27:46 3. Saul Mendoza, Wimberley, Texas 1:32:10 4. Choke Yasuoka, Japan 1:32:11 5. Aaron Gordian, Mexico 1:32:13 6. Martin Velasco Soria, Mexico 1:32:16 7. Hong Suk Man, Korea 1:34:21 8. Shusuke Watanabe, Japan 1:38:54 9. Alfonso Zaragoza, Mexico 1:39:43 10. Joshua George, Champaign, Ill 1:40:31 11. Takashi Yoshida, Japan 1:45:55 12. Shelly Woods, England 1:50:55 13. Grant Berthiaume, Tucson 1:53:29 14. Edwin Figueroa, Commerce 1:59:59 15. Brad Ray, Albuquerque 2:02:01 16. Marc Aten, Moorpark 2:03:18 17. Renzo Martinez, Boca Raton, Fla 2:04:45 18. Geoffrey Erickson, Wilmington 2:04:47 19. Peter Hawkins, Malverne, N.Y 2:15:30 20. Richard Radford, El Segundo 3:41:17 21. Mary Thompson, Del Mar 3:42:05 22. Jeff Wassenaar, Bellflower 3:49:28 23. Carlos Gonzalez, Los Angeles 3:54:45 24. Mario Medina Pena, Los Angeles 4:25:52 25. Peter Lassen, Los Angeles 4:40:45

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*--* TOP 25 WHEELCHAIR CRANK

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*--* 1. Albor Alejandro, Elk Grove 1:15:27 2. Todd Philpott, New York 1:17:39 3. Keane West, Lake Placid, Fla 1:33:13 4. Mario Farfan, New York 1:33:39 5. Rodger Robinson, Lodi 1:33:43 6. Tim Patterson, Phoenix 1:35:06 7. Christoph Etzlstorfer, Austria 1:36:56 8. Chris Fuller, Poway 1:41:58 9. Matt Strugar-Fritsch, Carmichael 1:44:45 10. Brian Lapp, Bakersfield 1:47:27 11. Michael Trujillo, Huntington Beach 1:50:23 12. Alvin Uttecht, Anaheim 1:54:22 13. Wesley Bergin, Carlsbad 1:58:11 14. Daniel Jacobs, San Diego 1:58:20 15. Chris Houde, Carmichael 1:59:04 16. Jeremy Campbell, San Diego 2:01:57 17. David McCoy, Irvine 2:07:58 18. Chad Carter, San Diego 2:11:10 19. Jorge Zapata, San Diego 2:15:40 20. Antonio Rico, Los Angeles 2:16:32 21. Harold Bostick, Northridge 2:17:07 22. Brett Sobaski, San Diego 2:20:02 23. Minda Dentler, New York 2:20:31 24. Rick Mason, Davis 2:30:24 25. David Whedbee, Seattle 2:36:49

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*--* MEN’S AGE GROUP

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*--* 17-AND-UNDER 1. Michael Hurley, Alhambra 2:57:14 2. Marcos Funes-Flores, Los Angeles 3:06:28 3. Jesus Parra, Dinuba 3:11:13 18-24 1. Juntaro Ito, Japan 2:43:41 2. Julian Romero, Pasadena 2:53:28 3. Jeffery Hoover, Los Angeles 2:59:06 25-29 1. Fred Mogaka, Kenya 2:17:14 2. Moses Kororia, Kenya 2:17:18 3. Wilson Komen, Kenya 2:20:39 30-34 1. Christopher Kipjego, Kenya 2:18:21 2. Cristian Villavicencio, Anaheim 2:28:16 3. Tim Fahey, Alexandria, Va 2:32:12 35-39 1. Hector Lopez, Gardena 2:33:49 2. John Dimoff, Beaverton, Ore 2:38:34 3. Fermin Secord, Guatemala 2:41:54 40-44 1. Timothy Smith, Carpinteria 2:51:08 2. Ezequiel Hernandez, Rosemead 2:54:28 3. Carlos Galdamez, Huntington Park 2:54:36 45-49 1. Jaime Ortiz, Montclair 2:52:08 2. Francisco Lugo, Mexico 2:53:47 3. Chuck Teixeira, Canyon Country 2:58:24 50-54 1. Sergio Fausto, South Gate 2:54:33 2. Francisco Lopez, Montebello 3:06:24 3. Marc Dinger, San Clemente 3:08:16 55-59 1. Yoshihisa Hosaka, Japan 2:49:04 2. Jose Martinez, Los Angeles 2:59:21 3. Moo Lim, Diamond Bar 3:03:36 60-64 1. Benjamin Caro, South Gate 3:02:53 2. Pierre Chevalier, France 3:11:47 3. Fumio Ichimura, Gardena 3:27:48 65-69 1. Richard Hillestad, Topanga 3:21:37 2. Freddie Perez, Sylmar 3:33:15 3. Laszlo Buliczka, Sherman Oaks 3:35:14 70-74 1. Gene Lowe, San Mateo 3:13:23 2. Kenneth Reynnett, Menifee 3:51:41 3. Miguel Cruz, Panorama City 3:54:36 75-79 1. Cruz Herrera, Los Angeles 4:24:56 2. Eyob Tadesse, Los Angeles 5:03:58 3. Jong Sung Kim, Los Angeles 5:13:04 80-89 1. Daniel Hoyos, La Verne 4:21:50 2. Leonard Silver, Buffalo, N.Y 5:25:43 3. Ubaldo Cruz, Los Angeles 5:34:22 90-98 1. Raymond Zaragoza, Azusa 5:53:47

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*--* WOMEN’S AGE GROUP

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*--* 17-AND-UNDER 1. Grace Gonzalez, Chino 3:16:07 2. Marcy Rodriguez, Reseda 3:44:21 3. Maribel Flores, Reseda 3:53:41 18-24 1. Tanya Zeferjahn, Victorville 3:21:50 2. Katy Haynes, Palo Alto 3:27:09 3. Amanda Barreto, Chatsworth 3:28:17 25-29 1. Abebe Tola, Ethiopia 2:45:16 2. Katie Sobczak, Venice 3:06:10 3. Erin Kaspar, Carpinteria 3:11:01 30-34 1. Petra Graen, Canada 3:08:51 2. Yuri Kambara, Japan 3:15:07 3. Maura Musgrove, Upland 3:17:40 35-39 1. Alena Vinitskaya, Belarus 2:42:54 2. Nathalie Higley, Redondo Beach 2:51:39 3. Taimi Schweighardt, Temecula 3:16:41 40-44 1. Annie Seawright, Hermosa Beach 3:14:16 2. Mary Buerner, Manhattan Beach 3:14:31 3. Noriko Yamakura, Japan 3:18:53 45-49 1. Ramilia Burangolova, Russia 2:37:54 2. Mary Button, Los Angeles 3:25:14 3. Christa Koot, Chino 3:28:38 50-54 1. Maria Madueno, Chula Vista 3:45:54 2. Christine Rodriguez, Lakewood, Colo 3:46:39 3. Abel Ibarra, Pacoima 3:46:51 55-59 1. Carol Bautista, Hacienda Heights 3:37:34 2. Myung Kim, Los Angeles 3:43:27 3. Romy Niblack, Redlands 3:45:48 60-64 1. Angie Romero, Duarte 4:25:51 2. Kyoko Sato, Gardena 4:26:22 3. Sharon Dolin, Studio City 4:32:40 65-69 1. Lien Hidalgo, Lomita 4:42:47 2. Roberta Rodin, Rancho Palos Verdes 4:53:12 3. Marilyn Clark, Marina del Rey 4:56:48 70-74 1. Mary Dugan, Huntington Beach 6:02:07 2. Virginia Lespron, El Monte 6:18:26 3. Ursula Krummel, North Hollywood 6:24:39 75-79 1. Kathleen Callaway, Redlands 6:22:33 2. Monica Morris, Los Angeles 7:18:10 3. Lillian Thomas, Upland 8:37:24 80-89 1. Margaret Davis, Azusa 6:07:56 2. Kathleen Stovall, Los Angeles 7:58:33

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