May 3, 2015 4 min read

For the second time in as many years, Clara Santucci, of Dilliner, won the Pittsburgh Marathon.

The 28-year-old Santucci finished with a time of 2:34:06 after a late surge in Sunday’s race.

The Greene County resident became the first repeat women’s champion since Wioletta Kryza (2001-02). Santucci also took home $13,500 – $8,000 as race champion, a $4,500 American Development Program bonus and $1,000 as top Pennsylvania finisher.

Stephen Njoroge of Kenya won the men’s race in 2:15:19. In the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, Kenyans Susan Jerotich and Kimutai Cheruiyot took the titles in 1:13:25 and 1:03:16, respectively. Under sunny conditions, 23,238 marathoners and half-marathoners plus 1,158 Pittsburgh Marathon Relay teams ran through downtown Pittsburgh and 13 neighborhoods.

“It feels great to be a two-time race champion. There was more pressure this year. Last year, I was just a first-time runner in Pittsburgh and it wasn’t as much pressure. Everyone is so encouraging and it feels amazing. I’m so glad I could do it again,” said Santucci after the race. “After I get my legs recovered, I’ll do some summer racing, but the big goal is the Olympic Trials in February and making the Olympic Team. I’m taking this as a stepping stone to that goal.”

Like last year, the women’s 26.2-mile race again featured a duel, this time between the defending champion Santucci and first-time competitor Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton of Kenya.

Tuliamuk-Bolton, 26, took over the pace by the halfway point after posting a 1:15:08, and Santucci was 48 seconds back. By Mile 20, Tuliamuk-Bolton had built up a 1:33 lead over Santucci and appeared in command of the race. Over the next four miles, however, Santucci cut the lead to 48 seconds. Between, Mile 25 and 26, the West Virginia graduate caught the tiring Tuliamuk-Bolton and went unchallenged to the tape in 2:34:06. Tuliamuk-Bolton came in second in 2:34:44.

Santucci was born in Illinois and grew up in Doddridge County in North-central West Virginia. She spent much of her childhood living in a one-room schoolhouse. Santucci earned all-state honors in cross country and track and participated in both sports at West Virginia University, where she was an All-American.

Santucci ran her first marathon in Boston in 2011 and finished in 2:29.54. She also was the top female finisher from the United States at the Chicago Marathon in October of 2013.

In the men’s marathon, Stephen Njoroge, used Santucci’s tactic and followed the competition. Ethiopian Mulue Andom Berhe, who set the pace, led at the halfway mark (1:06:05) with the Kenyan 16 seconds back. By Mile 20, Njoroge had pulled away from Berhe, and at Mile 24, he had a 48-second lead over his rival. The 25-year-old eventually cruised to a 24-second victory, crossing in 2:15:19, and beating runner-up Negash Abebe Duki of Ethiopia, to take home $8,000.

Tyler McCandless, 28, a Penn State graduate and resident of Boulder, Colo., was the top American, finishing fourth with a time of 2:18:29.

“I’m proud how tough I ran running the last 16 to 17 miles alone,” said McCandless, who earned $7,000. “I’ll learn from it and I really appreciate the Pittsburgh community and the staff at the Pittsburgh Marathon for a great event.”

The women’s half marathon featured a two-woman race between Kenyans Susan Jerotich and Hellen Jemutai, who battled until the final mile when Jerotich, 28, surged on the downhill to win in 1:13:25. Jemutai was second with a 1:13:35. Caitlin Comfort, 25, of Madison, Wisc., was fourth overall and first American, crossing in 1:14:26.

“From the start we were trying to break the course record, but we didn’t manage to break it today. I was with my friend till the end, but then I needed to kick for the win. At 10 miles, I knew either my friend or I could win today. It was a great feeling,” said Jerotich post-race.

The men’s half marathon was also a duel with 2013 race champion and course record-holder Julius Kogo and Kenya countryman Kimutai Cheruiyot trading the lead until Cheruiyot sprinted hard down the final stretch to beat Kogo, 1:03:16 to 1:03:19. The first American was Sam Morse, 31, of Camden, N.Y., who finished 6th in 1:05:42.

Carlos Moleda, 52, from Bluffton, S.C., won the men’s marathon handcycle division in 1:23:48. Ashli Molinero, 43, of Bethel Park, captured the women’s title in 1:59:57. A record 24 handcycle athletes participated in this morning’s event.