NEW BEDFORD — Newcomer Ruben Sança of Dorchester won today’s New Bedford Half Marathon, taking the lead in the first mile and never letting it go.
Sança, competing for the Boston Athletic Association, posted a winning time of 1:05:25. For the women, defending champion Kim Smith of New Zealand made it two in a row, finishing with a time of 1:09:50.
Smith, who bested last year’s time of 1:10:53, was the ninth-place finisher in the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Finishing second overall was Dan Vassallo. Nathan Krah finished third. Both are BAA runners.
The field for the race this year was the largest in its history, with 2,730 people participating. That bests the record set last year, which was 2,603.
The course record for men is 1:01:58 set by Geoff Smith in 1985.
The course record for woman is 1:08:32 set by Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway in 1989.
Look for updates, photos, video and searchable race results later today at http://SouthCoastToday.com/halfmarathon
This story first appeared in the New Bedford Standard Times – HERE:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110320/SPORTS/110319938
