Africans dominated the Boilermaker 15K, Sun., July 13, in the tiny central New York state town of Utica, N.Y., that swells to a sea of humanity on race day – both in terms of competitors and spectators/celebrators (this year’s race had 11,895 finishers and an additional 30,000 people came out for the event and the related festivities)!

Kenyans Geoffrey Kenisi Bundi, 26, and Julius Keter, 25, finished 1-2 in the men’s race as they ran 44:18 and 44:33 respectively.

Belete Assefa, 23, of Ethiopia finished third in 44:44, followed by still another Kenya, Allan Kiprono, 24, who placed fourth in 44:52.

Runners from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya filled out the rest of the top 10 positions.

On what was obviously an off day for him, Julius Koskei, 32, of Kenya finished ninth in 46:03. He holds the world record in the Double Road Race™ -- 44:24:01-- which covers a total distance of 15K as does this race, but in the Double the race distance is split into two segments, a 10K and a 5K.

Mary Wacera, 25, of Kenya won a very competitive women’s race as she ran 50:14 to win by three seconds over Yimer Wude Ayalew, 27, of Ethiopia, who clocked 50:17. The third-place finisher was another Kenyan – and not very far behind – Cynthia Jerotic Limo, who ran 50:21.

Africans took the next three positions – Tigist Tufa, 27, Ethiopia, 50:21, Risper Gesabwa, 25, Kenya, 51:39, and Sophy Jepchirchir, 20, Kenya, 51:50.

The first American finisher – and what a nice performance for her! – was 40-year-old Jen Rhines of Liverpool, N.Y., who finished seventh in 52:22.

This was the 36^th running of the Boilermaker 15K. 

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