Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1504270
Free access to the Runkeeper Go ™ upgrade * Get complete access to the premium ASICS Runkeeper app experience. Featuring race training plans, progress insights, live tracking and more. *Limited time offer; Not available to current ASICS Runkeeper Go™ users; Not redeemable in-app; Offer expires at 11:59 PM UTC (6:59 PM EST) on December 31, 2023; See runkeeper.com/termsofservice for additional Terms and Conditions. Code can be redeemed at Runkeeper.com/checkout. ASICS Runner App Inc. reserves the right to extend or end the offer period without notice. Download the App Contributed Photo Locals Estrada, Fraser look to Contend with Historically Deep Field By Dayne Gradone 2 Olympians. A World Championships silver medalist. The NCAA Champion, along with multiple Nation- al Champions & title holders. Not to men- tion a flotilla of Olympic Trials qualifiers. This year's Wharf to Wharf elite field ranks among the best in the event's 51-year history. And two Monterey Bay natives have a chance to take home the top spots. Diego Estrada, based in Salinas & a 2008 graduate of Alisal High, will very likely contend for this year's title. An Olympian in the 10,000m & last year's 2nd place finisher, Estrada has a deep professional resume in the sport & is certainly one of our area's great- est distance running products of all-time. But he will be tracked closely by a fair share of challengers & hardened road running vets. There is of course, fellow Olympian Ben Blankenship along with Colin Bennie, 2:09 mar- athoner & top American at the Boston Marathon in 2021. This year's In- ternational contenders include a trio of experi- enced Kenyans, James Ngandu, Josphat Kipchirchir, & Shadrack Keter, who have all run nearly an hour in the Half Marathon & racked up numerous racing honors. Shift to the Women's field, and another local legend looks to bring home the big one. Scotts Valley High & Stanford alumna Va- nessa Fraser, who runs professionally for Nike, is in good form coming off her recent perfor- mance in the 10,000m at the US Track Cham- pionships. But similar to Estrada, she faces a formida- ble set of challengers, perhaps the deepest in Wharf to Wharf history. Ednah Kurgat, last year's champion, has been on a tear lately & is simply one of the best American 10K run- ners currently, finishing 6th at track nationals earlier this month. Everlyn Kemboi, this year's NCAA national champion in the 10K & runner-up in the 5K, is a fabulous addition to this year's race & truly a top-tier talent. The true depth of the women's field is evi- denced by the quality that follows. Last year's runner-up, Mary Mu- nanu of Kenya returns. Werkuha Getachew took 2nd at last year's World Championships in the steeplechase. Fellow Ethiopians Tigist Ketema & Weynshet Ansa are multiple-time national champions. Sarah Naibei is a world-class runner on the roads, and a 52-minute 10 miler. Annamaria Kostarellis is a freshly minted NCAA All-American. The streets from Santa Cruz to Capitola will be graced with in- credible running talent this Sunday, and the showdowns & maneu- verings over the 6 mile course should make for a fantastic finish of the 51st Wharf to Wharf race, and stand as one of this summer's best sporting events in the Monterey Bay. Men Country Notes Diego Estrada USA 2nd place last year, 2012 Olympain in the 10K Ben Blankenship USA 2016 Olympian in the 1500m Shadrack Keter Kenya 62 Minute Half Marathoner Colin Bennie USA Winner of this year's Bay to Breakers. 2:09 marathoner. Top American at Boston in 2021 Josphat Kipchirchir Kenya 61 half marathoner; Sub-28 10K James Ngandu Kenya 2:10 marathoner; 61 half marathon Women Country Notes Annamaria Kostarellis USA All-American runner from Baylor, recent graduate Weynshet Ansa Ethiopia 2x National Champion in the Steeple. 32:40 10K Sarah Naibei Kenya 52 minute 10 miler; 70 minute half marathoner Mary Munanu Kenya 2nd Place last year Tigist Ketema Ethiopia National Champ in the 800m; 4:00 1500m Werkuha Getachew Ethiopia 2nd place in last year's World Championships steeple Everlyn Kemboi USA This year's NCAA champion in the & runner-up in the 5K Ednah Kurgat USA Defending Champ Men Country Notes Diego Estrada USA 2nd place last year, 2012 Olympain in the 10K Ben Blankenship USA 2016 Olympian in the 1500m Shadrack Keter Kenya 62 Minute Half Marathoner Colin Bennie USA Winner of this year's Bay to Breakers. 2:09 marathoner. Top American at Boston in 2021 Josphat Kipchirchir Kenya 61 half marathoner; Sub-28 10K James Ngandu Kenya 2:10 marathoner; 61 half marathon Women Country Notes Annamaria Kostarellis USA All-American runner from Baylor, recent graduate Weynshet Ansa Ethiopia 2x National Champion in the Steeple. 32:40 10K Sarah Naibei Kenya 52 minute 10 miler; 70 minute half marathoner Mary Munanu Kenya 2nd Place last year Tigist Ketema Ethiopia National Champ in the 800m; 4:00 1500m Werkuha Getachew Ethiopia 2nd place in last year's World Championships steeple Everlyn Kemboi USA This year's NCAA champion in the 10K & runner-up in the 5K Ednah Kurgat USA Defending Champ Men Country Notes Diego Estrada USA 2nd place last year, 2012 Olympain in the 10K Ben Blankenship USA 2016 Olympian in the 1500m Shadrack Keter Kenya 62 Minute Half Marathoner Colin Bennie USA Winner of this year's Bay to Breakers. 2:09 marathoner. Top American at Boston in 2021 Josphat Kipchirchir Kenya 61 half marathoner; Sub-28 10K James Ngandu Kenya 2:10 marathoner; 61 half marathon Women Country Notes Annamaria Kostarellis USA All-American runner from Baylor, recent graduate Weynshet Ansa Ethiopia 2x National Champion in the Steeple. 32:40 10K Sarah Naibei Kenya 52 minute 10 miler; 70 minute half marathoner Mary Munanu Kenya 2nd Place last year Tigist Ketema Ethiopia National Champ in the 800m; 4:00 1500m Werkuha Getachew Ethiopia 2nd place in last year's World Championships steeple Everlyn Kemboi USA This year's NCAA champion in the 10K & runner-up in the 5K Ednah Kurgat USA Defending Champ Contributed Photo