Abadi, Lincks Win Transamerica Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon

A battle to the finish line and an unexpected winner were the stories at the front of the pack at Sunday’s Transamerica Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon. More than 7,000 runners took part in the 8th annual race weekend, which featured a 5K on Saturday and a 10K and half marathon on Sunday.

In the men’s half marathon, defending champion Gebrekiden Abadi took the lead from the start but fought off a relentless Nathanael Williams. The two men remained neck and neck until the end, with Abadi ultimately taking first place in 1:06:12,  just a second ahead of Williams, who was racing in his half marathon debut.

“The last mile was definitely flying, “said Williams, a senior at the Colorado School of Mines. “In the 10th mile, I needed to regroup a little bit because Abadi was moving.  He was trying to pull surges so I caught him like a mile and a half to go, so that’s when we really started pushing. It was a battle.”

Janelle Lincks, a recent graduate of Colorado State University, was also running in her debut half marathon, and was surprised when a cyclist accompanying the lead runners informed her she was the first female.

“She was great and she let me know I had a solid lead around mile 7, but you always feel like there’s someone behind you. I knew I was fit, but I didn’t expect it to go so well.”

The 10K race was won by Alex Diltz, 25, of Pennsylvania and 22-year-old Heather Locke of Colorado Springs.

At the very back of the pack, Alex Behm and Dichele Jackson waited patiently as the rest of the runners started ahead of them. Then their mission began. Known as the Transamerica Go-Givers, their goal was to pass as many runners as possible to raise money for the American Heart Association. Transamerica presented a check for $10,000 to the cause, thanks to their efforts.

More than $50,000 was also raised by 139 St. Jude Heroes, running on behalf of the families and children who have received treatment at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.

Race Results:
Half Marathon
Men

1. Gebrekiden Abadi, 33, Aurora, CO, 1:06:12

2. Nathanael Williams, 23, Golden, CO 1:06:13

3. Brandon Johnson, 29, Denver, CO 1:09:31

Women:

1. Janelle Lincks, 24, Thornton, CO, 1:19:56

2. Krysalanne Curwood, 32, Boulder, CO, 1:21:03

3. Christine Shaw, 32, Boulder, CO, 1:22:04

10K
Men

1. Alex Ditz, 25, Mertztown, PA, 33:38

2. Daniel Shellhouse, 24, Boulder, CO, 34:04

3. Brice Young, 32, Lafayette, CO, 34:50

Women

1. Heather Locke, 22, Colorado Springs, Co 40:55

2. Jill Sandhoff, 44, Denver, CO, 45:53

3. Brieanne Kohrt, 33, Washington, D.C., 46:15

5K
Men

1. Dillon Clift, 21. Fort Collins, CO 17:36

2. Matthew Judson, 19, Arvada, CO 17:43

3. Gerald Romero, Colorado Springs, CO 17:55

Women

1. Nell Rojas, 29, Boulder, CO 17:45

2. Rachel Spirito, 26, Denver, CO 20:10

3. Neely Gracey, 27, Lafayette, CO 21:17