The Catalina Island Half Marathon Race Day Featured Fast Performances Across The Board
AVALON, Calif. –— The Catalina Island Half Marathon, one of the most popular trail half marathons in California, returned on Nov. 11 for another year of trail racing, bringing together runners from around the country to participate in the historic event. This trail half marathon challenged participants through climbs, peaks and vistas. Chris Gregory, the men’s half marathon champion and overall first-place finisher, completed the 13.1 miles in 1:25:50, over seven minutes ahead of the men’s half marathon second and third place finishers, Jonathan Toker and Mitchell Miller and less then one minute off of breaking the course record. The women’s half marathon course was led by Mary Bisson, who finished with a time of 1:54:39. Second and third place finishers for the women’s half marathon were Yazmin O Davis and Greta Jursch.
Participants began in the town of Avalon, ran past the Wrigley Mansion, and then entered the island’s interior for a few miles of climbs. They were rewarded with views of the Pacific Ocean and two other islands that comprise the Channel Islands. After running past the summit, runners descended down through the Wrigley Memorial before finishing back in town. The 10K also provided runners a scenic course as they ran along the hillsides of Avalon.
“This year’s race was truly an incredible one,” said Mike Bone, President and CEO of Spectrum Sports Management, which produces the Catalina Island Half Marathon. “From the beautiful weather to the amazing participants, we couldn’t have asked for a better race day. We saw impressive athleticism across all our races, and are thrilled with the turnout we had for this unique event.”
Race day also included an exciting 10K race on the island, which resulted in first and second place finishing within milliseconds of each other. Jibeom Suh came in just a fraction of a second faster, finishing as the first overall and men’s 10K finisher with a time of 45:52. Cameron Cuesta came in just behind Jibeom securing second place, and was followed by third place finisher Sean Unger.
Over 15 participants received their official Triple Crown status, which was awarded to participants who completed the Avalon 50 Mile/50K run in January, the Catalina Island Marathon in March and the Catalina Island Half Marathon this past weekend. Each finisher received a custom belt buckle, a custom Hi-Tec jacket and a new pair of trail running shoes from Hi-Tec that debuted at the race this past weekend.
Hi-Tec’s new trail running shoes were released at the event to celebrate the iconic California trail running destination. Participants were able to preview and try on the new Hi-Tec shoes during packet pickup. These shoes were designed specifically for running on dirt terrain and technical surfaces, just like those found on the Run Catalina courses for the Avalon 50, the Catalina Island Marathon and the Catalina Island Half Marathon. Hi-Tec is a premier distributor of sportswear and accessories that’s been in the industry since 1974. They use a variety of innovative technology to provide customers with optimal designs for all terrains. After almost 50 years in business, the company continues its mission of enabling the world to get outside and experience a new view. This year will be Hi-Tec’s third year of sponsorship with the Run Catalina Island Event Series.
The Catalina Island Half Marathon is a part of Run Catalina Island’s Triple Crown Challenge. The challenge involves completing all three Run Catalina Island events within a 12-month period. This includes the Avalon 50K or 50 Mile, Catalina Island Marathon and Catalina Island Half Marathon. Runners may begin their Catalina Island Triple Crown journey with any one of these races, but all specified distances must be completed within a 12-month period, meaning they must finish all three races consecutively once they begin. Athletes who complete the challenge receive a Triple Crown finisher jacket, Hi-Tec shoes and a one-of-a-kind belt buckle.
For more information on The Catalina Island Half Marathon, visit www.catalinaislandhalfmarathon.com. Follow the event on Instagram and Facebook.
About Catalina Island Half Marathon and Spectrum Sports Management
Managed by Spectrum Sports Management, the Catalina Island Half Marathon provides the opportunity to run one of Southern California’s most popular natural attractions. A recognized leader in endurance and sporting events in Southern California, Spectrum Sports Management & Timing Services creates a wide range of events and has over 50 years of collective industry experience. Spectrum Sports Management emphasizes delivering a premiere, professional and world-class service to their clients, their participants and the communities in which they work. To learn more, visit www.SpectrumSports.net.
