43rd Annual Wharf to Wharf Winners

Men

Kenyan-born 30-year-old Sam Chelanga beat the three-time champion Shadrack Kosgei as he dashed down the hill into Capitola to win in 27 minutes, 24.48 seconds. Fellow Kenyans Kosgei at (27:26.48) and John Mu­ritu Watiku (27:27.88) finished second and third in the 43rd annual 16,000-person race. Nelson Oyugi placed fourth in 27:28.55. Chelanga running for Liberty University in Virginia in 2010 set the current NCAA 10-kilometer record (27:08.9) and now lives in Tucson, Ariz.

Finishing fifth overall was Brett Gotcher, also 30 years old, of La Selva Beach who won the Top Local title for the 11th time and the top American title for 2015 in 27:31.21

Men’s Top 5: 1. Sam Chelanga, Kenya, 27:24.48 • 2. Shadrack Kosgei, Kenya, 27:26.48 • 3. John Muritu Watiku, Kenya, 27:27.88 • 4. Nelson Oyugi, Kenya, 27:28.55 • 5. Brett Gotcher, La Selva Beach, 27:31.21

Women

Risper Gesabwa from Kenya won first place in the women’s division. The 25-year-old’s winning time was 31:18.31 finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Simegn Abnet 31:39.52 and Alycia Cridebring 32:22.90 of Sacramento. Cate Ratliff, Santa Cruz High senior, was the top local finisher at 33:54.90. Other top locals to finish in the top 25 were Aptos High alumna Nikki Hiltz 35:50 in 13th place and Mary Maleta-Wright 36:31 of Santa Cruz finished 17th.

Women’s Top 5: • 1. Risper Gesabwa, Kenya, 31:18.31 • 2. Simegn Abnet, Ethiopia, 31:39.52 • 3. Alycia Cridebring, Sacramento, 32:22.90 • 4. Netsanet Achamo, Ethiopia, 32:59.66 • 5. Olivia Mickle, Beaverton, Ore., 33:37.05