For the fifth straight year, the continent of Africa swept the first place titles. The 2011 men’s champ and 2016 runner-up, 6’ 3” Silas Kipruto of Kenya, was the 2018 winner in the time of 27:52
Women’s winner Caroline Rotich is also from Kenya and was the 2015 Boston Marathon champ. She set a new course record of 29:59 and is the first woman to break 30 minutes while breaking her own record of 30:18 set in the 2014 Wharf to Wharf.
Kenya earned a complete sweep of the top three spots with Delvine Meringor second in 30:05 and Monicah Ngige (30:47) as third.
Capitola’s Amy Schnittger (34:26) at 12th was the top local woman, while Abbey Meck (17th) finished in 35:27, and Mari Friedman finished in 35:39 (18th), all top-20 finishers.
The men’s and women’s winners each earned $4,000. Second-place finishers earned $3,000 — third place paid $2,000 and fourth garnered $1,000.