LAS VEGAS - Joseph Kahugu passed fellow Kenyan Noah Talam during the 14th mile to take control of the men's race and got by female champion Jemima Jelagat with about a half-mile left to win the male-female challenge prize Sunday at the Las Vegas Marathon.
Kahugu won in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 43 seconds to earn $65,000, with $50,000 coming from winning The Challenge and $15,000 for finishing first in the men's race. Talam was the second male finisher.
The first half was easy, Kahugu said. But the second half was harder for me. The wind was holding me back.
Jelagat, who was the overall frontrunner until Kahugu passed her, made $15,000 for winning the women's race in an unofficial time of 2:35:25 in her marathon debut.
It was very difficult, Jelagat said. The wind was blowing hard.
And I knew the men were coming.
About 16,000 runners participated in the marathon, which started at 6 a.m.
with a fireworks show at Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino - the start and finish point for the race. The marathon included 28 couples from throughout the United States and Canada who were either getting married or renewing their vows at a wedding chapel at mile 5.5.
Seventy-five Running Elvi, or Elvis Presley impersonators, also participated.
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