MV resident wins Chronicle marathon MV resident wins Chronicle marathon (August 06, 2004)

Kenyan native finished two minutes ahead of next runner

A Kenyan man who trains in Mountain View and an Arizona woman were the winners of the 27th annual San Francisco Chronicle Marathon on Sunday.

John Weru, 24, who is from Kenya but lives and trains in Mountain View, ran the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 41 seconds, according to Chronicle spokesperson Mark Winitz.

Susan Loken, 41, of Phoenix, won the women's division in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 21 seconds, according to Winitz.

Weru and Loken "breezed to relatively unchallenged wins'' but set and records, Winitz said in a prepared release.

A 30-year-old San Francisco man finished second, crossing the finish line two minutes after the Kenyan, according to officials.

Weru won $1,000 as the men's overall winner and Loken pocketed $2,000 for the women's overall and master's victories.

Some local charities may also consider themselves winners.

The approximately 7,800 runners and walkers who walked or ran the Aug. 1 race had the opportunity to seek pledges that will be donated to the marathon's official charity organizations, which include Big Brothers Big Sisters, San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Teach for America.

The amount of money raised has not yet been determined, but last year participants raised more than $110,000, according to Winitz.

-- Bay City News

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