Wesley Kiptoo wins 3rd consecutive half-marathon title as Pittsburgh welcomes thousands of racers

When former Steelers quarterback and Steel Valley graduate Charlie Batch shared words of inspiration and after Bill Deasy sang the national anthem, many of the 42,000 runners, walkers and hand cyclists of all ages said a prayer, checked their watches or prepped their bodies one last time to tackle the streets of Pittsburgh on Sunday morning to celebrate the latest Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.

Light to moderate rain at the start of the races gave way to dry conditions and sunny skies as many were making their way through the last half of the course.

Kenyan Wesley Kiptoo was glad to be back in Pittsburgh and made the most of his return as the first competitor to cross the finish line.

He won his third consecutive UPMC Healthy Plan Pittsburgh men’s half marathon, finishing the course in 1 hour, 1 minute, 31 seconds.

It was 10 seconds off his course-record 1:01.21 set last year.

“I was just trying to get in a good rhythm and have a good run here,” said Kiptoo, 24, who finished 3:05 ahead of runner-up and fellow Kenyan Kenneth Cheserek.

Kiptoo, the first three-time winner in Pittsburgh, won $10,000, the top prize for the men’s and women’s half marathon winners.

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Stephanie Bruce, who trains and lives in Arizona, came back to Pittsburgh and won the women’s half marathon nearly five years after she captured the 2019 USA Half Marathon Championship on those same streets.

Bruce, 40, seven months removed from giving birth to her daughter, Sophia, said it was a great feeling to again run and win in Pittsburgh. She finished in 1:11:11, a little slower than her 2019 Pittsburgh time of 1:10.44 and her personal best of 1:09.55.

“There’s been a lot of changes. I have my 7-month old daughter with us, so to be able to come back and pull out the win today is pretty special,” Bruce said.

“It’s always rewarding. This has been my job, and this is my profession. I am living my dream. To be able to do it with my kids at the finish line and my two back at home, it means a lot. I know that all the things I did to come back post-partum, for it all to come together on race day, it meant a lot.”

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Women’s half-marathon winner Stephanie Bruce celebrates at the finish line during the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday.

Last year’s full marathon winner, North Hills graduate Margo Malone, is expecting next month and did not defend her title.

But she was at the start and finish lines, encouraging friends and other runners while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

“The energy at the start was super fun,” Malone said. “I was getting amped up to go for a run, and to be behind the scenes to see what P3R does to put this all together was really special.”

Malone said Bruce’s performance gives her motivation to come back and train when the time comes.

“Getting to watch Steph, she built up to the Olympic Trials (in February) right after the birth of her baby. That was inspiring,” Malone said. “Now, to see her dominate this half marathon, it was really, really cool.”

Suburban Detroit’s Andrew Bowman made his Pittsburgh Marathon debut, and he made the most of it as he tore the tape at the finish line in a top time of 2:15:50.

“My wife (Sydney Devore Bowman) won this in 2018, and she recommended we come out and do this,” he said.

“This was a great idea. It was a really good experience. I went out pretty slow at the start, and I was thinking that I had no idea how this was going to play out. I have a ton of respect for the runners in this race, and I see what they’ve been able to do. It was a little nerve-wracking. But as we got closer, and we were coming down to the finish, and I knew I had it sewn up, I just was battling the fatigue in my legs.”

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon men’s winner Andrew Bowman celebrates his triumph Sunday.

Bowman, 30, edged Winchester Thurston grad and Allison Park resident Will Loevner (2:17:37) and 2023 full marathon winner Tyler McCandless (2:17:45).

“This is a dream come true,” Loevner said. “I’ve been thinking about this race for about a year and a half since I got back into running. I hadn’t been running for about five years before this after college. I was mountain biking. I never thought this would be possible a year and a half ago. But I’m just happy. I worked my butt off to do it. It’s awesome.”

As for Sydney Bowman, she ran the women’s half marathon and placed eighth in a time of 1:15.40.

Both winners of the full marathon were awarded the top prize of $7,000. More than $102,000 was on the line throughout several race categories.

Jane Bareikis, like Bowman, made her Pittsburgh Marathon debut. The 29-year-old resident of Chicago, who ran the Olympic Trials marathon in February, was the top women’s finisher in a time of 2:37:37.

Bareikis owns a personal best of 2:29:00.

“I feel amazing. This is my first marathon win ever,” Bareikis said. “I’ve run many races, but this is my first win. I feel so good, and it is really great to win. I’ve had a hamstring injury since the Olympic Trials, and it was really bad, so I have been struggling with training. I wasn’t even sure I could finish this race.”

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon women’s winner Jane Bareikis raced in the city for the first time Sunday.

But finish she did as she won the race by 54 seconds. Jane’s husband, Arturis, was with her to the finish and completed his 26.2 miles in 2:37:41 for 20th place on the men’s side.

With the more than 42,000 participants for Sunday’s races, Troy Schooley, the CEO of P3R, the engine behind much of what was done to put on the Pittsburgh Marathon each year, also felt inspiration from many who crossed the finish line.

“This is a culmination of the hard work the runners put in to cross this finish line,” said Schooley, who flashed a big smile while congratulating many as they ended their race.

“It is amazing how many smiles I’ve seen from people who know what they accomplished. There are so many stories that can be told about why people chose to run. A lot of the time, it is a team effort where people inspire and support each other to train, run and finish the race. It is something they all will remember.”

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon CEO Troy Schooley with women’s winner Jane Bareikis on Sunday.