Reyes, Kibii Debut at and Win Wine Country Half Marathon

July 25, 2008 from RunningUSA wire (SONOMA, CA) On Sunday, Sergio Reyes of Palmdale, CA cruised to victory in the fifth running of the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon in 1:07:02, beating runner-up Cheyne Inman by two minutes. Reyes charged up Duhig Hill first and then gradually lengthened his lead throughout the race. Allen Wagner of San Diego was third in 1:09:32.

Jane Kibii of Kenya, who is now residing and training in Davis, CA, won her first Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, setting a women's course record of 1:18:11 defeating Megan Daly of Menlo Park who finished in 1:18:27. Andrea Jarzombek of San Antonio took third place (1:19:20).

The women's field proved to be exceptionally fast, as all three women bettered the previous course record of 1:19:47 by Johanna Olson set in 2005. The Impala's, a predominantly women's running club from the North Bay Area, won the team competition. Overcast skies helped keep temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s during the race, which was a relief to runners used to hot July temperatures.

"I thought the event was great" said Reyes, who was also running in his first Wine Country Half Marathon and was duly impressed. "The course was a little more challenging than I expected and I started out too fast so which is not my style. I have not trained much lately for longer distances and was feeling some pain but was happy with the result."

Each winner was awarded with a magnum of wine from Cuvaison Carneros Estate Vineyards, a Ball Watch and a $500 check from Sonoma Valley Bank. Second and third place finishers received magnums of Gundach Bundschu Cabernet Sauvignon and cash awards.

Over 2,000 runners and wine enthusiasts from all over the world enjoyed the 13.1 mile course that runs through the Carneros wine region and finishes in downtown Sonoma for the popular Wine and Music Festival. Twenty percent of the field crossed the finish line after raising over $2 million for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation through its half-marathon training program, Team Challenge.

"We are so excited to have our group, from all over the country, here this weekend to experience California wine country," said Staci Brown, National Event Director for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. "It was an incredible event and being here this weekend symbolizes the great strides the Foundation has made in raising awareness and funds for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis."

The event is produced by Destination Races whose sister races include the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon and the new Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon scheduled for October 25, 2008. For more information, visit: DestinationRaces.com

5th Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon
Napa-Sonoma, CA, Sunday, July 20, 2008

MEN
1) Sergio Reyes (CA), 1:07:02, $500 + Ball Watch + wine
2) Cheyne Inman (CA), 1:09:02, $300 + wine
3) Allen Wagner (CA), 1:09:32, $200 + wine

WOMEN
1) Jane Kibii (KEN), 1:18:11*, $500 + Ball Watch + wine
2) Megan Daly (CA), 1:18:27, $300 + wine
3) Andrea Jarzombek (TX), 1:19:20, $200 + wine
*course record (previous record, Johanna Olson, 1:19:47, 2005)

For complete race results, go to: RunCarneros.com