Cheruiyot wins Houston Marathon in sprint finish

Kenya's David Cheruiyot won the Houston Marathon in an unofficial time of 2:12:31, his third win in the race.

Ethiopia's Dire Tune set a record — an unofficial time of 2:24:39 — in the women's event, breaking her own mark of 2:26:52, set last year.

Cheruiyot pulled clear of Ethiopia's Kasime Adilo over the last 400 meters of the 26.2-mile race.

Colorado-based James Carney won the Houston half-marathon, also the USATF national championship, with a time of 1:02:21.

Kate O'Neill ran 1:11:57 to take the women's title.

Carney's pace was 4:46 per mile while O'Neill averaged 5:30 for the event.

Results so far:

MARATHON

Men

1. David Cheruiyot, Kenya, 2:12:31

Women

1. Dire Tune, Ethiopia, 2:24:39 * Course record.

HALF MARATHON for U.S. championship 2008

Men

1. James Carney, Lafayette, Colo., 1:02:21

2. Jason Lehmkuhle, Minneapolis, 1:02:32

3. Steve Sundell, Redwood City, Calif., 1:03.21

Favored Dan Browne, Beaverton, Ore., finished 17th, 1:05:38.

Master:

1. Sean Wade, HOUSTON, 1:07:43.

* Last year Californian Ryan Hall set an American record of 59:43.

Women

1. Kate O'Neill, Palto Alto, Calif., 1:11:57.

2. Desiree Davila, Rochester Hills, Minn., 1:12:10.

3. Serena Burla, Columbia, Mo., 1:12:10.

Master:

1. Colleen De Reuck, Boulder, Colo., 1:14:58 (De Reuck holds the course record, 1:10:55, set 2004.

Defending champion Elva Dryer didn't finish in the top 25.