Monterey Bay Half Marathon Returns After Wildfire Smoke Caused 2018 Cancellation

By Adam Kopet

The Monterey Bay Half Marathon returns Sunday after a one-year hiatus due to wildfire smoke in 2018. The race features the 2017 women's winner in Monicah Ngige and the 2017 men's second and third-place finishers in Futsum Zienasallassie and Sid Vaughn Jr.

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The men's race will also feature Shadrack Biwott, who owns a 1:01:25 half marathon best and finished third at the 2018 Boston Marathon. In comparison, Zienasallassie has a personal best of 1:03:00 and Vaughn has run 1:03:30.

The men's race also features two strong contenders from Kenya. Panuel Mkungo has a personal best of 1:02:37. Competing at the African Games this year, Mkungo finished fifth in the half marathon and then doubled back later that day to anchor the Kenyan men's 4x400 relay, finishing fourth.

Daniel Kemoi has a personal best of 1:02:27.

Kenya's Ngige returns to defend her 2017 win. She ran 1:12:53 in that race, but holds a personal best of 1:07:29 from this year's Houston Half Marathon.

Her top challenger is likely to be Vicoty Chepnengo, also of Kenya. She holds a personal best of 1:10:21. She is a two-time winner of the Columbus Half Marathon.

Also in the race is Australian Milly Clark. She has run 1:10:48 at the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

Caitlin Chrisman is the top American woman in the field.