Gebo Burka, left, and Amane Gobena, both of Ethiopia, celebrate their victory in the Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica, Calif., Sunday, March 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) –
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Amane Gobena of Ethiopia won the women’s Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 37 seconds, crossing the finish line 41 seconds ahead of men’s champion and fellow Ethiopian Gebo Burka and winning the gender challenge.
Burka won in 2:10:37.
Gobena, who finished second here in 2009, and the women started 17:41 ahead of the men. As the first person to cross the finish line, she won a $50,000 bonus in addition to the $25,000 first prize.
Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia finished second in 2:28:04 and American Lauren Kleppin was third in 2:28:48, some 13 minutes faster than her previous best.
Lani Rutto of Kenya was the second man to finish, in 2:10:48. Defending champion Erick Mose was third in 2:12:56.
