Sunday's Zazzle Bay To Breakers, the 101st running of the 12k footrace, was won by Kenya's Sammy Kitwara, breaking the tape in 34:40 (that's a pace of 4:39; short of his course record of 33:31).
Allan Kiprono (Kenya) was second with Direba Merga (Ethiopia) finishing third. Meb Keflezighi was the top American finisher, coming in sixth place, (36:18).
Despite the win, Kitwara said he was disappointed with his performance because he wasn't the first runner to cross the finish line and claim the $25,000 prize that comes with it. That honor went to the women's winner, Mamitu Daska (the women's field starts ahead of the elite men). Try as he might, Kitwara just could not catch her in the final 400 meters.
He said he strategized based upon other runners in the mens' field, which ran slower than expected.
He said he was gunning for the top prize money.
"If I could, I'd tell you what I'd do with $25,000," he said jokingly after the race.
Daska took home the $25,000, in addition to bonuses for being the female winner and the first woman to reach the Hayes Street hill's peak (in total, she is going home with $37,000). Kitwara won $12,000 in bonus prize money.