30th Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon won by Julius Kibet and Pamela Chepchumba

Julius Kibet and Pamela Chepchumba are the winners of the 30th annual Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon.

Photo: 30th Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon won by Julius Kibet and Pamela Chepchumba

Kibet completed the 21.2-kilometer (13.1-mile) course in 1 hour, 2 minutes, 2 seconds - the seventh-fastest time in the event's history. Chepchumba clocked in at 1:08.45.

The men's race came down to the final 200 meters (yards) as Nyariki finished only two seconds back. Tom Nyariki led a pack of four runners into the final stretch. But Nyariki, who is blind in one eye after a carjacking in his native Kenya in 2003, appeared to have difficulty picking out the finish line around the last turn.

Kibet, winner of the race in 2004, seemed to sense Nyariki's confusion and sprinted past him.

Later, Kibet said he had already launched an imposing "kick" run and believes he would have won the race anyway.

"I just thought he was tired," Kibet said. "I'm not sure he knew where the finish line was. I thought I was going to win. I know I'm a better kicker than him."

Nyariki conceded he wasn't sure of the finish line.

"I almost stopped there (on the final turn)," he said.

John Yuda of Tanzania took third in 1:02.05.

In the women's race, Chepchumba finished 11 seconds ahead of Alice Timbililli.

"At the 11-mile mark, I felt I could win the race," Chepchumba said. "That's where I started to push."

Kenyans claimed 15 of the first 20 spots in the men's race and swept the first four places in the women's race.

The event had a record field of more than 18,000 runners.