Veteran's day: Hernandez wins for third straight year; sixth time a charm for Kasischke

By: MATT NULL - Staff Writer | Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:57 PM PST ∞

RANCHO SANTA FE ---- It was fitting that on the 40th anniversary of the San Dieguito Half Marathon two veterans of the event crossed the finish line first.

Chula Vista's Hector Hernandez won the race through the rolling terrain of Rancho Santa Fe for the third consecutive year Sunday, while women's winner Kathryn Kasischke of Carmel Valley mastered the 13.1-mile course on her sixth try.

Hernandez, who crossed the finish line at 1 hour, 12 minutes, 30 seconds, used his mother as motivation.

"Today is her birthday, so I told her I was going to run for her for her birthday," Hernandez said. "I dedicate the race to her.

"And it's a special one because it is the third year in a row."

With his mother watching near the finish line, Hernandez said he made an extra push once he had her in sight.

"I gotta look good in front of Mom," he said.

Hernandez said he took the lead around Mile 3, one of the biggest hills on the course.

"I put a big surge going up that hill," Hernandez said. "I said to myself, 'I am going to find out right here what they have,' and when I got to the point where I got myself a 100-meter lead, I just kind of took it from there. I was making the gap bigger and bigger as the race was progressing."

Hernandez built up such a lead on the hills that second-place finisher David Kloz of Oceanside completed the course nearly three minutes behind in 1:15:17.

Not surprisingly, the course's challenging hills rank as Hernandez's favorite part of the race, which started in 1969 with only 18 runners. He's obviously not alone. This year nearly 2,000 runners took part in the half marathon and 5-kilometer undercard event.

"I like challenges, and to me, this course at San Dieguito is the most challenging half marathon course we have here in San Diego, plus it is the oldest in our city," he said. "So to be here and win here, that means a lot to me because it is traditional."

While Hernandez had early competition, Kasischke, who finished in 1:25:47, said she led from the start. Kasischke, who has a second and third place finish under her belt at San Dieguito, said she struggled early but surged as the course flattened out toward the end of the race.

"I picked it up on the last half," said Kasischke, a Carmel Valley resident.. "I just wasn't feeling really good during the first half."

Kasischke used the run to prep for the Los Angeles Marathon, which is scheduled for March 2. She said she wasn't very happy with her time and has some improving to do before her next race.

"This wasn't very promising," Kasischke said. "My time was a lot slower then I wanted it to be. I was hoping to be around 1:23."

Charisa Wernick of San Diego placed second among the women at 1:27:54, while Bree Ray of San Diego placed third at 1:28:41.

Sunday's 5K winners were Dmitro Lehonko of Oceanside, who topped the men's field in 16:34, and Roslyn Dillon of San Diego, who bested the women's field in 18:48. Legendary triathlete Paula Newby-Fraser, who lives in San Diego, placed third in 20:09.

Contact staff writer Matt Null at mnull@nctimes.com.

SAN DIEGUITO HALF MARATHON RESULTS

At Rancho Santa Fe

Overall Top Finishers

HALF MARATHON

Male

1. Hector Hernandez (Chula Vista) 1:12:30, 2. David Kloz (Oceanside) 1:15:17, 3. Brian Scott (San Diego) 1:15:41.

Female

1. Kathryn Kasischke (Carmel Valley) 1:25:47, 2. Charisa Wernick (San Diego) 1:27:54, 3. Bree Ray (San Diego) 1:28:41.

5K

Male

1. Dmitro Lehonko (Oceanside) 16:34, 2. Jimmy Riccitello (San Diego) 17:36, 3. Mike Mathewson (San Diego) 17:45, 4. Paul Huddle (San Diego) 17:51, 5. Nick Spicuzza (San Diego) 17:53, 6. Jason Karp (San Diego) 17:58, 7. Greg Houlgate (San Diego) 18:00, 8. Andre Patane (San Diego) 18:02, 9. Herham Naranjo (San Diego) 18:07, 10. Shane Scarfeo (Encinitas) 18:11.

Female

1. Roslyn Dillon (San Diego) 18:48, 2. Jenny Eyerman (Cardiff) 19:34, 3. Paula Newby-Fraser (San Diego) 20:09, 4. Regina Connell (Solana Beach) 20:16, 5. Miranda Colwell (Oceanside) 20:35, 6. Melissa Jedra (Oceanside) 20:36, 7. Cynthia Gary (San Diego) 20:47, 8. Tracy Golba (San Diego) 20:55, 9. Christine Dammann (San Diego) 21:08, 10. Alexis Araw (San Diego) 21:12.