UCLA graduate Ryo Furukawa wins men’s Rose Bowl Half Marathon in 1:11:42; Madison Dunlap wins for women in 1:31:44; Ehinger, Lynchtake top honors at accompanying 5k races on Sunday morning in Pasadena
PASADENA – September 26, 2021 – On a cool, gun-metal gray Sunday morning – near perfect conditions for road racing – thousands of runners, walkers and junior races took to the Pasadena streets for the 2021 Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5k in support of The McCourt Foundation’s mission to build a healthier world. Celebrating 5 years running, the event marked the largest road race in Los Angeles County since COVID-19 struck last year.
“It’s great to be back racing again,” said men’s 5K winner Josh Ehinger, from nearby Corona, CA who won the 5k in 15 minutes, 55 seconds. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to compete, my last in person race was early 2019. Today was just a great time to be back, there’s nice energy and people around, it feels almost like it’s normal again with the positive atmosphere. It was a lot of fun.”
Boston-native Allison Lynch won the women’s 5k with a times of 18:10. It was the second road race victory of the month for Lynch, who recently moved from Boston to Venice Beach, and won the Santa Monica Classic 5k on September 12.
The first woman to cross the half-marathon finish line was 25-year-old Madison Dunlap, who covered the 13.1-miles in 1:31:44. Los Angeles locals Lissete Pastor (1:32:44) and Jessica Iribe (1:32:31) placed second and third respectively.
In the men’s race UCLA graduate Ryo Furukawa broke away from his training partners Mathieu Cross and Victor Martinez to win by almost a minute in 1:11:42. Cross finished second in 1:12:03 and Martinez placed third in 1:12:99.
“The Rose Bowl is home to the UCLA Bruins and I went to UCLA, so I wasn’t going to let anyone pass me at the end,” said Furukawa, who is training for November’s Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS. “I love it in Pasadena, I was out here last week cheering on the football team and had the game on yesterday, but I just really want to thank everyone who came out to cheer, the organizers and all of the volunteers. As we’ve experienced this last year and a half, even though you could run, you can’t have a race without all of the volunteers and supporters.”
The participants started outside the neon-lit Rose Bowl Stadium façade. The course crossed over the Colorado Street Bridge and past the Norton Simon Museum before heading through Pasadena’s historic Old Town, and past historic landmarks including the California Institute of Technology. Runners entered the stadium gates through the home team tunnel and onto the field to finish alongside the 50-yard line.
The family-friendly race also included the Rose Bowl Rush Kids Run, a 400-meter dash for children ages 3 – 8.run. Event weekend concluded with a finish line festival at the stadium with live entertainment, a Heineken 0.0 beer garden, and event sponsors.
The 6th edition of the Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5k will return on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Runners can take advantage of special pre-sale pricing by registering before Sunday, at RoseBowlHalf.com. For complete results, photos and more, visit mccourtfoundation.org.
About The Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5k
One of Southern California’s premier road races, the 2021 Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K is set for Sunday, September 26. Thousands of runners will enjoy the picturesque course through beautiful Pasadena, passing landmarks including Colorado Street Bridge, Old Town Pasadena, and Cal Tech University before a one-of-a-kind finish line on the football field at the world-famous Rose Bowl. The event is traditionally held in the early spring but was rescheduled to the fall due to the pandemic. Race day also features the Rose Bowl Rush Kids Run, a 400-meter dash for children ages 3 – 8. Further information about the event can be found at RoseBowlHalf.com.
About The McCourt Foundation
With an impact reaching from Boston to Los Angeles, The McCourt Foundation (501c3) empowers individuals and communities to build a healthier world through events and educational forums. TMF is committed to enhancing the lives of patients and families affected by neurological diseases (MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s) and other health challenges. Its world-class portfolio of events includes the Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS, LA Big 5k, Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K, Santa Monica Classic 5K/10K, Boston Waterfront 5K, Tour de South Shore, the McCourt Gala & Auction, and the Educational Update. For more information, please visit mccourtfoundation.org.
