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California's Kastor 3d in Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

Deena Kastor wrapped herself in an American flag and trotted back onto the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon course for a victory stroll.

Deena Kastor. (C.F. Sanchez/Staff Photographer)
Deena Kastor. (C.F. Sanchez/Staff Photographer)Read more

Deena Kastor wrapped herself in an American flag and trotted back onto the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon course for a victory stroll.

The 41-year-old set out Sunday morning aiming for a world record. And as Kastor approached the finish line at Eakins Oval, the race announcer shouted that the 2004 Olympic medalist did just that.

Kastor navigated the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 36 seconds, besting the previous women's masters division mark by 20 seconds. The masters division is for runners aged 40 and older.

Kastor jogged toward the fans who lined the rails along the course's final stretch. The California resident said she wanted to share the moment with them.

"The crowds were awesome when I was coming in," said Kastor, who finished third in the women's race. "I wanted to give some high-fives and say thanks for sticking around and cheering us on. We're nothing without the support out there."

Aberu Kebede (1:08:40) of Ethiopia was the first women's finisher. Kenya's Bedan Karoki (59:22) won the men's race.

Kastor said she started to drop off her pace late in the race as she battled a cramp on her right side. She focused on breathing but was unable to limit the pain for the final three miles. Kastor trains in the California Mountains and is used to running in much thinner air than the humid conditions she competed in Sunday.

"It was really hard to dig down and commit to that finish line," Kastor said. "But once you realize that you only have a couple minutes left of running to do, you can dig down and get the best out of yourself."

The fast-paced course started on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and took runners through Center City before lapping back past the Art Museum and along the Schuylkill. Kastor said the layout leads to a quick start as fans crowd the first few miles. The stretch along the river can get lonely, she said, but it is mostly flat with few hills or turns.

Kastor is familiar with the course as she set a U.S. women's half-marathon record here in 2005 with a mark of 1:07:53.

"To come back nine years later and be able to break a world masters record was very sweet," Kastor said. "This race has been good to me."