SAN DIEGO - Defending champion Haron Lagat and Rose Kosgei cruised to tactical victories at the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K held on Sunday, May 4, 2008, under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures hovering in the low to mid-60s.

Over 4,500 runners participated in the fast 4.97-mile course that started in San Diego's historic Balboa Park and finished downtown.

Despite the day's ideal racing conditions and talented competition, it quickly became obvious that Monday's sports headlines would not be of a new course record, but instead, a story about a busy day for two professional runners.

In the men's competition, a pack of five ran the first two miles at a 4:50 per mile pace, too pedestrian a pace to break the course record of 22:28 set by David Kipngetich in 2002. The lead pack dropped down to a Kenyan foursome at mile 3, and included Lagat, Richard Kimeli, Evance Rotich and Nelson Lebo.

The competition started with 50 meters to go with all four men sprinting to the finish line for the win. Lagat, 24, apparently the athlete with the most energy left in reserve, finished the thrilling race in 23 minutes and 15 seconds for the win and a $1,000 payday. Kimeli clocked an identical time for second place and a $600 prize. Rotich was one second back (23:16) for third and Lebo placed fourth in 23:23.

Lagat, who won last year in 22:52 and who ran a 22:33 8K earlier this year, was apparently a busy man with a plan. "My plan was to just stay together and win," said Lagat. "It was a fun race."

The women's race was a textbook case on how to win with the minimal amount of energy expended. Kosgei, who led wire-to-wire, only picked up the pace when she saw another women coming up from behind, according to Kosgei and other female competitors.

The 26-year-old's winning time of 29:34 was much slower than her 8K PR of 27:08 and the women's course record of 25:31 set by Jemima Jelagat in 2006.

"I wanted to pace myself but win," said Kosgei. "I was saving my energy for the meet this evening."

"I caught up to her (Kosgei) and jokingly said 'What's up girl?" said Kim Mueller of San Diego, who placed third in 29:45. "You could tell she was holding back. Every time she saw a gal she surged."

Liza Dietrich of San Diego finished six seconds back from Kosgei for second place (29:40).

Both Lagat and Kosgei were headed to the Cardinal Invitational at Stanford University meet later in the day to pace the 10,000 meter events. Lagat, the designated pacemaker for the men's 10,000, is expected to run 13:40 for the first 5000 meters. Kosgei will pace the women at 15:35 for 5000 meters.

The unique Union-Tribune Race for Literacy course winds through Balboa Park and the colorful Hillcrest neighborhood before taking runners onto the closed Cabrillo Parkway, a picturesque highway near downtown San Diego. The race's final mile tours through the historic Gaslamp District and finishes downtown.

Managed by In Motion Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif., the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy weekend also included the Kid's Magic Mile fun run, which took place on Saturday, May 3. Over 3,500 children participated in the one-mile dash through Balboa Park. All event proceeds benefit The San Diego Council on Literacy, which provides reading programs to more than 100,000 San Diegans.

Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K San Diego, CA, Sunday, May 4, 2008

MEN
1) Haron Lagat, 24, KEN, 23:15, $1000
2) Richard Kimeli, 27, KEN, 23:15, $600
3) Evance Rotich, 33, KEN, 23:16, $300
4) Nelson Lebo, 29, KEN, 23:23, $100

Masters MEN (40+)
1) Bryan Wallbank, 40, USA/CA, 26:07

WOMEN
1) Rose Kosgei, 26, KEN, 21, 29:34, $1000
2) Liza Dietrich, 27, USA/CA, 29:40, $600
3) Kim Mueller, 31, USA/CA, 29:45, $300
4) Rachel Challis, 32, USA/CA, 29:58, $100

Masters WOMEN (40+)
1) Lisa Pechin, 40, USA/CA, 30:19

For full results, visit: www.InMotionEvents.com