BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sunday, March 18, 2012, 11:56 AM

New York City Marathon champion Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia won the NYC Half on Sunday.

Kenya’s Peter Kirui was first in the men’s race.

Dado finished the 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 35 seconds. New Zealand’s Kim Smith was second, 8 seconds back. American Kara Goucher was third in 1:09:12.

The 24-year-old Kirui is best known as a pacesetter for professional marathoners. He won in 59:39, beating Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga by 9 seconds. Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia was third.

Meb Keflezighi, who won the U.S. men’s marathon Olympic trials in January, was 13th. Desiree Davila, who along with Goucher qualified for the London Games in the women’s race at trials, was ninth.
—
Fatuma Sado of Ethiopia wins LA Marathon women’s race (The Washington Post)