Santa Monica
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Harding, Larmore
Kutcher & Kozal, LLP

By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor

March 20, 2017 -- Santa Monica was well-represented among the top finishers in the LA Marathon, which was raced on Sunday. Two of the top 10 finishers (outside the invited “elite” runners) and three of the top 100 live in Santa Monica.

The top local runner was Samuel Bradbury, a 36-year-old marketing director for Red Bull.

He completed the 26.2-mile journey from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica’s Ocean Avenue in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 42 seconds.

Bradbury’s finishing time placed him fifth overall among the many thousands of participants, according to the LA Marathon’s website. He also won the Men’s 35-39 Division.

This is the second consecutive year that Bradbury has been the top Santa Monica runner. He improved on his time from last year by more than 12 minutes.

Finishing not far behind Bradbury was Santa Monica resident Brian Sutter, 25, who placed 10th overall with a time of 2:37:21. Also representing Santa Monica in the top 100 was Luis Rojas, 34, who placed 74th in 2:56:24.

Topping the race among Santa Monica women was Sue Bennun, a 50-year-old health and fitness professional. Her time of 3:23:19 was the 33rd best among all non “elite”-invited women.

She also placed second in her age group.

Jessica Rees, 32, finished within shouting distance of Bennun to claim second among Santa Monica women in 3:32:38.

Santa Monica resident Tracie Garacochea, 56, placed 20th overall in the wheelchair race with a time of 1:52:47. Her finishing time was the second-best in the women’s hand cycle division.

This is the eighth year that the marathon has finished in Santa Monica. The race had previously begun and finished in Downtown Los Angeles. The new course dubbed “Stadium to the Sea” was introduced in 2010.

The LA Marathon was first held in 1986, inspired by the men’s and women’s marathons in the 1984 Olympic games. The course for both Olympic marathons began at Santa Monica College.