Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon served as half marathon national championship

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon served as the site of the U.S. Track & Field’s Masters half marathon national championship Sunday. Runners set off on the 13.1-mile and 26.2 mile courses shortly after 6 a.m., on Sixth Avenue on the west side of Balboa Park.

The course took runners through Balboa Park, downtown San Diego, Mission Bay, the Morena District, and Mission Valley before the finishing at Petco Park in the East Village. The half marathon will lead runners into University Heights and Normal Heights before they return to Balboa Park and finish at the ballpark.

“San Diego is always a great venue for a race,” said Don Lein, the USATF masters long distance running chairman. “You don’t have to worry about the weather and the race itself is always professionally run. We don’t ever have to worry about our athletes not being treated properly.”

San Diego-based, Boston and New York marathon winner and Olympic silver medalist, Meb Keflezighi, 40, competed in the 13.1-mile race. He said he’s recovered sufficiently from last month’s Boston Marathon, where he led much of the way before finishing eighth.

More than 25,000 runners from all 50 states and 42 countries ran. They were serenaded by 35 bands and cheerleaders along their race. After the race, around 10:30 a.m., the band O.A.R. headlined a concert at the ballpark.