Kempe Finds All the Space She Needs Out Front

Kirsten Kempe was just looking for some running room when she drove down from Mountain View for the Pacific Coast Marathon in Huntington Beach on Sunday.

What she found was clear sailing to victory.

Kempe, 32 and running in only her fourth marathon, took the lead early and crossed the finish line in 2 hours 56 minutes 29 seconds. Kempe was 6 1/2 minutes ahead of second-place finisher Carey Edge of Mission Viejo in the field of about 300.

“I was interested in doing a low-key race, meaning not thousands of runners,� Kempe said. “And it was great.�

Kempe, a clinical chemist, knocked six minutes off her personal best while breaking three hours for the first time.

Kempe, who didn’t run in high school or college, began running casually about seven years ago, but didn’t feel competitive until midway through last year. She ran three marathons in 1999, joined the Palo Alto Running Club and is shooting for the Boston Marathon later this year.

“She got serious last year and she’s been doing really well,� said her husband of three years, Trent. “I’m a couch potato compared to her.�

Gilbert Salazar of Long Beach was the overall winner for the second consecutive year. Salazar and Robert Leonardo of Van Nuys had a five-minute lead over the pack at the eight-mile mark, but Salazar pulled away just before the halfway point and finished in 2:33.37.

Salazar, 27, didn’t better his time of 2:27 last year, but he considered it a better performance.

“I think this is a better time considering they turned us around too early last year,� Salazar said. “I think I’m much happier with this time.�

Salazar, who graduated from Long Beach Wilson, finished fifth at the Long Beach Marathon in November, 40 seconds ahead of Leonardo. Salazar was tempted to make a run at the Olympic trials this summer, but plans to wait another four years.

“At this point I’m a little too far off right now,� Salazar said. “So I think I’m going to concentrate on some half marathons the rest of the year and shoot for 2004.�

Gus Mogarro of San Gabriel was also a repeat winner in the half marathon, covering the course in 1:10.27. Mike Moreno of Placentia was second (1:12.37).

Melanie Ellis of Los Angeles, who won the Southern California Half Marathon in Irvine earlier this month, made it two victories in a row, crossing the finish line in 1:20.06. Jill Neu of Trabuco Canyon was second (1:22.21).

Dave Schumacher of Huntington Beach finished first in the 8K (25.10) and Dan Arsenault of Santa Ana won the 5K (15.48).

Katrina Pricecrosby of South Pasadena was the first female in the 8K (28:42) and Christine Morgan of Long Beach was first in the 5K (19.07).

* RESULTS: Page 10