NEWS: Half Marathon Winners Finish Strong

James Krajsa was all smiles as he crossed the Little Rock Half Marathon finish line Sunday morning, winning the men’s division with an official finish time of 1:11.34.

Despite cold and drizzling conditions on a new course, Krajsa said today’s finish was a personal best for him.

“It was a good but tough course today,” Krajsa, 28 of Columbia, Mo., said. “The weather was a bit chilly.”

Russellville’s Kaitlin Bounds took home first place in the women’s half marathon, finishing this year at 1:25.06 officially.

The 23-year-old said the hardest part of the course were the down hills because she trained primarily for up hills, “But the best part was definitely winning.”

Ryan Lawrence, 34 of Little Rock, finished second in the men’s half marathon at 1:19; 20-year-old Carter Witt of Dardanelle placed third at 1:20.

In the women’s division, University of Central Arkansas alum Jennifer McConnell of Tulsa, Okla., crossed the finish line in second place at 1:25; Tracy Tungac, 30 of Bryant, Ark., who had a baby in September and is working her way back to top form, finished in third place at 1:27.

More than 14,000 racers from 46 states registered for the weekend’s races, which include a 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon.