Chuela Finds a Payday in San Diego

CARLSBAD — Jose Luis Chuela wasn’t sure he was going to make the San Diego Marathon. An earthquake two weeks ago had scared his wife and children in their home outside Guadalajara, and he wasn’t certain his house was sound.

But he needed the money, and he earned $1,500 Sunday for winning the race, beating Richard Rono in the last half-mile after the two had run almost 26 miles shoulder-to-shoulder.

Chuela’s time was a pedestrian 2 hours 24 minutes 9 seconds, 20 seconds faster than Rono’s and 5:16 slower than Chuela’s winning time in the 1995 race.

“I tried [Rono] at about Mile 21,” said Chuela, who seldom races in Mexico because “nobody knows me there” and because he likes U.S. money.

“Then, about mile 23 or 24, I felt like I could test him.”

Rono stayed with Chuela until the course’s final downhill.

There were no such dramatics in the women’s race.

“I think I saw Tamara at the starting line and that was about it,” said Ida Mitten of British Columbia, who was 2:30 behind winner Tamara Karlioukova of Russia at the finish line.

Karlioukova, who trains with a group of Russians in Gainesville, Fla., won in 2:39:24.

The half-marathon, the featured race because of the “names” running in it, actually generated some new names.

Eric Polonski, from Redlands and racing out of Austin, Texas, stayed with former University of Texas teammate Kamiel Maase and former Olympian Ed Eyestone through eight miles, dropped Eyestone and raced with Maase, of the Netherlands, until the 12-mile mark.

Polonski, a 10,000-meter runner by trade, won in 1:02:06 and earned $2,000--$750 for winning, $750 for being an American and $500 for running a course record.

“I didn’t know I had him until right at the finish line,” Polonski said. “I knew I had to get a lead because he kicks like a horse.”

Eyestone, running to test his fitness for the upcoming marathon season, was third in 1:03:41.

Former Los Angeles Marathon and world champion Mark Plaatjes, also testing his fitness, found he needs more work. He dropped out at the fourth mile.

Petra Wassiluk, a German living and training in nearby Cardiff by the Sea, had it easier in the women’s division, running 1:13:36 and winning by 2:30.