She downplayed her own expectations heading into this morning’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in New Orleans, but after crossing the finish line victorious in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 36 seconds, not even Kim Smith herself could deny that she more than exceeded them.
Smith, who finished second here last year, said earlier this week that she was “feeling slightly tired coming into the race. I don’t think my PR will be in jeopardy this time out.” Fatigue mustn’t have been a factor, however, as she ran away from the rest of the women’s field early and was never challenged on her way to setting a 19-second personal best and pending U.S. all-comer’s record for the half marathon distance. She eclipsed Ethiopian Meseret Defar’s mark of 1:07:44 set at the ING Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon last September.
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