LONG BEACH MARATHON : Trujillo Sets Course Record of 2:35:50

Maria Trujillo of La Jolla overcame a nagging hamstring injury and debilitating heat to win the 10th Long Beach Marathon Sunday, setting a course record of 2 hours 35 minutes 50 seconds.

The race also served as the national marathon championship for women. By winning, Trujillo, 31, a former Mexican citizen, qualified for the U.S. marathon team that will compete in the world championships at Tokyo in August.

Also qualifying for the U.S. women’s team was Gordon Bloch of New York, who was second in 2:38:04 and had previously met the qualifying standard of 2:35. Kimball Dryden of Seattle was third in 2:38:45, but was not named to the U.S. team because she has not met the standard.

The men’s winner was Salvador Garcia of Mexico, the Long Beach Marathon’s first repeat winner. Garcia’s winning time of 2:16:08 was slower than last year’s but he, too, was recovering from an injury.

Isamu Sennai of Japan was second in 2:16:18 and teammate Tomohiro Imamura was third in 2:16:19.

Jim Knaub of Long Beach won the men’s wheelchair division in 1:38:47 and Candace Cable of Truckee won the women’s in 1:57:44. Both times were course records.

Trujillo led much of the race, which began during the cool early morning it but grew hotter as the morning wore on. More than 4,000 runners started the race, which winds through much of Long Beach’s scenic waterfront areas.

Trujillo was caught by Bloch only twice, first at 10 miles and then at 15. The pair ran together for a time but Trujillo, healthy again after injuring her hamstring last October, made a move at 20 miles and gained 10 seconds.

Garcia made his move in the same place as he had last year--with four miles to go. Garcia, 27, said after the race that he has been battling an injury to the Achilles’ tendon in his left leg and persistent pain in both knees.

Trujillo and Garcia each earned $25,000 for winning and Trujillo also won $9,000 for winning the national championship.