Bazu Worku wins 2013 Houston Marathon

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2013 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 13, 2013) Breaking away from the pack at the 13 mile mark, Ethiopia’s Bazu Worku  (shown left) extended his lead over his nearest competitors and won the 41^st edition of the Chevron Houston Marathon.

His winning time of 2:10:17 was off his lifetime best of 2:05.25 that he ran Berlin’s heavy rain in 2010 and ranks as the 12th fastest time in Houston Marathon history.

Worku's best finish in 2012 at the Lanzhou (China) Marathon, where he placed second with the time of 2:15.21, with his best performance being the Dubai marathon where he finished 13^th place with the time of 2:07:48.

As an 18-years-old, he began his marathon career in 2009, when he ran a 2:16:15 in Paris.

Ethiopia claimed seven of the top ten finishes in the Houston Marathon with American Andrew Carlson breaking into the top 10 with a 2:17.16 finish.

American Sergio Reyes finished in ninth place with the time of 2:19:27.

Marima Mohammad of Ethiopia won the women’s marathon with the time of 2:23.37.

Her performance was the second fastest time ever in the Houston event.

In the men’s marathon, Ethiopia’s Teferi Balcha and Molla Solomon were second and third respectively, with times of 2:12:50 and 2:14:37.

In the women’s event, Buzunesh Deba finished in second place (2:23.37) with Meskerem Assfa taking third (2:25.17). Both Deba and Assfa were from Ethiopia.