2013 BAA Half Marathon

A race official gave instructions to elite runners, including Gebre Gebremariam (center left), Lelisa Desisa (center) and Aaron Braun (center right) before the start of the Boston Athletic Association Half Marathon on Sunday.

More than 6,500 runners started the race, the BAA announced.

Reigning Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia won the Half Marathon in a record time of 1:00:34.

Kim Smith of New Zealand won the women’s title, finishing in 1:10.52.

Lelisa Desisa greeted runners-up Daniel Salel (left), and Stephen Sambu at the finish line.

A police K-9 unit stood guard before the start of the Half Marathon.

Men’s race winner Lelisa Desisa beat Daniel Salel and Stephen Sambu by seven seconds.

Kim Smith also emerged as the BAA Distance Medley winner for 2013. The Distance Medley is a series of three races – a 5K in April, a 10K in June and the Half Marathon.

A team of runners from the Sole Train youth mentoring program gathered for the start.

Men’s wheelchair division champion Tony Nogueria of New Jersey finished in 55:06 to win his eighth BAA Half Marathon title.

Women’s champion in the wheelchair division Carla Trodella of Massachusetts finished in a time of 2:12:25.

The women’s top 5 included Aheza Kiros, Kristen Fryburg-Zaitz, Millicent Kuria, and Alice Kimutai.

Men’s first through fourth palce finishers Lelisa Desisa, Daniel Salel, Stephen Sambu, and Sam Chelanga (from left)

Stephen Sambu was leading the BAA Distance Medley heading into the day. He finished third in the half marathon, but finished fast enough to claim the Medley title.

BAA Distance Medley winners Stephen Sambu and Kim Smith display thier winnings. Each took home $100,000 with their medley victories.