The Wharf to Wharf’s defending women’s champion Risper Gesabwa has bowed out of Sunday’s race, director Scott McConville confirmed to the Pajaronian on Friday.
McConville said Gesabwa’s representatives did not give a particular reason as to why the three-time champ would not race in the 45th edition of the “best little road race in California.”
But, he said, the show must go on.
“It’s a bummer this late before the race,” McConville said, “but you just keep going.”
Gesabwa had the chance to not only become the race’s first-ever four-time champion — man or woman — but also the first to three-peat as champion.
Her absence opens up the field on the women’s side.
Buze Diriba, a 23-year-old from Ethiopia, is one of the young stars in the distance-racing world and figures to be one of the favorites to capture the title. Diriba recently won the Bloomsday 12k in Spokane, Washington.
Last year’s runner-up, Monicah Ngige, of Kenya, will also vie for the championship on Sunday along with countrywoman Grace Kahura and several others.
The men’s elite field, however, saw no changes.
Defending overall champion Isaac Mukundi Mwangi, runner-up Silas Kipruto and third-place finisher Teshome Mekonen will all be in play on Sunday.
Salinas native Diego Estrada, who finished sixth at the USATF 10k championships, will also be a part of the men’s elite field. Estrada, an Alisal High alumnus, is trying to become the first American to win Wharf to Wharf since Danny Gonzalez in 1995.
The top four female finishers will win $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
The top American man and woman will also walk away with $1,000.
The race, which features 16,000-person field, begins at 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Beach and Cliff Street in Santa Cruz and concludes at the intersection of Wharf Road and Cliff Drive in Capitola.
