Heins successfully defends title

Eric Heins wasn't all that pleased with his time, but he had little trouble repeating as champion in the City of Roses Run/Walk Half-Marathon.

Wind and rain conspired against Heins, who completed Sunday morning's 13.1-mile race in Cape Girardeau in a time of 1:12.30.

"I wasn't as happy with my time as I wanted," said Heins, the Southeast Missouri State cross country coach. "I was hoping to run under 1:10, but it was pretty windy and rainy, and I felt a little more tired at six miles than I thought I would.

"I just kept a good, steady pace and tried to make it a good workout."

Heins, who won the St. Louis Marathon in 2004, had a familiar running partner for the early stages of Sunday's race, which began at the A.C. Brase Arena Building and traveled down the Cape LaCroix bike trail and into downtown Cape Girardeau before returning to the start.

Brian Whitehead, who competed in cross country for Heins at Southeast -- he finished up his eligibility last season -- placed second.

"He's getting into longer races and this was his first one," Heins said. "We ran together for a while, but I pretty much just ran at my own pace."

Heins said his next competition will be a full marathon in Phoenix in January.

Sunday's overall female champion was Sarah Zaragoza, who won with a time of 1:37.23.