Anthony Cortes and Taylor Abrams Take Top Spots at San Francisco’s Favorite Fall Running Tradition

SAN FRANCISCO – November – 3, 2024 – No one can question that Anthony Cortes was the fastest runner in the Bay Area this weekend. On Friday night, he won a 5K. By Saturday, he took down the field in the 49ers’ Golden Heart Run. And to top off his running weekend, Cortes was the first runner across the finish line in the 23rd annual Golden Gate Half Marathon on Sunday.

Cortes covered the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 15 minutes, 11 seconds, capping off an impressive trifecta. Three races. Three wins.

“I feel like I’m all crashed out,” he said.

On a scenic course that features a run across the Golden Gate Bridge, Cortes’ win on Sunday was hardly a breeze. At the 12-mile mark, he knew the second-place runner was just 30 seconds to a minute behind him.

“It was time to start pushing hard,” he said. “I had to pick up my speed.”

Cortes dedicated the race to his aunt, who passed away three months ago, and to his favorite baseball player, San Francisco Giants icon Willie Mays, who passed away in June.

While winning may be routine for Cortes, the second-place finisher, 25-year-old Ethan Phelps (1:15:32), was running his first half marathon and loved the experience.

“It was absolutely beautiful running across the bridge, watching the sunrise,” Phelps said. “And having the breeze in your face. It was amazing. Definitely some tough hills, but it was all downhill after six miles.”

There was no shortage of storylines among the women’s runners. The winner, 37-year-old Taylor Abrams (1:30:52), is the mother of two young children, ages 3 and 5.

“It was a beautiful day, a beautiful course,” Abrams said. “You’re starting uphill, which is a bit of a mental challenge. But it’s just beautiful. It’s crisp, it’s clear, the leaves are changing a little. It’s perfect.”

Third-place finisher Olivia Hauger, running the race for the third time, set a personal record by nearly five minutes (1:34:59). Hauger, 27, knows what it’s like to chase down winners; she’s a former tennis star at Cal, where she twice competed in the NCAA singles tournament.

“Running is so interesting because you’re trying to beat your own time every time,” Hauger said. “You don’t have an opponent on the other side of the court.”

Aggressiveness was key to Hauger’s success Sunday. At seven miles, she was already three minutes ahead of her race plan.

At that stage, she told herself, “I’m actually going to do this.” Then, she said, it started hurting on the way back. “But I’m really proud of how I stuck to the plan.”

Juan Antonio Padilla Amador won the men’s 5K in 18:59. Cyril Gantzer took second (19:31), and David Lindenberg placed third (20:32). Penelope Ferraro won the women’s 5K in 19:35, followed by Heather Cerney in second (20:18) and Jui-ying Hsieh in third (22:42).

Adrienne Furniss placed first among non-binary runners in 29:10.

Sunday’s race marked the final event in the Golden State Challenge, a celebrated series of eight races across. Participants who complete four races in the series earn a prestigious challenge medal. The 2025 Golden State Challenge kicks off on the first Sunday in February at the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, promising another year of unforgettable events in California’s most scenic and historic locations.

For complete results, photos and more, visit www.RunSF.com. Photo credit RWB Multimedia.

About the Golden Gate Half Marathon

The 23rd running of the Golden Gate Half Marathon & 5k will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2024. The 13.1-mile road race starts along the waterfront in Aquatic Park, takes runners across the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge before finishing in downtown San Francisco at Ghirardelli Square. Event weekend kicks off on Friday afternoon, November 1st with a Lifestyle Expo and packet pickup at Sports Basement starting at 3pm. Both the half-marathon and 5k start together on Van Ness Ave in Aquatic Park on Sunday morning at 7:00am. Event weekend concludes with a post-race beer garden at SF Brew Co., adjacent to the finish line. For more information, please visit RunSF.com or follow @goldengatehalf on social media.