Courtesy: event press release

Thomas Nyariki, 31, of Concord, Mass., won the 2003 Schlotzsky's Deli Bun Run 5K and set a new city record Sunday when he crossed the finish line in the astounding time of 13 minutes, 34 seconds, edging out second place Reubon Cheruiyot (13:41), Moses Macharia (13:48), Alfred Rugema (13:50). Fifth place finisher Australian Kim Gillard tied last year's winning time of 13:51 and was closely followed by a pack of ten other under-15:00 runners.

Kenyan Nyariki, whose 5K PR is 12:55, also set a men's Bun Run 5K record on this year's new, faster course, eclipsing the previous city/Bun Run record (13:51) which was set in 2002. Nyariki quickly earned $6,250 from this year's celebratory $30,000 prize purse, the largest in the Bun Run's 21- year history.

Included in the field of Elite women division was 22-year-old winner Olga Romanova of St. Petersberg, Russia, who clocked 15:54 and took home $3,500. Kenyans Emily Samoei (15:57) and Jacqueline Torori (16:06) took second and third places for prizes of $2,500 and $1,500. The record women's Bun Run 5K, 15:26, was set in 2002.

Nyarki's $6,250 included $2,750 in time-performance bonuses, almost doubling the $3,500 he earned for winning the Bun Run. Cheruiyot, the second-place male finisher, earned a bonus of $1,300 for a total of $3,800. Time incentives were offered to the top five overall Male and Female winners.

Austinite Jeffrey Wood, 22, was top local male finisher at 14:34 and earned one of two $1,500 "Austin Runner" incentives added to the purse by Schlotzsky's, Inc. (NASDAQ: BUNZ), which has hosted the Bun Run to pay homage to the company's Austin roots.

Top local female finisher was Carmen Troncoso with a time of 16:43, who also received a $1,500 "Austin Runner" incentive.

"Our congratulations go to all of the Bun Run finishers, across all ages and categories," said John C. Wooley, CEO and president of Schlotzsky's, Inc. "We were especially delighted to have so many world-class Elite runners participate and were pleased to be able to reward their effort with the numerous time incentives. They broke Bun Run records and added a lot of excitement. What a great way for our community to come together and help a good cause in the process."

Wooley said Schlotzsky's plans to increase the race purse again for the 2004 Bun Run to attract even more Elite runners to the Bun Run 5K field.

Overall 2003 Bun Run Male and Female Elite Masters division winners, Andrew Masai (14:32), 43, of Nairobi, Kenya, and Lyubov Kremleva (16:16), 41, of St. Petersberg, Russia, each took home $1,500. Masai was the named Masters Runner of the Year for 2002 by "Runner's World." Veteran runner Kremleva, always consistent in her road running, finished third at the Congress Avenue Mile with a 4:28 two weeks ago.