SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- An Ethiopian woman was the first runner to cross the finish line  in the 101st Bay to Breakers race Sunday morning, according to preliminary  results.

      Manitu Daska, 28, -- last year's second fastest woman -- was the  first to finish the 7.46-mile course with a time of 39 minutes and three  seconds, race spokeswoman Stephanie Reichin said.

      Daska will take home a $37,000 cash prize for first place, Reichin  said.

      The second runner to cross the finish line was Sammy Kitwara, 25,  of Kenya.

      Kitwara's course time was 34 minutes and 41 seconds, but a time  "equalizer" that allows the women's field to start the race about 4 minutes  and 30 seconds before the men put him across the finish line just seconds  behind Daska, Reichin said.

      The equalizer is the difference between the course record for the  best men's time and the record for the best women's time, Reichin said.

      The second fastest runner in the men's field was Allan Kiprono,  22, of Kenya, who finished the race in 34 minutes and 49 seconds.

      The second fastest woman was Diane Nukuri Johnson, 27, of Brundi,  who finished with a time of 40 minutes and two seconds.

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