ANN ARBOR (6/5/04) - In 2001 and 2002, Serena Kessler, now 32, traveled around the world. In 2003 she gave birth to her first child. So she didn't have much time to train for a fast half-marathon.

This spring, Kessler found time to put in some healthy mileage. It paid off as the Ann Arbor resident won Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon with a 1:22:24 PR.

"I set my old PR of 1:23 at this race in 1996, but I've never come close to winning it," Kessler said. Her triumph this year did not come easily. "It was tough," Kessler said. "She (Kim Peterson, 35, of Farmington Hills) really made me run."

Kessler sped to an early lead, but Peterson caught her near the four- mile mark. "She passed me, but I stayed with her," said Kessler. "At eight miles, I passed her back."

Kessler led by as many as 20 meters, "but Kim closed it up at the end," she remembered. "I struggled going up the last hill. But I was too close to winning not to push to the end."

"I kicked, but Serena still had me," said Peterson, who finished in 1:22:31. "She looked really strong."

Like Kessler, James Lander, 25, set a PR on his way to victory. The Hansons Distance Project team member ran a 1:07:26, 22 seconds faster than the best he'd run earlier this year.

"I felt very comfortable," said Lander, who finished ahead of Hansons teammate Bob Busquaert, 29 (1:09:20). Aaron Usher, 25, of Lansing took third in 1:11:23.

The half marathon also included a two-person relay. The first runner did an 11K, then tagged an "anchor" who ran a 10K. The team of James Neary and Jake Ardner had the top overall time of 1:22:15. Theresa and Laura Brosius (who called themselves GoBro) ran a 1:45:12 to lead the women. "Scuba and Speedy" (aka Sarah Elson and Nick Mockeridge) was the top mixed team.

The 31st annual Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, presented by Comerica and hosted by the Ann Arbor Track Club, took place on a humid but relatively-cool morning. Some 4,465 runners and walkers competed in the half marathon, 10K and 5K. Several more took part in the kids run.

In the 10K, Benjamin Salvette, 20 (34:46) and Jocelyn Petrella, 24 (41:23), both of Ann Arbor, went home winners. Kevin Gallagher, 24, of Ann Arbor (15:47) and Suzanne Larsen, 26, of Fenton (18:22) finished first in the 5K.

"It was real fast the for first two miles," said Larsen, who had hoped to break her 18:15 PR. "The hill at the end ate me up." But it didn't spit her out.

For complete results,visit www.dexterannarborrun.com/results.htm. MR