Guy Reynolds / DMN

The lead group of elite runners at the front of race pick up the pace on Hall Street in Uptown, a steep downhill part of the course.

DALLAS — Kenyan James Koskei won the 38th running of the Dallas White Rock Marathon on Sunday.

WFAA-TV reported Koskei's official time at 2 hours, 15 minutes and 12 seconds – more than three minutes behind last year's time of Moses Kororia, who set a Rock marathon course record of 2:12.04.

Koskei, 39, outlasted three other Kenyans – Matthew Koskei, Stephen Biwott, and Edward Kiptum. The foursome was still running together when they passed women's winner, Emily Samoei, just past the 24-mile mark.

Win the victory, James Koskei earned $35,000. He won $10,000 for the men’s title and $25,000 for winning the Cooper Complete Gender Challenge.

James Koskei had placed fourth in the Boston Marathon in April in 2:15.05. This is his first marathon win. He has been a past champion at the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K, Vancouver Sun Run 10K, Bay to Breakers 12K and Bolder Boulder 10K.

Samoei won the women's marathon in an unofficial time of 2:34.24.

The weather regressed throughout the day and seemed to hamper times of the elite runners. WFAA reported a temperature of 42 degrees as the half marathon winners crossed the finish line. Temperatures were at 48 degrees at the start of the marathon at 8 a.m. Winds blew in from the north at up to 15 mph the entire race, keeping wind chills in the upper 30s.

The heaviest rain did stay west of Dallas, giving the runners a break from showers and some thunderstorms.

An estimated 15,000 runners were expected to take part in the event's marathon, half-marathon and marathon relays.

It took the last of the 5,000 registered marathoners about four minutes to reach the starting line after the race started at 8:03 a.m.

The elite women's field left had an 18-minute, 35-seconds headstart over the elite men in an effort to create an exciting finish between the genders.

Weather canceled the planned flyover of F-18s from Carswell Air Force Base. Channel 8’s two helicopters were grounded for part of the race.