The 13 Members of the World’s First Centipede in the 68th Annual Bay to Breakers Race–May 14, 1978, Doug Peck, Ed Schelegle, Kevin Kirby, Dirk Rohloff, Dwayne “Peanut” Harms, Angel Martinez, Steve White, Geoff Adams, Pete Sweeney, Rob Anex, Dave Lopez, Mike Pratt and Jay Barrigan. Photo courtesy: Kevin Kirby
The Centipede
The Centipede is one of the most (in)famous contributions to the sport created by the Aggies in 1978. Doug Peck, Steve White, and Kevin Kirby hatched an idea to put together a costume for the Bay to Breakers that would be fun, totally different, and in true Aggie fashion, allow 13 brothers to run as a team in that costume.
Click to watch the 1986 Bay to Breakers Highlights Show. Ed Eyestone wins in record time; Aggie Men's centipede gets withdrawn at the finish by the legend, Grete Waitz. 110,000 total participants hit the streets of San Francisco.
That's right! 13 runners tied together by sheets and later the much more technical bungee cord, to run the world's craziest run, the Bay to Breakers.
In it’s first year, the intrepid Aggies Centipede finished 130th overall, out of 16,000 participants. In 1979, Peanut Harms and Angel Martinez were instrumental in creating the first Centipede World Championship, featuring the Aggies against the West Valley Track Club, and it continues to grow over the years. In 1987, the women's Centipede was born.
The Aggie centipede is now world-famous with features in Runner's World, Sports Illustrated, and the Wall Street Journal. The Centipede has been a mainstay at the storied Bay to Breakers 12K, but Centipedes have also been run over the marathon, 10K, and even mile distance setting numerous world records along the way.
Aggie CentiPede records
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1978 First Centipede - no competition until 1986
1981 - 41:50
1982 - 41:04
1983 - 40:21
1984 - 41:37
1985 - 40:24*
1986 - 1st 38:58 (Grete Waitz)
1987 - 3rd 39:45 (Rosa Mota)
1988 - 1st 38:30*
1989 - 1st 38:13*
1990 - 2nd 38:51*
1991 - 1st 37:40* **
1992 - 1st 39:12 (Lisa Ondieki)
1993 - 1st 38:55*
1994 - 1st 38:51*
1995 - 1st 38:19*
1996 - 1st 38:43*
1997 - 1st 39:24*
1998 - 1st 40:09 (Jane Omoro & Lynn Jennings)
1999 - 1st 39:26 (Ndereba, Meyer,Omoro, Hickman, Wanjiku)
2000 - 1st 39:33 (DeReuck)
2001 - 1st 40:54 (Ngotho, Omoro,Asiba)
2002 - 1st 39:20 (Talpos)
2003 - 1st 39:06
2004 - 2nd 40:00
2005 - 1st 39:17
2006 - 2nd 39:44
2007 - 2nd 39:07
2008 - 1st 38:05
2009 -
2010 - 2nd 38:39
2011 - 2nd 37:55
2012 -
2013 - 1st 40:01
2014 - 1st 40:19
2015 - 1st 40:02
2016 - 1st 40:22
2017 - 1st 39:49
2018 - 1st 40:16
2019 - 1st 39:56
2020-21 - B2B not held due to COVID-19 restrictions
2022 - 2nd 39:26*
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1987 - 1st 50:40
1988 - 1st 48:47
1989 - 1st 49:20
1990 - 1st 47:38
1991 - 1st 48:38
1992 - 1st 51:55
1993 - 1st 48:47
1994 - 2nd 48:46
1995 - 1st 48:04
1996 - 1st 47:57
1997 - 1st, but DQ'd
1998 - 1st 48:45
1999 - 1st 47:11 (Impala / Nike 2nd 47:50)
2000 - 1st 49:05
2001 - 2nd 47:44 (Impala / Red Hook 1st)
2002 - 2nd 47:18
2003 - 1st 49:24
2004 - 1st 48:18
2005 - 1st 48:30
2006 - 1st 49:13
2007 - 1st 47:49
2008 - 1st 47:47
2009 -
2010 - 1st 48:44
2011 - 1st 49:02
2012 -
2013 - 1st 48:57
2014 - 1st 47:41
2015 - 1st 50:13
2016 - 1st 50:59
2017 - 2nd 49:56
2018 - 1st 48:55
2019 - 1st 45:49**
2020-21 - B2B not held due to COVID-19 restrictions
2022 - 3rd 53:47
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2001 - 1st 46:48
2002 - 1st 45:01
-
1987 - New York City Marathon - 2:47:34 **
1988 - City of Los Angeles Marathon - 2:55:00 approx.
1990 - City of Los Angeles Marathon - 2:47:57
1996 - Boston Marathon - 2:57:02
1996 - New York City Marathon - 2:57:32
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1989 - L.A. Philharmonic 10K, Griffith Park - 32:23 (2nd overall to Ed Eyestone)
1990 - L.A. Philharmonic 10K, Griffith Park - 32:24 (2nd overall)
1993 - Super Bowl 10K, Redondo Beach - 31:55 (unofficial, finished with less than 13)
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1988 - California Mile (extreme uphill in downtown San Francisco) - 5:55.7
* Finished ahead of the first woman
** World record
(Women beating men's centipede)
Centipede Rules & Notes:
A centipede consists of 13 connected runners plus optional floaters who run alongside substituting for those who need it.
The length must be roughly 60 feet.
The first person across the line determines the time for the 'pede.
There must be 13 connected finishers in a centipede to win or place.
Feelers at the front and a stinger at the rear are encouraged!
For male centipedes, respectfully and honorably beating the first woman is a point of pride.
The famed left-hand "Lenichi Turn" is optional, but highly encouraged (see 2008 video to the left). There's also a lesser-known right-hand "Roscoe Turn" for the most adventurous Centipedes. Thank you, Pete Sweeney, for these valuable additions to the 'Pede!
In the News
The World's First Centipede, Kevin Kirby, Aggies (May 2018)
26 Legs Tied to the Same Goal, Runner's World (May 2011)
The Centipede: A Different Kind of Group Run, Women's Running (May 2009)
Centipede has become Bay race tradition, East Bay Times (May 2006)
What Has 26 Legs And Runs 26 Miles?, New York Times (October 1987)
Bugging the Opposition, Sports Illustrated (April 1987)
The Day Joan Benoit Beat a Giant Lobster--Only Barely, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor (May 1985)