Boulder Running Company/Adidas runner Alisha Williams didn’t even plan on competing in the 30th annual California International Marathon until the New York City Marathon’s cancellation four weeks ago left her trying to maintain her race fitness.

On Sunday in Sacramento, Calif., Williams took advantage of rainy weather conditions, stayed patient and made a late move to win in 2:34:57 and claim $10,000 in prize money.

Running in only her second marathon, the  30-year-old financial analyst from Colorado Springs, was grateful for the opportunity to run in Sacramento after Hurricane Sandy wrecked the New York City Marathon.

“I’m so happy,” she said. “I’m thankful I was able to come here. Just to have the opportunity to run is really all we want.”

The race was close. Williams pulled away from runner-up Clara Peterson in the final two miles. Peterson, from San Anselmo, Calif., finished in 2:35:35, with Russian Natalia Sergeeva third in 2:38:22.

“I did not relax at all the last two miles,” Williams said. “I know how good of a runner she (Peterson) is. Coming into the (last) turn, there were a lot more spectators. Coming around the corner, I got kind of teary-eyed and choked up. This is a huge win for me."

Daniel Tapia, a member of the Sacramento Running Association’s Elite Team who resides in Prunedale, Calif., surged away from Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Alemayehu to win in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 29 seconds. Alemayehu finished second in 2:17:06 and Kenya’s Christopher Kipyego grabbed third in 2:17:59.

Williams was the first American woman to win CIM since Kristin Schwartz in 2000. Tapia was the first U.S. man to win the race since Joe LeMay in 1999.

The last time Americans won both CIM individual titles was in 1993, when Jerry Lawson set the men’s course record of 2:10:27 and UC Davis graduate Linda Somers won the women’s race in 2:34:11.

Tapia, a member of the Sacramento Running Association’s Elite Team who resides in Prunedale, pulled away from Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Alemayehu to win in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 29 seconds.

(Info for this story was provided in a press release from the California International Marathon.)