Running USA advances the growth and success of the running industry in America.
Partners: Active Network, Ashworth Awards, Competitor Group, Leslie Jordan, Inc. and MarathonFoto help make this wire possible.
In this edition:
Malakwen Nips Bacha at Finish of ING Miami Marathon
Hall, Davila on Athlete Panel at USA Cross Country Championships
Nickerson Wins Inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort
RRCA Announces 2011 Outstanding Runner Friendly Community
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join Running USA today and have your event listed here, as well as on www.RunningUSA.org
Medtronic TC Kids Marathon Fieldhouse Fun Run, Minneapolis, MN, Feb 4
Florida Hospital Lady Track Shack 5K, Winter Park, FL, February 4
Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon Weekend, Melbourne, FL, February 5
Super Bowl 5K, Denver, CO, February 5
Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10K/5K, CA, February 5
Surf City USA Marathon & Half, Huntington Beach, CA, February 5
Virginia Is for Lovers 14K & 1.4 Miler, Virginia Beach, VA, February 11
Hearts & Soles 5K, Atlanta, GA, February 11
Valentine's Day TC 5K, Minneapolis, MN, February 11
Valentine's Day - Hearts 'r' Running 5K, St. Paul, MN, February 11
USA Cross Country Championships, St. Louis, MO, February 11
Love 'em or Leave 'em Valentine's Day Dash, Seattle, WA, February 11
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll St. Pete Half-Marathon, FL, February 12
26.2 with Donna, Jacksonville Beach, FL, February 12
Valentines Day 5K, Denver, CO, February 12
House of Hope Run Around the Pines 5K, Winter Park, FL, February 18
The Big Chill Run, Pewaukee, WI, February 18
Snowman Stampede 5 & 10 Milers, Littleton, CO, Feb 18
Malakwen Nips Bacha at Finish of ING Miami Marathon
Maraviglia women's marathon champion; Boitt, Mariita win half-marathon; 10th edition draws sell-out 25,000 entrants
By Gary Ferman, US Road Sports
MIAMI - (January 29, 2012) - Samuel Malakwen of Kenya just inched out Teferi Bacha of Ethiopia in a dramatic sprint to the finish line to win the 10th ING Miami Marathon on Sunday through the streets of Miami, Miami Beach and Coconut Grove.
The spectacular finish was the marathon equivalent of a photo finish in horse racing, with both runners literally running shoulder-to-shoulder down the finish-line chute. It was one of the closest endings in marathon history, and both runners were credited with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 55 seconds.
"The last 100 meters was very crucial to me because I was very tired and exhausted," said the 33-year-old Malakwen, who visited Miami for the first time. "He just pushed away from me. He ran fast because he saw the finish line and wanted to win. In my mind I said 'let him go.' But when I saw the finish line I said 'I will not let him go' and I started sprinting very fast."
The extraordinary finish highlighted a record-setting anniversary year for the Miami race, which saw a sell-out 25,000 runners at the start line on a 66-degree, clear Miami morning.
Bacha was gracious in defeat.
"I am very happy with the results. I have absolutely no grudges. I gave it my best," the 25-year-old Bacha said. "We were neck-and-neck starting from the half-marathon. We told each other we'd help each other run personal bests. At about 50 meters left we started to sprint.
"I said to myself, I have to win the race, I can see the finish line, there is no reason why I can't win this. I was leading him until a few feet between me and the finish line when he caught up to me. I felt a pang in my heart when he passed me. I thought I had clinched the finish when I began to sprint, but I realized a little too late how quickly he passed me."
Finishing third was Benazzouz Slimani of Italy (2:19:48) while a pair of Guatemalans - Alfredo Arevalo (2:22:44) and Mynor Armando Aguilon (2:23:55) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Argentine Raquel Maraviglia, the top women's finisher in 2:41:39, led from the start of the race and finished nearly four minutes ahead of Wioletta Kryza of Poland (2:45:32) and 2011 ING Miami Marathon champion Alena Vinitskaya of Belarus (2:45:48). It was only Maraviglia's fourth career marathon.
"I was trying really hard to get the Olympic "A" standard qualifying time," said the 34-year-old Maraviglia, who fell four minutes short. "Winning was my second goal so at least I achieved that. I thought the course was going to be flat, but there were more bridges than I expected."
Kryza and Vinitskava ran together throughout the race.
"Today I ran with Wioletta," said Vinitskaya, who also finished second in Miami in 2003 and 2010. "She really helped me. I told her I needed to stop because I had problems with my legs, but she all the time tried to push me. She could run maybe a little faster, but she really helped me. She stayed with me and told me 'you can run, you can run.'"
"We know each other from many races," said Kryza, who was also third here in 2006. "Sometimes she won, sometimes I won. Today she had a big problem, so she said, 'Can you hold a little, work with me?' We said we must run together. We tried to run together to the finish line."
Malakwen and Maraviglia won the $2000 first place prize money with Bacha and Kryza each taking home $1000. The third place finishers earned $500.
The ING Miami Marathon, a USATF-certified course and Boston Marathon qualifier, started at American Airlines Arena, traveled over the MacArthur Causeway to South Beach, through the Venetian Islands, Arts District, Downtown Miami and Coconut Grove. The runners then headed north on Brickell Avenue, finishing just south of Bayfront Park.
A wrong turn by 2011 ING Miami Marathon champion Tesfaye Alemayehu affected the outcome of the men's half-marathon. Alemayehu, on pace to set a course record, followed a marathon pace vehicle at a split in the course instead of veering off along the half-marathon route.
"I promised them I would improve the race record," said Alemayehu, who won the full marathon here in 2011. "I was so focused on my pace. I was going to run 61-62 [minutes]."
With Alemayehu out of contention, Kenya's James Boitt and Uganda's Harbert Okuti were left to battle, with Boitt (1:06:41) passing Okuti in the last mile (1:07:29) to win.
"At 10 kilometers the pace was two high, between me, Tesfaye, and my friend who came in second," said Boitt. "I let them go. When I reached 10 miles, that's when I started pushing. I had to stop a little bit just before the turn off, then I was shown the way. He (Tesfaye) was in front, but I don't know what happened. I was thinking I was in second position. I lost some seconds, but it's not much. One mile to the finish was when I caught (Okuti)."
"I followed the right course," said the 26-year-old Okuti, "but I kind of miscalculated. I was following the fast guy, who unfortunately dropped out. I was kind of okay until the last two miles, that's when things started going bad for me. I started having stitches, I think dehydration. Actually, all over my body."
Crossing the finish line in third place was Franklin Tenorio (1:09:38), a 42-year-old from Ecuador, who will be running in the upcoming Boston Marathon before representing his country in this summer's London Olympics.
In the women's half-marathon, winner Lilian Mariita of Kenya and Maria Peralta of Buenos Aires, Argentina turned in the fourth and fifth fastest times in the Marathon's record books. Mariita clocked in at 1:16:04 and Peralta at 1:17:52 while third place went to Michele Suszek of Lone Tree, Colorado in 1:21:29.
"The humidity was hard for me," said Mariita, who trains in Mexico. "For me I had to drink more water than usual. I am used to the altitude. This is my first time in Miami."
"I ran very relaxed and didn't push it at all, then at mile seven, I stayed at second place," said Peralta, running for the first time in Miami. "I couldn't see the winner. I was concentrating on my own race."
"I think the half was fairly competitive," said Suszek, who was trying to recover from the Olympic Marathon Trials held two weeks ago. "I was rolling along at that point, but basically my legs were just saying no and the rest of me was like, 'go!' I wasn't on my A-game today, but the other two made it competitive."
The race's 25,000 runners marked an 18% increase from last year's 21,116 participants. Entrants came from all 50 states and from 79 countries.
"Twenty-five thousand was a manageable goal," said race director David Scott. "We wanted to manage the growth of the event. There are so many logistics that go into an event of this size. We want to make sure that as we grow the quality of the event is not compromised."
More than 6,000 runners participated in the marathon, with 19,000 lining up for the half-marathon.
10th ING Miami Marathon
Miami, FL, Sunday, January 29, 2012
MEN
1) Samuel Malakwen (KEN), 2:16:55, $2000
2) Teferi Bacha (ETH), 2:16:55, $1000
3) Benazzouz Slimani (ITA), 2:19:48, $500
WOMEN
1) Maria Maraviglia (ARG), 2:41:39, $2000
2) Wioletta Kryza (POL), 2:45:32, $1000
3) Alena Vinitskaya (BLR), 2:45:47, $500
10th ING Miami Half Marathon
MEN
1) James Boitt (KEN), 1:06:41, $1000
2) Harbert Okuti (UGA), 1:07:29
3) Franklin Tenorio, 42, ECU / CO, 1:09:38
WOMEN
1) Lilian Mariita (KEN), 1:16:04, $1000
2) Maria De Los Angeles Peralta (ARG), 1:17:52
3) Michele Suszek (USA / CO), 1:21:29
Complete results and more at: www.INGmiamimarathon.com
Hall, Davila on Athlete Panel at USA Cross Country Championships
Open, Masters, Junior and community races to be contested in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS - (Jan. 26, 2012) - In just two weeks, national titles will be on the line at the USA Cross Country Championships in St. Louis. The Championships take place Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Central Fields in Forest Park. The top runners will represent Team USA in international competition.
On the eve of the race, Friday, Feb. 10, Ryan Hall and Desiree Davila, two of the nation's top runners will be part of the Phase 5 Consulting Elite Athlete Panel Discussion at St. Louis University High School. Hall and Davila will talk about their training, share advice and answer audience questions.
Hall, 29, holds the U.S. half-marathon record (59:43) and posted the fastest marathon time ever by an American at the 2011 Boston Marathon (2:04:58). He finished 10th at the 2008 Olympic Marathon and will be an American favorite for a medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. Hall was runner-up at the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials earlier this month in Houston, while Davila, 28, finished second in the women's race and was the runner-up at last year's Boston Marathon.
The Athlete Panel Discussion is open to the public. Admission is $10 and includes an all-you-can-eat pasta dinner provided by Onesto Pizza and Trattoria. Registration is available at www.usacrosscountrychampionships.com. Tickets also will be available at the door for $15.
HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY RACES
In addition to the national championship events, organizers are staging two races open to the public: a high school race for 7th through 12th graders and a community race for runners of all ages. Both races are a 4K and will be on the same course that the Championships will be held on later in the day. Registration is available at: www.usacrosscountrychampionships.com
USA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 10
6:00pm to 8:15pm - Pre-race pasta dinner sponsored by Onesto Pizza and Trattoria & Phase 5 Consulting Elite Athlete Panel Discussion at St. Louis University High School
Saturday, Feb. 11
8:30am - High School Race 4K presented by Saint Louis Injury and Rehab
9:00am - Community Race 4K
9:45am - Michelob Ultra Masters Women's 8K
10:45am - Michelob Ultra Masters Men's 8K
11:45am - Junior Women's 6K
12:30pm - Junior Men's 8K
1:15pm - Open Women's 8K
2:00pm - Open Men's 12K
Hosted by the St. Louis Sports Commission and Big River Running Company, the 2012 USA Cross Country Championships will draw more than 600 athletes to St. Louis, including many of the nation's elite and Olympic runners.
For more information on the 2012 USA Cross Country Championships, go to: www.usacrosscountrychampionships.com
Nickerson Wins Inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort
More than 17,000 runners take part in women-focused weekend of events centered on health, fitness and active lifestyles
From Disney Sports
ANAHEIM, Calif. - (January 29, 2012) - Kellie Nickerson - looking apropos in her fairy wings and green tutu - flew away from the field to capture the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim on Sunday morning.
Nickerson, who hails from Albuquerque, N.M., captured her first win at Disney in 1 hour, 27 minutes, 52 seconds, finishing ahead of Southern Californians Sharon Wilkinson of Winnetka (1:28:18) and Stacy Schafer from Carlsbad (1:28:54).
The Tinker Bell Half Marathon, hosted by the city of Anaheim and Disneyland Resort, led runners on a 13.1-mile trek through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, as well as by several city of Anaheim landmarks. The first year event featured music, entertainment, Disney characters and costumed runners donning fairy wings and pixie dust. Finishers received a commemorative Tinker Bell "wings'' medal.
TV sitcom star Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement) and "Goonies", "Lord of the Rings" and "Rudy" movie star Sean Astin were among the 12,000-plus registered runners to take part in Sunday's 13.1 mile race.
The weekend of events, all geared toward health, fitness and active lifestyles for women, featured a variety of races including The Never Land 5K on Friday night, kids' races on Saturday and the Tinker Bell Half Marathon on Sunday.
There was also a health and fitness expo featuring the latest running merchandise, products, apparel and guest speakers - all tailored for women - creating a weekend of camaraderie and wellness, plus a pinch of Tinker Bell's trademark sassiness and sense of adventure.
Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend is the second women-focused event weekend in the runDisney series. Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend will take place at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on Feb. 24 - 26. Both event weekends are among the largest women-specific events in the country.
Full results, photos and more at: www.runDisney.com
RRCA Announces 2011 Outstanding Runner Friendly Community
Lynchburg, Virginia met, and exceeded, the program's criteria
ARLINGTON, Va. - (January 24, 2012) - The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), the oldest and largest distance running organization in the United States, has announced that Lynchburg, Virginia has been designated the 2011 Outstanding Runner Friendly Community.
Lynchburg has shown that it meets, and exceeds, the program's criteria, which includes community infrastructure, civic backing, and local business support for the sport of running. Their infrastructure fosters physical activity in a safe environment; a proven track record that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport; and they create and maintain positive relationships between the running community and local government.
"Lynchburg is a shining example of the positive benefits running can bring to a community when everyone is on the same page," said RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack. "While we are proud of all of our Runner Friendly Communities, we feel Lynchburg has provided a blueprint for future communities."
Lynchburg has been home to the Lynchburg Road Runners Club (LRRC) and the "Virginia 10-Miler" since 1974. "The Festival of Races" offers a youth one mile fun run, a four mile race, and a four mile walk, in addition to the 10-Miler. The LRRC offers several informational clinics and seminars related to running and wellness. These clinics and seminars resulted from partnering with YMCA of Central Virginia, Centra Health, The Orthopedic Center of Central Virginia and Pilates to Breathe.
Lynchburg has two fantastic park systems: Blackwater Creek Natural Area and Peaks View Park. The city currently supports eight miles of paved trails and 15 miles of natural trails for running, walking, biking, roller blading, etc. Residents even use these trails to commute from residential areas to the downtown business and government area.
In October 2010, the Mayor's Youth Council created the first ever "Lighten Up Lynchburg Walk for Childhood Obesity" event. The youth running initiatives aim to engage the youth of the city and include the Lynchburg Road Runners Summer Track Series, Peaks View Pacers running club, and YMCA Achieve youth running program.
Community leaders who provided support and letters of recommendation include Joan Foster, Mayor; Jonathan Perrotto, President of Lynchburg Road Runners Club; Elena Edwards, COO of Genworth Financial; Catherine Mosley, External Communications & PR, AREVA; Susan Brandt, Communications/Marketing, Centra Health and R. Sackett Wood, President & CEO, Moore & Giles.
Learn more about the program, including detailed information about Lynchburg and all of the 2011 Runner Friendly Communities at: www.rrca.org/programs/runner-friendly-community/official/
Contact Information
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, ryan@runningusa.org, (805) 696-6232
Quick Links to RunningUSA.org
Go to our conference
New events calendar
More member news
Runners of Interest
Forward email
This email was sent to keithconning@aol.com by ryan@runningusa.org |
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
Running USA | 1631 Mesa Ave, Suite B | Colorado Springs | CO | 80906
No comments:
Post a Comment