Running USA wire 69, August 19, 2012

Running USA wire 69, August 19, 2012
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In this edition:
Miller, Kampf Capture GNC Live Well Liberty Mile Titles
Dobson Demolishes Long-Standing Pikes Peak Ascent Record
Hesch, Pezzullo Victorious at Rock 'n' Roll Providence
Alemayehu, Whiting Win 35th America's Finest City Half Marathon

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join Running USA today and have your event listed here, as well as on www.RunningUSA.org

Toronto Women's 5K / 10K, Toronto, CAN, August 25
Gender Defender 5K, Quantico, VA, August 25
Patrick Henry Half-Marathon, Ashland, VA, August 25
Continental Divide Trail Race, Laurel Springs, NC, August 25
USA 10K Trail Championships
Crim Festival of Races, Flint, MI, August 25
Challenge Arthritis 5K, St. Paul, MN, August 25
Seattle Marathon 10K, Seattle, WA, August 25
La Sportiva 10K @10,000 Feet & 5K, Vail, CO, August 26
Eugene Women's Half Marathon, Eugene, OR, August 26
XTERRA Snow Mountain Ranch 20K, Granby, CO, Aug 26

NFL Back to Football Run 4 Mile, New York, NY, August 30
Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach 1/2 Marathon, VA, September 2
Emerald City Half & Quarter Marathon, Dublin, OH, Sept 2
Oregon Wine Country Half-Marathon, Carlton, OR, Sept 2
Kauai Marathon, Kauai, HI, September 2
Hog Jog, Charlotte, NC, September 3
American Discovery Trail Marathon, Colorado Springs, CO, Sept 3
Inaugural Ragnar Relay Colorado, Aspen, CO, September 7







Miller, Kampf Capture GNC Live Well Liberty Mile Titles

Inaugural event in Pittsburgh brings out fast times, three sub-4 minute Miles and post-race festivities in Market Square

By David Monico, The Mile wire



PITTSBURGH, Pa. - (August 17, 2012) - With rain and thunder threatening to slow down the inaugural GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, sunshine and a windless evening welcomed the those tackling Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. Craig "Rowdy" Miller and Heather Kampf, both the reigning U.S. road Mile champions, claimed the professional titles and a $4000 cash prize to kick-off Friday night festivities in the Steel City.



The women got the elite races started just after 8:00pm as the downtown lights were coming on in Pittsburgh. Kampf, from Minneapolis, has had a stellar season earning the U.S. road crown in her hometown at the Medtronic TC 1 Mile in May. She proved to be the one to beat once again out kicking Team USA Minnesota teammate Gabriele Anderson and Sarah Bowman of Knoxville, Tenn. in the final stretch finishing in 4 minutes, 35.8 seconds.



"I won the U.S. road championship earlier this year and in my mind I knew I needed to defend my title and be the best Miler on the roads," stated Kampf.



While Kampf, 25, had the final burst of speed for the win, for most of the race it was Chemtai Rionotukei of Kenya leading the women through over three-quarters of Mile. Rionotukei split 67 seconds for the first quarter and 2:19 through the half as the chase pack bided their time 10 meters back.



"We let her go and we were average coming through in 2:23 at the half-way point working together in the chase pack," commented Anderson who came into the race off a life-time best 4:27 Mile the previous weekend at Falmouth.



At three-quarters Rionotukei came through in 3:30 with Bowman, Anderson and Kampf closing fast. Bowman made the initial move, but it was covered quickly by Kampf. Anderson closed strongly in the final 100 meters to out lean Bowman for second place in 4:36.3 and 4:36.6 respectively.



"This was a world class event," stated Kampf. "I've never run a road Mile this late at night. It was a really cool atmosphere and the fans on the course were awesome."



The men's race would prove equally exciting with Miller, a Madison, Wis. resident following-up Kampf in defending his road Mile prowess. He would take the Liberty Mile title in 3:58.4 after a late burst of speed in the final 50 meters, out-kicking Jordan McNamara of Eugene, Ore. who crossed the line in 3:59.1. Also joining them under four minutes was Jeff See of Columbus, Ohio who finished in 3:59.8.



"It was a great race for the Americans on a beautiful night with the best runners you could get post-Olympics," stated Miller.



Tony Filipek led the field through 400 meters in 58 seconds and continued to lead the charge through the half-mile in 1:59. As the men made the bend on Liberty Avenue and into downtown Pittsburgh the field caught Filipek with Cory Leslie and See taking over. Three-quarters of a Mile at 3:00 put the field right at four-minute Mile pace.



McNamara, who prior to the race mentioned, "all I want to do is win," indeed put in what appeared to be the winning move with 250 meters to go. However, Miller, 25, wasn't done in the Steel City finding one final gear with 50 meters to go.



Miller after the race commented on the inaugural race comparing it to the other premier Miles in the United States, "it was a nice downhill, straight course similar to Fifth Avenue and the Minneapolis (TC Medtronic 1) Mile."



In the Masters division, a combined men's and women's race, it was former Pittsburgh resident Sonja Friend-Uhl, 41, who would run away with the overall title in a blazing 4:47. She would earn $500, while William Zink, 51, would take the men's title in 4:56.4.



Friend-Uhl commented, "it was a beautiful night to run and the weather was perfect. The race director did a great job with a smooth course that included a nice sweeping turn. I thought it would be great if it was a woman to cross the line first." On her time in Pittsburgh she stated, "once you've live in Pittsburgh, you're always a Pittsburgh person. I'm still a Steelers fan."



Patrice Matamoros, Race Director, reflected afterwards, "the inaugural running of the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile was a huge success featuring world class athletes running sub-4 minute Miles. It was great to come out in such a big way for our first year."



With more than 1,000 registrants there were more than 850 overall finishers in a great racing night in Pittsburgh. Participants and their families were then able to enjoy live music, food and drink in Market Square just a block from the finish.



Inaugural GNC Live Well Liberty Mile

Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, August 17, 2012



MEN

1) Craig Miller (WI), 3:58.4, $4000

2) Jordan McNamara (OR), 3:59.1, $2500

3) Jeff See (OH), 3:59.8, $1500

4) Christian Hesch (CA), 4:00.1, $800

5) Andrew Acosta (CA), 4:00.9, $500

6) Donald Cowart (VA), 4:01.4, $325

7) Cory Leslie (OH), 4:02.4, $150

8) Abiyot Endale (ETH / NY), 4:02.8, $100

9) Daniel Clark (MI), 4:07.5, $75



WOMEN

1) Heather Kampf (MN), 4:35.8, $4000

2) Gabriele Anderson (MN), 4:36.3, $2500

3) Sarah Bowman (TN), 4:36.6, $1500

4) Kellyn Johnson (AZ), 4:39.8, $800

5) Karly Hamric (WV), 4:41.3, $500

6) Chemtai Rionotukaei (KEN), 4:43.4, $325

7) Stephanie Charnigo (OH), 4:46.1, $150

8) Jamie Cheever (MN), 4:46.8, $100

9) Karaleigh Millhouse (PA), 4:49.3, $75



For deeper results, go to: LibertyMile.org





Dobson Demolishes Long-Standing Pikes Peak Ascent Record

Delaney men's champion at America's Ultimate Challenge

From Tim Bergsten



MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. - (August 18, 2012) - Kim Dobson, 27, of Grand Junction, rewrote history Saturday at the Pikes Peak Ascent, finishing in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 59 seconds, crushing the women's course record by an astounding 8:32.



"I was a bit surprised," Dobson said following the 13.32 mile uphill race. "My training has gone well and all of my training runs are faster than last year, so I felt like if I had a good day I could take some time off of the record. I was thinking if I came in at 2:30 I would be happy - I was not expecting 2:25."



Nobody was.



The previous record was 2:33:31 set by Lynn Bjorklund in 1981. Dobson barely missed the record in 2011 finishing in 2:34:04. Dobson and Bjorklund are the only women in race history to run under 2:35 for the Ascent.



With the win, Dobson also captured the new $5000 Ascent Bounty prize, given to the first woman to eclipse the 2:32 mark, and overall, she took home $8000. Race officials and fans gasped in disbelief as she approached the finish with her arms spread wide in celebration.



"That's the most amazing thing I have seen besides Matt Carpenter's many wins in my 18 years here," said Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon race director Ron Ilgen. "To do what she did is phenomenal."



Dobson's time was fast enough for a sixth-place finish overall. She crossed the finish line a few steps in front of three-time Ascent champion Simon Gutierrez.



"I almost felt like I was in a dream honestly," she said. "It was probably the most happy I have ever been after a race."



First-time Ascent runner Ellie Keyser, 23, of Fort Collins, placed second in 2:38:13, a time that put her among the top-five fastest Ascent debuts in women's race history. It was all the more impressive because she had mostly been training for road races.



The 2010 Ascent champion, Brandy Erholtz, 34, of Evergreen, clocked a 2:45:42 to finish third.



Erholtz will run for the U.S. Mountain Running Team at the World Championships in Italy in two weeks. It's always tough to have two big races so close together.



Lisa Goldsmith and Amanda Ewing rounded out the top five for the women, crossing the line in 3:03:34 and 3:03:42 respectively.



For the men, Jason Delaney also felt the joy of victory. He already knew the pain of running the 2012 Pikes Peak Ascent all too well.



The Golden resident won the men's race up America's Mountain in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 19 seconds for his first victory in his third attempt.



"The third time really is the charm," he said Saturday morning at the summit. "It was a brutal but wonderful race."



Delaney, 32, who runs for the Boulder Running Company, was hoping to surpass his goal of 2 hours, 10 minutes as he reached Barr Camp, but had to stop for 15 seconds to stretch after his calves started cramping near the incline.



"I guess it was an adrenalin thing after that," he said on soldiering through the pain. He held off acclaimed mountain racer Rickey Gates of San Francisco (2:15:42) who moved from sixth at Barr Camp into second by the summit, passing Colorado Springs' Ryan Hafer near the A Frame.



"I was looking over my shoulder a lot," Delaney said. "I knew Ryan is a very strong runner above the tree line. The adrenalin helped me hang on."



Hafer, who has enjoyed a strong season, uncharacteristically struggled at the higher elevations as he approached the 14,115-foot summit. He finished third in 2:16:35.



Hafer, 26, and fourth-place finisher Sage Canaday, 26, of Boulder set a fast pace early. It proved to be a mistake for Canaday, a first-time competitor in the 13.32-mile Ascent.



"I pushed hard for the first 20 minutes and I couldn't maintain it," said the Oregon native who finished in 2:21:16 and moved to Boulder a month ago. "I didn't respect the mountain. The last three miles, my whole body was hurting."



Former Fountain Valley School standout Steven Stoot placed fifth in 2:22:48.



Pikes Peak Ascent

Manitou Springs, CO, Saturday, August 18, 2012



MEN

1) Jason Delaney, 32, Golden, CO, 2:13:19, $2000
2) Rickey Gates, 31, Woody Creek, CO, 2:15:42, $1200
3) Ryan Hafer, 26, Colorado Springs, CO, 2:16:35, $600
4) Sage Canaday, 26, Boulder, CO, 2:21:16, $200
5) Steven Stoot, 21, Colorado Springs, CO, 2:22:48


WOMEN

1) Kim Dobson, 28, Grand Junction, CO, 2:24:59*, $8000#
2) Ellie Keyser, 23, Fort Collins, CO, 2:38:13, $1200
3) Brandy Erholtz, 34, Evergreen, CO, 2:45:42, $600
4) Lisa Goldsmith, 47, Nederland, CO, 3:03:34, $200
5) Amanda Ewing, 31, Colorado Springs, CO, 3:03:42

*course record (previous record, 2:33:31, Lynn Bjorklund (USA / NM), 1981)
#$2000 (first) + $5000 (<2:30 time bounty) + $1000 (time bonus for fastest Ascent of the weekend) Complete results at: www.thetcr.com Hesch, Pezzullo Victorious at Rock 'n' Roll Providence Nearly 5,000 runners take part in second edition; post-race concert by pop duo Karmin By Competitor.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. - (August 19, 2012) - Rhode Island's capital city was everything but "Broken Hearted" as the second Rock 'n' Roll Providence Half Marathon returned to New England under sunny skies and mild temperatures on Sunday morning. As Mayor Angel Taveras fired the starting gun, nearly 5,000 entrants set off on a 13.1-mile journey through the city's historical sites and along its scenic waterfront to the sounds of live, local bands, cheerleaders and enthusiastic spectators. In the men's race, Christian Hesch of Hollywood, Calif., found himself in a three-man pack with Ethiopia's Fikadu Lemma and Demesse Tefera early on. The three stayed together for more than 12 miles before Hesch made his move, certain that the win was his for the taking.



"The wind really helped out in the last few miles," he said. "That was a huge boost for me. I'm pretty sure I had the win anyway, but it made it much more certain because at that point it's a kicker's race and I'm never going to lose a kicker's race."



It wasn't until the final half mile that Hesch, a sub-4 minute miler, was finally on his own.



"I thought we were going to come up the hill together and sprint to the line," said Hesch. Instead, the 33-year-old Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series veteran squeezed in a few pushups before crossing the finish line at 1 hour, 7 minutes, 5 seconds.



"Why? Why not? You can't always be so serious about it," he said with a laugh.



Lemma finished second in 1:07:15 with Tefera taking third at 1:07:50.



Hometown girl Stephanie Pezzullo would take the women's race handily. A high school All-American soccer player who grew up in Rhode Island, Pezzullo didn't discover her talent for running until her senior year of college at Penn State University.



"I tried out for the track team for fun," she said. "I had no idea it would lead to professional running, but here I am ten years later."



Pezzullo, 30, ran a solo race, finishing in 1:15:17. Her closest competitor was more than two minutes behind. Hilary Dionne of Charlestown, Mass., took second in 1:17:49 followed by Kailin Collins of Brookline, Mass. who clocked 1:18:30. For Pezzullo, the win was an added bonus on a day when training was her main priority.



"I kept it steady and just wanted to finish without killing myself," she said. "It was a little hillier than the last few half-marathons I've done. I'm using this as a tune-up for the Chicago Marathon, my first full marathon, in October so that's a big one for me."



Among the sea of runners was a changed man, Patrick House. The 28-year-old was named the winner of NBC's Biggest Loser Season 10 after losing more than 200 pounds and has since become a bona fide runner, completing the Boston Marathon twice. In his first Rock 'n' Roll race, House achieved his personal best, a respectable 2:03:29.



"This was awesome," House said afterward. "The race atmosphere in Providence was amazing, running through the parks and the neighborhoods and near the water. It was really pretty and a lot of fun."



The rising stardom pop duo Karmin kept runners on their feet at the post-race concert, performing their smash single, "Brokenhearted," which peaked this summer at the #16 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Four local charities benefited from the race, raising more than $52,000 for a variety of causes. But it was the city itself that was the biggest star, leaving an impression that even seasoned runners like Hesch will long remember.



"It was gorgeous," he said. "This should be the most popular Rock 'n' Roll because it's the most beautiful Rock 'n' Roll I've done. Nothing compares to this."



2nd Rock 'n' Roll Providence 1/2 Marathon

Providence, RI, Sunday, August 19, 2012



MEN

1) Christian Hesch, 33, Hollywood, CA, 1:07:05, $1000

2) Fikadu Lemma, 28, Ethiopia, 1:07:15, $500

3) Demesse Tefera, 29, Washington, DC (ETH), 1:07:50, $250

4) Patrick Moulton, 30, Providence, RI, 1:09:51, $500**

5) Jason Ayr, 25, Westfield, MA, 1:10:13, $250**



WOMEN

1) Stephanie Pezzullo, 30, Charlotte, NC, 1:15:17, $1000

2) Hilary Dionne, 26, Charlestown, MA, 1:17:49, $1000*

3) Kailin Collins, 25, Brookline, MA, 1:18:30, $500*

4) Katie Twarog, 29, Providence, RI, 1:19:00, $125*

5) Diana Davis, 27, Providence, RI, 1:22:02

*Includes New England-Only prize money



Full results, photos and more: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/providence/event-details



Alemayehu, Whiting Win America's Finest City Half Marathon

Sold-out field of more than 8,000 at 35th edition in San Diego

By Patrice Malloy



SAN DIEGO - (August 19, 2012) - A sold-out field of more than 8,000 elite and recreational runners from 45 states and 16 countries participated in the 35th edition of the America's Finest City Half Marathon and AFC 5K held on Sunday morning under sunny skies and temperatures in the low to upper-70s and relative humidity hovering at 84% at the start to 75% later in the morning.



Ethiopia's Tesfaye Sendeku Alemayehu, last year's AFC Half runner-up, returned to San Diego's scenic streets with a vengeance, dominating the field with a 1 hour, 3 minute and 44 second wire-to-wire victory. Jeffrey Eggleston of Flagstaff, Arizona finished more than a minute back in 1:04:57, while Kirwa Meshack of Kenya rounded out the podium in 1:05:36.



Paula Whiting, a New Zealand citizen currently living in San Diego, captured the women's crown, clocking 1:16:47. Alvina Begay of Flagstaff, Arizona finished more than a minute back (1:17:53) as runner-up. Natasha LaBeaud, of San Diego, placed third overall in the women's division (1:18:01).



In the men's race, Alemayehu was flying solo, opening up a 20-second lead on the entire field in the first mile. By mile 4, Alemayehu's lead increased to 1:43, slightly decreasing to 1:38 at the 10K mark. But it was obvious early on that the 28-year-old was sailing through America's Finest City with nary another runner in sight.



"At first, I thought the others would come up with me but they didn't," said Alemayehu, who lives and trains in Antioch, California. "It is hard to run a race alone but, because I train alone, it was a bit easier for me. I decided to just run my own race."



The women's elite race was a bit more sociable with leaders Begay, Whiting and LaBeaud on each other's heels mid-way through the 13.1-mile tour of San Diego. Whiting, who ran for the University of Tulsa and is now a doctoral student in physical therapy at San Diego State University, managed to maintain her physical propulsion and stamina through the final miles better than her competition for the win.



"I eventually found my rhythm and made sure I took water at every aid station," said Whiting.



Ludmila Petrova, 42, of Russia was the only top 10 Masters finisher in either the women's and men's races, posting a 1:20:09, good for fourth place.



The scenic 13.1-mile America's Finest City Half Marathon (or "AFC Half") started at 7:00am at the historic Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma, ran along San Diego Bay, through downtown San Diego and finished near the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. The AFC 5K started and finished at the Half Marathon finish line. A post-race party and awards ceremony followed in Balboa Park.



Competitors in the half-marathon vied for $13,700 in prize money and bonuses.



The event benefits the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, Cancer Patients Alliance and other local charities. During its 34-year history, the America's Finest City Half Marathon has raised more than $3.4 million for non-profit organizations.



35th America's Finest City Half Marathon

San Diego, CA, Sunday, August 19, 2012



MEN

1) Tesfaye Sendeku Alemayehu (ETH), 1:03:44, $1500

2) Jeffrey Eggleston (USA / AZ), 1:04:57, $1000

3) Kirwa Meshack (KEN), 1:05:36, $750

4) Scott Bauhs (USA / CA), 1:05:14, $500

5) Fidele Jefferson (USA / AZ), 1:06:02, $300



Masters Men (40+): Markus Pingpank, 48, (GER), 1:15:46, $350



WOMEN

1) Paula Whiting, (NZL), 1:16:47, $1850*

2) Alvina Begay (USA / AZ), 1:17:53, $1000

3) Natasha LaBeaud (USA / CA), 1:18:01, $750

4) Ludmila Petrova, 42, RUS, 1:20:09, $850**

5) Lindsay Tollefson (USA /CA), 1:21:04, $300

*includes $350 first San Diego County resident prize money

**includes first Masters (40+) $350 prize money



Deeper results and more at:

http://afchalf.com/











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