Running USA wire 77, September 16, 2012

Running USA wire 77, September 16, 2012
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Partners: Active Network, Ashworth Awards, Competitor Group, Leslie Jordan, Inc. and MarathonFoto help make this wire possible.




In this edition:
Kenyans Steal the Show at Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon
True, Huddle Win USA 5K Titles at CVS Caremark Downtown 5K
Lagat, Simpson to Defend Titles at 32nd NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile
GO! St. Louis Announces New $10,000 Half-Marathon Champion's Purse for 2013 Event

UPCOMING EVENTS

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


Hells Canyon Relay, Baker City, OR, September 21
Inaugural ZOOMA Cape Cod Half-Marathon, Falmouth, MA, Sept 22
Miracle Miles 5K & 15K, Orlando, FL, September 22
Singleton 5 & 10 Mile, Atlanta, GA, September 22
Great Prostate Cancer Challenge, Carmel, IN, September 22
Lady Speed Stick Women's Half-Marathon, Nashville, TN, September 22
Inaugural Brewers Mini-Marathon, Milwaukee, WI, September 22
Sports Authority Rock 'n' Roll Denver Marathon & 1/2, CO, Sept 22
20th St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration 5K, Boise, ID, Sept 22
Flagline 50K & Trail Festival, Bend, OR, September 22
USA 50K Trail Championships
Run for Heroes Marathon, Amherstburg, CAN, September 23
City of Pittsburgh Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh, PA, Sept 23
Challenge Aging 5K, St. Paul, MN, September 23
Omaha Marathon, Omaha, NE, September 23
Heels and Hills and Him Half-Marathon, Irving, TX, September 23
XTERRA Trail Running National Championship, Ogden, UT, Sept 23
Lake Tahoe Marathon Weekend, Lake Tahoe, CA, September 28-30
Inaugural Tower of Terror 10 Mile, Orlando, FL, September 29
10th Akron Marathon, Akron, OH, September 29
Catalina Island Conservancy Half-Marathon, Avalon, CA, September 29
Syracuse Festival of Races, Syracuse, NY, September 30
35th Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10K, PA, Sept 30







Kenyans Steal the Show at Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon

Stanley Biwott, Sharon Cherop from Kenya win 35th edition; American Idol singer Haley Reinhart impresses 20,000 fans at the finish line concert

From Competitor Group



PHILADELPHIA - (September 16, 2012) - Stanley Biwott and Sharon Cherop, the two favorites in the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon, lived up to their advance billing on Sunday, winning their respective divisions easily. The Kenyans, both wearing bib #1, pulled away in the latter half of the 13.1-mile race and ran uncontested toward the finish line.



Biwott, 26, winner of the Paris Marathon in a sparkling 2:05:12 earlier this year and who ran a 59:44 half-marathon in March, finished today's race in 1 hour, 3 seconds, the third fastest time ever run in the 35-year-history of the storied race. Cherop, 28, winner of this year's Boston Marathon and the marathon bronze medalist at the 2011 World Championships, took the women's event in 1:07:21, the 2nd fastest time on U.S. soil behind only Kim Smith's U.S. All Comers Record of 1:07:11, set at Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia in 2011.



Perhaps the reason neither Biwott nor Cherop came close to their career bests was the lack of opposition at the end. Paul Lonyongata, who trains with Biwott, was the men's runner-up in 1:00:43. He said he was hampered by a left hamstring injury. Dathan Ritzenhein, a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000 meters, finished third in 1:00:57, the fastest by an American this year.



Mare Dibaba, who competed for Ethiopia in the London Games and is her country's record-holder in the half-marathon at 1:07:13, finished runner-up at 1:07:44. Kenya's Jemima Jelegat Sumgong was third in 1:08:39.



Biwott and the 19-year-old Lonyongata pulled away from the men's field at four miles and ran stride for stride until mile eight. Then, Biwott surged and Lonyongata, running the half-marathon for only the second time, was left far behind. After that, Biwott was in control and ran the remaining distance like he was going through a training run.



"I was testing myself," Biwott said, who will run in the ING New York City Marathon in November. "I didn't have any problems. I think I have the speed to run well in New York. If someone had been with me, I might have been able to set a PR. It was a very nice course, very flat. And the weather was good."



"I was looking for my best time, but I didn't hit it," said Longonyata, making his U.S. debut and aiming to run close to 59 minutes or under. "I was feeling strong when Stanley passed me. But I also felt the injury."



Ritzenhein, running in Philadelphia for the first time since he was a high school senior in 2001, said he wasn't sure what to expect because he is preparing for the Oct. 7 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Ritzenhein found it difficult to keep up with the two leaders.

"They (the two Kenyans) broke away about 5K and I stayed in third place the rest of the way," Ritzenhein said. "I wanted to run a good, solid race, about a 4:35 or 4:40 pace. And that's what I did. Training for the marathon makes it so hard to respond to those fast miles, and I couldn't. The first mile was slow. Then they took off. I ran 4:25 for the second mile, they ran 4:21. They were running fast miles and I couldn't keep up."



Still, he was satisfied with his performance. "I'm very happy with today," the three-time Olympian said. "This gives me a lot of confidence and hopefully I can have a good run in Chicago. I want to be able to run 2:06 in Chicago." His marathon best is 2:09:55, at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January, when he finished fourth.



In the women's competition, the top three finishers ran even for about the first 9.5 miles. Then, Cherop and Dibaba pulled away from Sumgong. By mile 11, Cherop was ahead by nine seconds and nearly doubled her advantage by mile 12.



Cherop, who also is prepping for the New York City Marathon, had finished fourth at Philadelphia in 2007. She said she was much more confident this time. "I knew I was going to win at 10 miles," she said.



The field of about 20,000 runners ran along a historic course that went past City Hall, along Market Street, alongside the Schuylkill River and ended at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The race has attracted some of the sport's greatest runners in history and has produced five world records, three U.S. marks and numerous all-comers' records. The race was run under ideal conditions, with the temperature at 58 degrees and no wind.



American Idol star Haley Reinhart headlined the finish line concert, following the 13.1 mile block party with bands interspersed along every mile of the course. Reinhart took third place on Season 10 of the hit talent show, singing her way into fans' hearts with her smoky voice.



35th Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon
Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, September 16, 2012



MEN
1) Stanley Biwott, 26, Kenya, 1:00:03, $3500
2) Paul Lonyangata, 19, Kenya, 1:00:43, $2000
3) Dathan Ritzenhein, 29, Portland, OR, 1:00:57, $2000 (includes U.S. only prize money)
4) El Hassan El Abbassi, 28, Morocco, 1:01:15, $1000
5) Eric Chichir, 28, Kenya, 1:02:31, $750



WOMEN
1) Sharon Cherop, 28, Kenya, 1:07:21, $3500
2) Mare Dibaba, 22, Ethiopia, 1:07:44, $2000
3) Jemima Jelegat Sumgong, 27, Kenya, 1:08:39, $1500
4) Lineth Chepkirui, 24, Kenya, 1:11:16, $1,000
5) Kaori Yoshida, 31, Japan, 1:12:16, $750



Full results, photos and more at: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/philadelphia






True, Huddle Win USA 5K Titles at CVS Caremark Downtown

Men's champion True defends crown, edging Andrew Bumbalough at the tape in Providence

From USATF



INDIANAPOLIS - (September 16, 2012) - Molly Huddle (Providence R.I.) and Ben True (Hanover, N.H.) both picked up their second career titles at the USA 5K Championships hosted by the 23rd CVS Caremark Downtown 5K as Huddle crossed the line in 15 minutes, 30 seconds, while True clocked 13:52 this Sunday in Providence, R.I.



The men's race featured a large pack challenging for the win with as many as 15 men running within seconds of each other through two miles. As they neared the finish, True and Andrew Bumbalough (Portland, Ore.) matched stride-for-stride as True, 26, squeeked out the win by one-tenth of a second in 13:52. Bumbalough finished as the runner up, rounded to 13:53, and 2010 USA 5K champion Robert Cheseret (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took third in 13:54. True became the first back-to-back U.S. men's champion at the 5K distance since Odis Sanders did so in 1980 and 1981.



The women's race was dominated by hometown favorite and 2012 Olympian Huddle as she ran at the front of the race from the beginning and distanced herself by nearly four seconds over her closest competitor to win in 15:30. Throughout the race, Huddle, 28, ran in the lead pack with rising star Neely Spence (Lake Orion, Mich.) and Elizabeth Maloy (Washington, D.C.) who finished second (15:34) and third (15:37) respectively. This is the seventh U.S. road title for Huddle, also winning the USA 5K crown here in 2010.


Race video and post-race interviews will be available at www.USARunningCircuit.com in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com.



23rd CVS Caremark Downtown 5K: USA Men & Women's Championships
Providence, RI, Sunday, September 16, 2012



MEN
1) Ben True (NH), 13:52, $8000
2) Andrew Bumbalough (OR), 13:53, $5000
3) Robert Cheseret (CO), 13:54, $3000
4) Aaron Braun (AZ), 13:55, $1500
5) Craig Forys (MI), 13:56, $1000
6) Ben Bruce (AZ), 13:58, $900
Ben Bruce (Mt. Carmel HS, San Diego 2000; San Diego Mesa CC 2002; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 2005)
7) Jake Riley (MI), 13:59, $700
Jake Riley (Sehome HS, Bellingham, WA 2007; Stanford 2011)
8) Elliott Heath (MN), 14:04, $500
Elliott Heath (Winona HS, MN 2008; Stanford 2012)
9) Kenyon Neuman (CO), 14:09, $300
10) Christo Landry (MI), 14:13, $100



WOMEN
1) Molly Huddle (RI), 15:30, $8000
2) Neely Spence (MI), 15:34, $5000
3) Elizabeth Maloy (DC), 15:37, $3000
4) Gabriele Anderson (MN), 15:45, $1500
5) Tara Erdman (CA), 16:02, $1000
Tara Erdman 14Jun89 (Flowing Wells HS, Tucson 2007; Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles 2011)
6) Stephanie Rothstein (AZ), 16:06, $900
7) Laura Thweatt (CO), 16:12, $700
8) Mary Kate Champagne (RI), 16:13, $500
9) Kellyn Johnson (AZ), 16:13, $300
10) Katie Matthews (MA), 16:16, $100



For complete results, go to: www.cvsdowntown5k.com






Lagat, Simpson to Defend Titles at 32nd NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile

2012 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano and Olympic fourth-place finisher Matthew Centrowitz also highlight men's field; women's field features two-time race champion and U.S. Olympian Shannon Rowbury and World Championships 1500m silver medalist Hannah England of Great Britain; $30,000 prize purse



NEW YORK - (September 13, 2012) - International medalists Bernard Lagat and Jenny Simpson hope to cap their summer seasons on a high note when they line up to defend their crowns at the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile Presented by Nissan on Saturday, September 22. They will be just two of more than 15 Olympians who will contest the 32nd edition of America's most famous road Mile, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.



Lagat will face tough competition from U.S. Olympic teammate and silver medalist Leo Manzano, 28, of Marble Falls, TX, who became the first American male to earn an Olympic medal at 1500 meters since 1968. Prior to London, Manzano won the 1500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He will be joined by Olympic teammate Matthew Centrowitz, 23, of Portland, OR, who placed fourth in the London 1500 meters.

Lagat, 37, of Tucson, AZ, boasts an impressive history in this iconic road Mile, having finished fourth in 2009, second in 2008 and 2010, and first in 2011.



"It was great to win the Fifth Avenue Mile last year," said Lagat. "I'd been trying for a few years. I finally won, and now it's fun coming back as a defending champion. I know there will be some guys in good form who will look to deny me that shot at winning it again, but I'm in good shape - certainly I intend to defend my title."



At the 2012 Olympic Games, Lagat just missed the bronze medal in a riveting 5000 meters. He is the U.S. record holder at 1500, 3000 and 5000 meters indoors and outdoors, an eight-time Wanamaker Mile winner at the Millrose Games, and a four-time medalist at the World Championships, including a double victory at 1500 and 5000 meters in 2007. He was also a two-time Olympic medalist at 1500 meters while running for his native Kenya, earning the silver in 2004 and the bronze in 2000. Lagat has had a successful 2012, becoming the second man ever to win three world indoor titles in the men's 3000 meters.



Two-time U.S. Olympian and 2011 World Champion at 1500m Jenny Simpson, 26, is set to defend her title after competing in the London Olympics just last month. Simpson qualified for the Games by finishing third in the U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 meters. She is a four-time USA indoor champion at that distance and holds the American record for the 3000m steeplechase.



"I can't wait for another opportunity to race in New York City," said Simpson. "It's a unique experience racing alongside such a great community of runners. Defending my Fifth Avenue title would be the best way to finish my 2012 season."



Hannah England, 25, of Great Britain is the 2011 World Championships silver medalist at 1500 meters. Shannon Rowbury, 26, of San Francisco, CA is the 2009 World Championships 1500m bronze medalist and a two-time winner of the Fifth Avenue Mile.



"This is a crazy great Fifth Avenue Mile field," said Wittenberg. "Capping an Olympic year of highs and lows for many of the world's best milers, Fifth Ave provides the drama of the last curtain call. We are especially thrilled to welcome Olympians galore including our defending champions Bernard Lagat and Jenny Simpson, Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano, and fourth- place finisher Matthew Centrowitz. We are also honored to have two-time Fifth Avenue Mile champion Shannon Rowbury back in the race again."

Other top men and women's entrants in the field include:



Ryan Gregson, 22, of Australia, who competed in the 2012 Olympic Games and is the 2012 Cork City Sports Mile champion
Cam Levins, 23, of Canada, who won the 10,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and competed on Canada's Olympic team in London
Gabriele Anderson, 26, of Minneapolis, MN, who took fourth in the 1500 meters at the 2012 Olympic Trials and third in the 2011 USA Road Mile Championships
Sarah Bowman, 26, of Knoxville, TN, who placed sixth in the 1500 meters at the 2012 Olympic Trials


The Fifth Avenue Mile begins near East 80th Street and finishes at East 60th Street. The wheelchair and handcycle race will kick off the event at 8:45am. After that, entrants will run in divisions according to age and gender. The professional women's race is scheduled to start at 12:45pm, followed by the professional men's race at 1:00pm. A total prize purse of $30,000 for the men's and women's professional races will be offered, with the two race champions each receiving $5000.



Visit www.nyrr.org for more information.






GO! St. Louis Announces New $10,000 Half-Marathon Champion's Purse for 2013 Event

One of the largest half-marathon top prizes offered in the U.S.; overall event prize purse also expands to $47,000 for 13th edition


ST. LOUIS - (September 12, 2012) - GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, has announced a substantial increase in prize money for the popular half-marathon race presented by PNC Bank, which is part of the GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, set for April 6 & 7, 2013 in downtown St. Louis, MO. The men's and women's winner in the half-marathon will each receive a $10,000 prize, while second place receives $5000 each and third place $2000.



Total prize money for one of the Midwest's largest races was increased to $47,000, including a $1000 bonus for a new course record in the marathon race. The $10,000 half-marathon prize is one of the largest awards in the United States, only three other races (NYC Half Marathon, Garry Bjorklund Half and Aramco Houston Half) currently have awards that equal or exceed the value.



"I'm excited that in 2013 we have the opportunity to offer a new elite athlete program, including one of the top half-marathon prizes in the U.S.," said Nancy Lieberman, GO! St. Louis president. "For many years, competitors primarily from the Midwest region have supported our race in large numbers, but our Board of Directors wanted to increase the prize money in an effort to attract more athletes from around the world to our event, while highlighting the beautiful but challenging downtown St. Louis race course."



Registration for the 13th edition opened on September 4 with special $60 entry fee pricing for the first 1,500 registrants in the half or full marathon. For additional information, including details on the new elite athlete program and a complete listing of prize money visit GOstlouis.org.



The GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend was established in 2000, and now in its 13th year, attracts participants of all ages and fitness abilities. The innovative event features a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 5K, GO! St. Louis Read, Right and Run Marathon®, Children's Fun Runs and a Mature Mile, and traditionally draws 25,000 participants and 50,000 spectators over two days.







Contact Information


Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, ryan@runningusa.org, (805) 696-6232




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