Running USA advances the growth and success of the running industry in America.
Partners: The Active Network, Ashworth Awards, Leslie Jordan, Inc. and
MarathonFoto help make this wire possible.
In this edition:
Kogo, Kiros Capture 14th TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Crowns
Megersa, Smith Win Rock 'n' Roll Providence ½ Marathon
Seven Titles to Be Defended at New Balance Falmouth Road Race
30th St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run Draws 2,000 Participants
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join Running USA today and have your event listed here, as well as on www.RunningUSA.org
New Balance Falmouth Mile, Falmouth, MA, August 13
Grand Finale 5K, Atlanta, GA, August 13
Panerathon 5K & 10K, Colorado Springs, CO, August 13
New Balance Falmouth Road Race, Falmouth, MA, August 14
XSport Fitness Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon, IL, Aug 14
The Hottest Half & 10K, Dallas, TX, August 14
Ragnar Relay Great River, La Crosse, WI, August 19
Runstock 5K, Quantico, VA, August 20
Madison Mini-Marathon & 5K, Madison, WI, August 20
Pikes Peak Ascent, Manitou Springs, CO, August 20
13.1 Marathon: Minneapolis, MN, August 21
Divas Half Marathon, Vail, CO, August 21
Pikes Peak Marathon, Manitou Springs, CO, August 21
Race for Research 5K, Denver, CO, August 21
America's Finest City Half-Marathon, San Diego, CA, Aug 21
Big Wild Life Runs, Anchorage, AK, August 21
Kogo, Kiros Capture TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Crowns
In Maine division, Piers reclaims women's title and Luchini takes charge in men's race on a warm, humid morning in Cape Elizabeth; 14th edition draws record race field of 5,878 finishers
From Jason Wolfe
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - (August 6, 2011) - Kenyan Micah Kogo used his Olympic track speed to wear down a talented men's field, while Aheza Kiros of Ethiopia cruised to victory on the women's side in the 14th TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race on Saturday in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
In the Maine resident races, Sheri Piers of Falmouth pushed through the heat and humidity to reclaim the women's title, while Louie Luchini of Ellsworth, a decorated collegian turned State Representative, put a stamp on his legacy in the men's race.
The winners were among the event record-setting 5,878 finishers from 12 countries, 43 states and more than 200 Maine cities and town who finished the winding, picturesque 6.2-mile course on a sunny, warm and humid morning on the Maine coast. Thousands of spectators lined the course and filled bleachers at the finish to cheer the runners.
Kogo, 21, who won bronze at 10,000m in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, pushed the pace at the outset in record-setting fashion, pulled away at mile 4 and then hung on in 27 minutes, 47 seconds as the heat took a toll, preserving the course record of 27:28. Lucas Rotich (27:56) of Kenya took second and countryman Ed Muge (28:00), the 2008-09 TD Bank Beach to Beacon champion, finished strongly for third. Patrick Smyth, 25, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. was the first American at 29:29, good enough for ninth place.
On the women's side, 25-year-old Kiros, a race favorite, did not disappoint and became the first Ethiopian woman to win the women's title in 32:09. Jelliah Tinega, 25, of Kenya, was runner-up and Buzunesh Deba, 23, of Ethiopia, third after they finished with identical times of 32:36. The first American female finisher was Sara Slattery, 29, of Boulder, Colo., who took sixth (33:37).
U.S. marathon record holder and Olympic medalist Deena Kastor, 38, did not race after becoming ill on Friday in Maine. She is returning to competitive racing after having a baby in February and had targeted the race as a test of her conditioning. She also was looking forward to competing for the first time in the race founded by her idol Joan Benoit Samuelson. Catherine Ndereba, 39, a two-time Olympic silver medalist from Kenya and five-time TD Bank Beach to Beacon champ, finished 11th (34:30).
"Micah and Lucas went out fast and teased us with a course record pace, but the conditions caught up with them," said Elite Athlete Coordinator Larry Barthlow. "On a different day, that record falls, but they still put on a good show. And Aheza just dominated, which was nice to see for her."
The humid conditions also put a damper on the highly-anticipated women's side of the Maine resident races. The race was viewed as a tossup between friends and training partners Kristin Barry, 37, of Scarborough, the defending champ; Piers, 40, of Falmouth, the 2009 champ and course state record holder; and Erica Jesseman, 22, of Scarborough, the young rising star. But the epic battle turned into an epic struggle. Barry (38:32) needed to stop along the course for three minutes before continuing and Jesseman (35:38) collapsed and passed out after crossing the finish line in second, 26 seconds behind Piers, whose winning time (35:12) was almost a full minute behind her 2009 course record of 34:17. Barry, a two-time champ and former course record holder, finished fifth, behind Kristine Guaraldo, 35, of South Portland (38:04) and Mary Pardi, 41, of Falmouth (38:31).
The men's Maine race was Luchini's opportunity to put a stamp on his legacy like so many other top Maine runners have done over the years with a win at the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K. Maine's most decorated collegiate athlete ever, the 30-year-old Ellsworth native was an 11-time All-American at Stanford who now serves as a Maine state representative. He controlled the race from the start, staying comfortably in front of Jonny Wilson, 23, of Falmouth, the hottest racer on the Maine road race circuit this year. Luchini (30:36) won by six seconds with Wilson (30:42) in second with 27-year-old Joshua Trevino (31:34) of Orono in third.
Other winners included: Masters men - James Koskei, 42, of Kenya (30:28) - his third straight title; Masters women - Nuta Olaru, 40, of Romania (34:07) - Piers finished second.
Also, in the Corporate Challenge, pitting teams of athletes from a number of New England corporations and businesses, Unum again won first place in the mixed team division, the Freeport School Department won the men's division, Maine Health the women's division, and Fairchild Semiconductor for the first time 10K division.
"It was another spectacular TD Bank Beach to Beacon with a race record 5,878 finishers," said Race President David Weatherbie, 43, who ran 37:00 to finish 150th overall and also served as Official Race Starter with his mom Sue Weatherbie. "It was certainly warm and humid, which in general slowed the times down compared to last year. However, the race volunteers and spectators were incredibly supportive. A huge and enthusiastic crowd lined the course and cheered on the runners which really helped them tremendously. It's a ton of work to put on this event and I am very proud and grateful of our sponsors, organizing committee, volunteers, DMSE and the Town of Cape Elizabeth and its residents."
The TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K is one of the most popular road races in the country, combining small town charm with big city crowds and top world class athletes, year in and year out. Founded by TD Bank and Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, a Cape Elizabeth native, the race benefits a different charity each year.
The beneficiary of this year's race is Day One a non-profit agency providing substance abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare programs for Maine youth. TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, provided a cash donation of $30,000 to the organization, which also benefited from fundraising activities and publicity through its association with the race. TD Bank has now donated a total of $420,000 to Maine charities over the history of the race.
Benoit Samuelson, a running legend who remains a role model for women athletes worldwide, spent most of Saturday's event at the finish line cheering, greeting and shaking hands of world class and recreational runners alike.
"I continue to see this race change lives, and to see the faces of these runners as they close the finish line is truly inspiring to me," Benoit Samuelson said. "Every one of these runners is a champion to me."
Larry Wold, president of TD Bank in Maine, completed the race for the 14th time on Saturday, this time in 41:01, which placed him in the top 6 percent of all runners.
"We at TD Bank feel tremendously fortunate to be a part of this world class event, one of the best road races in the country," he said. "The dedication and commitment to this race from everyone involved is just incredible. It was another special day."
14th TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K
Cape Elizabeth, ME, Saturday, August 6, 2011
MEN
1) Micah Kogo (KEN), 27:47, $10,000
2) Lucas Rotich (KEN), 27:56, $5000
3) Ed Muge (KEN), 28:00, $3000
4) Hosea Mwok-Macharinyang (KEN), 28:01, $2000
5) Alan Kiprono (KEN), 28:13, $1000
6) Lani Rutto (KEN), 28:35, $900
7) Evans Cheruiyot (KEN), 28:35, $800
8) Shawn Forrest (AUS), 28:39, $700
9) Patrick Smyth (USA / CA), 29:29, $600
10) Gilbert Okari (KEN), 29:32, $500
MEN 40+
1) James Koskei, 42, KEN, 30:28, $1000
2) Takaoka Toshinari, 42, JPN, 33:33, $500
3) Michael Payson, 48, USA / ME, 33:35, $250
TOP MAINE
16) Louie Luchini (ME), 30:36, $1000
18) Jonny Wilson (ME), 30:42, $500
22) Joshua Trevino (ME), 31:34, $250
WOMEN
1) Aheza Kiros (ETH), 32:09, $10,000
2) Jelliah Tinega (KEN), 32:36, $5000
3) Buzunesh Deba (ETH), 32:36, $3000
4) Diane Nukuri-Johnson (BDI), 32:44, $2000
5) Benita Willis (AUS), 33:16, $1000
6) Sara Slattery (USA / CO), 33:37, $900
7) Adriana Nelson (USA / CO), 33:44, $800
8) Melissa White (USA / MI), 33:46, $700
9) Yosiko Fujinaga (JPN), 33:49, $600
10) Nuta Olaru, 40, ROU, 34:07, $1500
WOMEN 40+
1) Olaru, see above
2) Sheri Piers, 40, USA / ME, 35:12, $500
3) Mary Pardi, 41, USA / ME, 38:31, $250
TOP MAINE
13) Piers, see above, $1000
16) Erica Jesseman (ME), 35:38, $500
23) Kristine Guaraldo (ME), 38:04, $250
Deeper results and more at: www.beach2beacon.org
Megersa, Smith Win Rock 'n' Roll Providence ½ Marathon
Inaugural event honored former Gov. Bruce Sundlun; Curt Schilling, Amazing Race and Biggest Loser contestants and more than 5,700 finishers enjoy race; Sugar Ray post-race concert
By Amana Miyamae, Competitor Group
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - (August 7, 2011) - The rain kept falling, but the party kept going as the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Providence ½ Marathon kicked off Sunday morning with more than 7,000 entrants. Despite a constant downpour throughout the day, an enthusiastic crowd of runners stayed long after the finish, dancing and celebrating to the familiar sounds of Sugar Ray with the majestic State House in the background.
Providence College grad Kim Smith ran on familiar streets, winning the women's race easily in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 54 seconds, the fastest half-marathon by a woman in Rhode Island ever.
Running with the lead men's pack for the first several miles, she eventually dropped back and continued on her own with no competition in sight. A two-time New Zealand Olympian, Smith, 29, holds the U.S. All-Comers record for the 13.1-mile distance of 1:07:36 at the Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in February. Smith admitted that she is still trying to mentally overcome a disappointing finish at Boston, but said today was a good start as she looks toward the ING New York City Marathon this fall.
"This was not an easy course, but surprisingly flat for Providence, so it was a good workout for sure," she said. "It's great to run at home in Providence because I haven't competed here in about ten years and I enjoy running Rock 'n' Roll races. This was my first real training run for New York. The conditions weren't ideal because of the rain, but I had fun."
Tezata Dengersa, 31, of Turkey came in behind Smith at 1:18:56, followed by Jessica Snyder of Rochester, New York in 1:20:46.
In the men's race, a pack of five stayed together until mile 7 when Ethiopians Kumsa Adugna Megersa and Tesfaye Assefa Dube pulled ahead together. Best friends and roommates in Bronx, New York, the two train with the Westside YMCA. Megersa, 25, would take the win at 1:07:32, with Dube trailing by 18 seconds at 1:07:50.
Third place in the men's race went to Providence local Patrick Moulton, who works at a local running store and decided to run the day before on a whim.
"I had never run a Rock 'n' Roll so I thought I might as well," he said. Moulton, who ran 1:09:01, attended Providence College with Kim Smith and led the men's pack for several miles before finding himself jockeying with 4th place finisher Chris Zablocki behind Megersa and Dube. "I was just trying to run my own race. It was awesome to do so well at home."
Moulton qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last year in 2:15:35 and is looking toward the upcoming ING Hartford Marathon, which he has won twice.
The inaugural race honored former Governor Bruce Sundlun, who recently passed away and was integral in bringing the event to town. The winners of both the men's and women's races received the Governor Bruce Sundlun Memorial Trophy, a tradition that will continue. Runners also honored him with a moment of silence at the start line.
His son, Tracy Sundlun, a senior vice president at Competitor Group and one of the founders of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, said his father would have been proud.
"He wasn't here in person, but no question he was here in spirit, though given all the rain, I wonder if I didn't get him a good enough Christmas present," he joked. "He would have been thrilled to see thousands of people running through downtown Providence and so many from out of town visiting and supporting such a great city that he loved dearly."
Also among the competitors were Providence police detectives Mike Naylor and Louie Stravato, who traveled 40,000 miles around the globe on the CBS show "The Amazing Race." They trained with Olympian and two-time Boston Marathon champion Geoff Smith and the duo finished in 2:14:00 and 2:46:41, respectively.
Former Boston Red Sox star pitcher Curt Schilling was on the sidelines, watching as his wife Shonda finished in 2:21:52. Other television personalities at the start line included "Biggest Loser" contestants and country star Dan Evans and his mother Jackie. Dan finished in 3:19:12, with Jackie following in 3:44:45.
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Providence ½ Marathon
Providence, RI, Sunday, August 7, 2011
MEN
1) Kumsa Adugna Megersa (ETH), 1:07:32
2) Tesfaye Assefa Dube (ETH), 1:07:50
3) Patrick Moulton (USA / RI), 1:09:01
WOMEN
1) Kim Smith (NZL), 1:11:54
2) Tezata Dengersa (TUR), 1:18:56
3) Jessica Snyder (USA / NY), 1:20:46
Complete results, photos and more at: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/providence
Seven Titles to Be Defended at New Balance Falmouth Road Race
39th edition features $116,400 prize purse at Cape Cod summer tradition
FALMOUTH, Mass. - (August 5, 2011) - Winners in seven divisions will be defending their titles in the upcoming 39th New Balance Falmouth Road Race - overall women, Masters men and women, U.S. men and women as well as wheelchair men and women. In addition, the men's course record holder will be returning. This annual Cape Cod summer classic will held at 10:00am Sunday, Aug. 14. A field of 11,000 runners will race the scenic waterfront seven-mile course winding from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights.
Last year, Ethiopian Wude Ayalew, age 23, won the women's Open division in 35 minutes, 46 seconds, just four seconds ahead of 2010 Beach to Beacon champion Linenth Chepkirui of Kenya. In 2011, Ayalew bested Chepkirui at the Crescent City Classic 10K 31:33 to 31:44. Chasing Ayalew will be fellow Ethiopians, 2009 Falmouth winner, Mamitu Daska, 27, who finished first at 2011 Freihofer's Run for Women 5K in a personal best of 15:19 and Dire Tune, 2008 Boston Marathon winner with a 10K best of 31:40. Four-time Falmouth champion and two-time Olympic Marathon silver medalist, Catherine Ndereba, 38, of Kenya will return after finishing fourth in 2010.
Two-time Falmouth winner Colleen De Reuck, 47, of Boulder, Colo., who finished fifth overall in 2010, will defend her U.S. and Masters titles. Other American women to watch are Kenyan-born Janet Cherobon, 32, of Atlanta, Ga., who holds a 10K personal best of 32:37 and wins including 2011 Mercedes Half Marathon, 2011 Cellcom Green Bay Marathon and 2010 Marine Corps Marathon; Romanian-born Adriana Nelson, 31, of Fort Collins, Colo., the first American at last month's Peachtree Road Race 10K in a PR of 32:49 and Frances Koons, 25, who has a personal 5000 meter best of 15:29.96. Six-time Falmouth winner and 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist, Joan Benoit Samuelson, 53, of Freeport, Maine, who was fourth Master and 16th woman overall last year, will again be a crowd favorite.
Thirty-one-year-old Gilbert Okari of Kenya who set the race course record of 31:08 in 2004 and defending U.S. men's champion Ed Moran, 30, of Williamsburg, Va., will be competing against a packed men's field. Challengers include Americans Abdi Abdirahman, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., three-time Olympian, four-time USA 10K champion with a 27:22.81 10,000 meter best; Mo Trafeh, 26, of Tampa, Fla. with a half-marathon best of 1:00:39; Fasil Bizuneh, 31, of Indianapolis, Ind., the 2010 USA 10 Mile champion with a 27:50.48 10,000 meter best as well as Fernando Cabada, 29, of Boulder, Colo., the 2011 USA 25K champion in 1:15:41. Others include Kenyans Micah Kogo, 25, Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters, 2007 Falmouth winner and a 10K best of 27:15; Canadian Simon Bairu, 28, with 27:23 10,000 meter best and Ethiopian Bekana Daba, 2011 Chevron Houston Marathon winner and course record holder (2:07:04).
Last year, one second separated the 2010 Masters men's winner forty-five-year-old Mbarak Hussein from Albuquerque, N.M., (34:38) and Kenyan James Koskei (34:39), age 42. They both will be back this year. American running legends Bill Rodgers, 63, of Sherborn, Mass. and two-time Olympic medalist Frank Shorter, also 63, of Boulder, Colo. will be joining the field.
Defending and eight-time champion, Craig Blanchette, 43, of Battle Group, Wash., leads the men's wheelchair field, while defending and four-time women's winner, Jessica Galli, 27, from Savoy, Ill. leads the women's wheelchair field.
Prize money totaling $116,400 will be paid to the top international and U.S. finishers, an increase of $14,900 over 2010. The American prize purse is the largest outside a national championship and non-marathon with the male and female prize totals of $22,350 each. This total will equal the Open male and female prize purse with double-dipping allowed. In addition, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race male and female wheelchair prize purse has been increased to $4250 each from $2500.
The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, professional athletes and recreational runners out to enjoy the scenic 7-mile seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is dedicated to promoting health and fitness for all in its community. Proceeds from the race each year support youth athletic programs in the town of Falmouth and other nonprofit community groups. Visit www.falmouthroadrace.com for more information.
30th St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run Draws 2,000 Participants
Event celebrates record $22 million raised for St. Jude to-date
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - (August 3, 2011) - Nearly 200 runners raced out of the gates of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® for the 30th St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run. One event has grown from less than 20 people to an estimated 2,000 participants in 27 cities, all finishing in Peoria, Ill. Since its inception, the event and the satellite runs have raised $22 million for St. Jude, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.
The Peoria community was first introduced to St. Jude when the hospital opened an affiliate in 1972. Ten years later, Mike McCoy, started the race as way to rally the community around one cause: to raise funds in support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. McCoy was joined by 18 other St. Jude supporters for the first race raising $22,500 for the hospital.
"It feels great knowing this event has grown from raising more than $20,000 in the first year with an expectation of raising more than $2 million this year in conjunction with the various satellite runs around the country," said McCoy, who has participated each year since the race's inception. "The first year, some people laughed when we stated one day this event would raise $1 million. You know what? They aren't laughing anymore."
Over its 30 year history, the St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run has grown to include affiliate runs in cities including St. Louis and Chicago. People in communities along the route have embraced the runners, who run in six mile relays over the course of the race. In Assumption, Ill., residents welcome the runners by stocking a barn full of snacks and water. A special area of the run is Freddie's Hill, a section of Interstate 150 in Goodfield, Ill. named after St. Jude patient Bridgette "Freddie" Klein who passed away from rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue tumor found in children, in 1987. Each year, her parents meet runners along this highway to cheer them on.
On Saturday, August 6, all runners will end the race in Peoria. A crowd of 5,000 runners, supporters, St. Jude patients and their families, and spectators will gather for this event, including Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and dozens who have made this run for decades.
"The Memphis to Peoria Run is a great example of how one person's determination and vision can make an indelible mark on the lives of our children at St. Jude," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "We are grateful for the immense support from all runners and volunteers and, especially, the city of Peoria which has embraced this event and our lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children."
Follow the Memphis to Peoria runners as they chronicle the four-day run with online photo and video highlights. Be sure to "like" St. Jude on Facebook for daily updates. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.
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