Click here for Archives
Team
USA California is Sponsored by Nike
and supported by grants from The New York City Marathon and USA Track & Field
and supported by grants from The New York City Marathon and USA Track & Field
| Running USA Wire |
| Recent
Wires Click here for Archives |
Team
USA California is Sponsored by Nike
and supported by grants from The New York City Marathon and USA Track & Field |
| Wire 83, Sept. 2, 2002 | |
In this Edition of the Running USA Wire
Copyright © 2002 Running Running USA All Rights Reserved Upcoming Events
|
|
Browne Repeats, De Reuck Wins
USA Title at 25th New Haven Road Race NEW HAVEN, Conn. - (September 2, 2002) - For two dozen years, heat and humidity have been the constants at this ever-growing end of summer event. This year, as the race hit the quarter century mark, the heat was absent but the humidity, in the form of a steady drizzle that increased to a driving rain, pegged the 100 per cent mark all morning. Dan Browne of Portland, Ore, and Kyle Baker of Mason, Mich. used the cool conditions to keep the pace hot as the two scorched the wet roads of the Elm City over the second half of the course to leave a field of the best distance runners in America far in their wake. Browne, the defending champion, had all he could handle in Baker, who has been riding a hot streak on the roads since July, and barely edged the Michigan State assistant coach in the final meters. The official margin of victory was a single second, but it seemed even closer, as it had for most of the race. Browne's time of 59:21 was just eight seconds off the U.S. record of 59:13 set by Paul Cummings way back in 1987 during the New Bedford Half-Marathon. With their fast performances, Browne - the 2001 USARC Grand Prix co-champon - became the 5th fastest American all-time and Baker 6th. "That was the hardest race I've ever run," said Browne, aware of how hard Baker had pushed him. The two traded the lead no less than seven times in the final two miles, and each time it seemed one had delivered the knockout blow, the other responded with a counterpunch worthy of the "Rocky" films. "You really needed TV for this one," said Browne, aware of the drama in which he had just participated. "If people saw this they'd know running can be as exciting as any other sport." In its second year as a U.S.-only prize money event, New Haven drew one of the deepest fields in its history, as virtually every American man of note toed the line on the New Haven Green for the start. A pack of some two dozen, including 2001 USA Marathon champ Scott Larson, David Morris, Peter DeLaCerda, Keith Dowling, 2000 USA 20K champ Todd Reeser and Clint Verran, all gearing up for fall marathons, followed early pacesetter Jeff Campbell through a series of sub-five minute miles. Then, just past five, Baker upped the ante by throwing in a 4:32 split that immediately shredded the pack, which strung out single file as the course turned into a brisk wind alongside Long Island Sound. Only Browne and Morris covered the move, and the latter quickly decided the pace was too brisk for his liking. Browne, just finishing a 120-mile week in preparation for the Twin Cities Marathon (his debut), nonetheless had enough in his legs to stay with Baker. "The move might have been a bit early, but I knew it was my only chance of beating Dan," said Baker, who was the top American finisher at the Crim 10 Miler last week. With Browne comfortably tucked in behind the taller man, letting him break the wind, it seemed as though a repeat of last year, when Browne pulled away from Morris in the final miles after responding to a late race surge, was in the offing. But Baker, who ran a 3:57 road mile earlier this year, was better equipped to handle Browne's speed, setting up the finishing duel which Browne won with the last move less than 50 meters from the finish line. Colleen De Reuck of Boulder, Colo. had a much easier time, catching defending champ Milena Glusac by the second mile and opening a lead that grew to more than a minute by halfway. De Reuck, who set a world and course record of 65:11 here in 1998, went unchallenged to the tape in 1:07:53 (#5 American all-time). Glusac, chilled right from the start, cramped in the closing miles and was passed by Libbie Hickman, running her longest and best race since giving birth to her daughter 10 months ago. "I just laid back at the start and passed people over the second half," said Hickman, who like De Reuck is foregoing an autumn marathon. "I love running in the rain, so today was great for me. I felt like I had a little too much left at the end, but that's better than the opposite, for sure." By the time the first women were finishing the rain had begun to intensify, and the masses of runners behind them really got soaked. There were plenty of them to get wet, as a record 4,800 showed up for the 25th running of the 20K and its accompanying 5K. As a USA Championship, the New Haven 20K is also part of the USA Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series and thus, value USARC points also were at stake for the top 10 U.S. finishers. The 2002 USARC, the eighth edition for the men and seventh for the women, offers over $340,000 in championship prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse. With her win (worth 15 USARC points), De Reuck increased her lead (49 points) in the Women's USARC, while 1999-2000 USARC Grand Prix champion Libbie Hickman (29 points) moved into second place in the standings as national runner-up. The Men's USARC Grand Prix tightened up as Jim Jurcevich - with his New Haven third place performance - vaulted from third to first place (32 points), but he holds a tenuous lead over Abdi Abdirahman (31 points) and Meb Keflezighi (30) and also, Baker (29), Browne (27), Peter DeLaCerda (25) and Morris (21) who positioned themselves into the Grand Prix mix after New Haven. The next Men's USARC race is CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K in Providence, Rhode Island on September 15. USARC points will be doubled at the USA Marathon Championships hosted by the Twin Cities Marathon on September 29. 25th New Haven 20K: USA Men and Women's Championship MEN WOMEN MASTERS MEN (40+) MASTERS WOMEN (40+) For more race results and race information, go to: 2002 USARC Standings MEN after six races WOMEN after five races 2002 USA Road Champions WOMEN Remaining USARC Races: CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K (Men), Providence, RI, Sept
15 $15,000
Mogaka, Wanjiku Walkaway with
25th Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile Titles PARK FOREST, Ill. - (September 2, 2002) - While the spectators at the 25th Park Forest Scenic 10 miler eagerly welcomed back last year's men's and women's winners, others in the very competitive field had their sights set on something other than commemorative repeats. It was apparent early on that there would be two new champions crowned in this Chicago suburb. Ronald Mogaka, a Kenyan based in Royersford, Penn., broke clear at 4 1/2 miles and breezed to a minute-plus win in 47 minutes, 6 seconds, not far off the record of 46:51, considering he ran alone in hot and humid conditions. Last year's top finisher, Patrick Nthiwa, tried to cover Mogaka's first-half downhill surges, but could only hold and secure second place. Third went to Nthiwa's Westchester, Penn. training mate, David Njuguna. Kenyans occupied the first 10 money places. The 4 1/2-mile mark proved to be the charm as Kenyan Teresa Wanjiku picked that same spot to make her move. No woman in the pack of five went with Wanjiku and she too went on to win by about a minute in a time of 55:02. Agnes Ngunjiri followed in 55:52 and last year's champion - Naomi Wangui - finished third with a 56:19 clocking. Both winners ran unchallenged by a human over the second half of the course, but both said they struggled with temperatures in the low 80s at the finish and the muggy conditions that preceded heavy rains forcing the awards presentation indoors. "The humidity was somewhat difficult at the end," said the 24-year-old Mogaka. "I was trying to break the course record, but it was difficult to do running alone." Mogaka controlled the race tempo early and was on course for a record. In the second half, he made several look backs for pace help, but found no takers. Nthiwa said Mogaka was "very strong on the downhills." While the course is relatively flat, there are a few rolls by Chicago standards. Wanjiku's win may have been a prelude for a big house party back in Royersford, Penn. Wanjiku said she is set to run the New York City marathon after having many great daily training sessions with roommate and marathon world record holder Catherine Ndereba. While Wanjiku is gearing for New York, she hinted that she might be at the October 13th LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon where Ndereba will be defending her world record. "We are praying for (Ndereba) to keep the record in our house," said Wanjiku. John Mirth, 40, Platteville, Wisc. and Janet Robertz, 42, Shorewood, Minn. won the masters titles in 51:34 and 58:29 respectively. 25th Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile MEN WOMEN MASTERS MEN (40+) MASTERS WOMEN (40+) For race results and more, visit the race website at: http://www.villageofparkforest.com
World Class Runners to Compete
for Women's Title at CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island - (August 30, 2002) - The 2002 CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K will feature the most competitive field of women runners in the 5K's history. Uta Pippig, a three-time winner of the Boston Marathon, a German Olympian and last year's champion of the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K, will return to Providence to defend her title on September 15, 2002. South Africa's former world record holder, Elana Meyer is also competing this year. In 1994, Meyer set a world record in Providence when she won the Downtown 5K in 15:10. Another past champion Jane Ngotho of Kenya, the 1999 champion, also returns this year. A pre-race favorite for the 2002 CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K is Moroccan-born Asmae Leghzaoui, who has broken two world road records so far this year in the U.S., and has stated that her next record will be at the Downtown 5K. Leghzaoui set the 10K world record (30:29) in New York City this June and then broke the 8K world record (24:28) in Kingsport, Tenn. a few weeks later. Other runners in this year's elite women's field that are capable of winning this year's race are 2001 Russian 5K champion Tatiana Khmeleva and Team USA California's Elva Dryer who has a best 5K time of fifteen minutes and three seconds - only nine seconds off from the current world record. "This year's women's field is definitely the best we have ever put together," said Jack Kramer, Senior Vice President of CVS/pharmacy and Chairman of the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K. "The quality of this field makes us optimistic that a 5K world record will be broken this year in Providence." This year, American Deena Drossin set the current women's 5K world road record of 14:54 at the Carlsbad 5000 on April 7. The CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K will be held on Sunday, September 15. Youth races will start at 9:00AM and the 5K race will start at 11:15AM. To register online go to www.cvsdowntown5k.com or stop by any CVS/pharmacy in Rhode Island to pick up an entry form. Registration and T-shirt pickup will be available Saturday, September 14th at Station Park next to Statehouse lawns between 10:00AM and 4:00PM. Registration will also be available Sunday morning at Station Park from 8:15AM to 10:45AM. |
| Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services USATF Road Running Information Center 5522 Camino Cerralvo Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 |