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and supported by grants from The New York City Marathon and USA Track & Field |
| Wire 87, Sept. 15, 2002 | |
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In this Edition of the Running USA Wire
Copyright © 2002 Running Running USA All Rights Reserved Upcoming Events
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Keflezighi Wins USA 5K Men's
Crown at CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K PROVIDENCE - (September 15, 2002) - In a finish that was closer than the spelling of their last names, Kenyan James Koskei out-leaned countryman Shadrack Kosgei in a thrilling sprint to the finish at the 13th CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K in the Rhode Island capital. The finish was so close that the chip finish actually had the two reversed, but the judges at the finish line clearly saw Koskei break the tape ahead of Kosgei. They were both given the same time, 13:40. The race also served as the USA Men's 5K Championship. Meb Keflezighi from San Diego stayed in the hunt for the overall title with a very close view of the sprint finish. The Team USA California athlete finished third overall, 5 seconds back, and captured his 5th USA title this year. Dan Browne maintained membership in the lead pack through about 2.5 miles, before finishing 6th overall, second in the national championship with a time of 13:53. Clint Wells was the third American in 14:14 (9th overall). In the women's race, Morocco's Asmae Leghzaoui came to Providence intent on breaking Deena Drossin's 14:54 5K world mark. The 8K and 10K world road records were already in her 2002 scrapbook, but the 5K just barely slipped away today, even though her time of 15:06 was good enough for a new course record (15:10, Elana Meyer 1994), a $5000 sub 15:10 bonus and the 7th fastest 5K all-time. She stayed on pace through 4K, but didn't quite have enough to seal the deal over the last kilometer. When she realized she would fall short of the record she slowed to a jog and actually walked the last few steps to the finish. The race started under threatening skies and swirling winds with the majestic backdrop of the capitol building. The city of Providence has gone through a renaissance over the past 5-6 years, and it was never more evident than along the five kilometer tour of the city. The course twists and turns through historic and beautiful downtown, with new hotels, parks and newly renovated buildings blending well with the history and tradition of older Providence. The lead pack in the first mile was so large it was impossible to pick out a leader. All the favorites were in contention. The first mile passed in 4:20. In the second mile, a pack of 7 men - Koskei, Kosgei, Keflezighi, Francis Komu, Browne, Patrick Nthiwa and Eliya Sidame - broke from the larger pack and ran along the streets seemingly as one, elbows close, feet striking within inches. It was so tight and crowded in places the leaders had to avoid bumping into each other on the turns. "It was fun," said Browne afterwards. "This is what racing is all about. I knew I had to stay in contact because these guys don't come back. I knew I had to tough it out." "I took the lead a couple of times," said Meb. "I'm a front-runner. I don't like crowds, but I just couldn't break away." Nobody was breaking away from this pack but some separation started with about a half mile to go. First it was Sidame who lost contact, then Browne. It was down to five, but the uphill finish loomed ahead. That's when it got furious and serious. They made the final turn toward the finish line and the sprinting started. Koskei, Kosgei and Meb quickly jumped in front of Nthiwa and Komu. Meb soon fell a few meters back and it was Koskei and Kosgei shoulder-to-shoulder. But Koskei, who has won every road race that he has entered this year (except one, Rock 'n' Roll Half), including Falmouth, Beach to Beacon and Lilac Bloomsday and others, wasn't about to let this one be his second defeat. "I wanted to win so badly," said Koskei (James) later. "This was my last race before I go back home to Kenya. "I thought I could win," said Kosgei (Shadrack). "But my legs weren't moving well. They were too heavy, so I was struggling." They weren't sure who had won until moments after the race. The judges declared Koskei (with a K) the winner over Kosgei (with a G). "They got away from me on the hill" said Meb. "They worked together and I was all alone. I knew I couldn't catch them then. Maybe if there was another 400 meters of flat at the end, but who knows?" "My legs weren't fresh enough to go with them when they broke from me at 2.5," said Browne. "I put in 105 miles this week so I'm happy. I went for it and that's what you have to do to compete at this level." Legzhaoui stayed on her pre-determined pace for a record most of the race. She went out very fast, 2:50 at 1K and 4:34 for the mile, banking critical seconds due to the more difficult uphill finish. The second mile was a slower, 4:50, but still in good shape for the record. She passed 4K in 11:51, meaning she only needed about 3:00 on the last kilometer to get the record. But it wasn't meant to be. "This is the biggest disappointment of my life," said Leghzaoui afterwards, visibly upset over losing out on the record. "Extreme wind at 4K slowed me down, but I still thought I had a good chance when I was at the bottom of the hill. When I finally saw the clock, I knew I couldn't get the record." Former course record holder Elana Meyer from South Africa ran an excellent race, finishing second in 15:24. American Libbie Hickman held off Elva Dryer for third, 16:02 vs. 16:03. With his U.S. 5K title, it has been a banner year for Keflezighi as the 2000 Olympian captured his 5th national title this year; he previously won the 12K cross country, 15K roads, 10,000m track and 7 mile roads. "5 national titles in one year is a big honor to me," said Meb who is off to Madrid to run the 5000 meters at the World Cup next week. "I won 4 national titles at UCLA in 1997. I'm fortunate to have coaches like Bob Larsen and Joe Vigil at the Team USA California training camp. God gave me a talent and I'm thankful." In addition, the Downtown 5K is also part of the USA
Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series of USA Championships
from 5K to the marathon, and the top 10 U.S. runners scored points. As
USA Champion, Keflezighi earned 15 USARC points and vaulted into first
place in the USARC standings with 45 points, while the defending USARC
co-champion Browne and Kyle Baker (5th There are two Men's USARC races remaining (Twin Cities Marathon - Sept 29 and Food World Senior Bowl 10K - Nov 2). USARC points at the Twin Cities Marathon will be doubled. 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. CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K: USA Men's Championship MEN USA Championship WOMEN For complete results and more, go to the race website at: http://www.cvsdowntown5k.com 2002 USARC Standings 2002 USA Road Champions WOMEN
KOUROS, GEESLER, HEASLETT, PIVA SHINE IN USA 24-HOUR
CHAMPIONSHIP SYLVANIA, Ohio - (September 14-15, 2002) - John Geesler of St. Johnsville, New York made history today, becoming the first American man to win the USA 24-Hour Run Championship three times at the Olander Park 24-Hour in Sylvania, Ohio with 137.52 miles. Geesler outlasted a pair of brothers, Mark and Steve Godale, who took the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Ann Heaslett of Madison, Wisconsin took her second national crown of the year, following her 50 mile national trail title in July with the women's win here in her first attempt beyond 100 miles. Heaslett, compiling 128.55 miles, bested Sandy Powell, silver medalist, and 7-time defending national champion Sue Ellen Trapp. Conditions were difficult for the runners, as Saturday daytime temperatures in the mid-80s with oppressive humidity gave way to a night of sporadic showers and thunderstorms. Many of the pre-race favorites faltered in the physiologically taxing conditions. Oblivious to all the Americans (the starting field of 167 was the largest ever for a 24-hour race) was special guest Yiannis Kouros of Athens, Greece. Kouros, virtually unchallenged as the world's best all-day ultrarunner for almost 20 years, ran alone immediately from the start, never stopping, never walking, never faltering from a relentless, metronomic pace. He constantly pulled away from the field, amassing a final total of 172.37 miles, bettering his own U.S. all-comers record (set in this event three years ago) by nearly 5 miles. In the USA Masters Championship division, a noteworthy performance was turned in by Ray Piva, age 75, of South San Francisco, Calif. Piva set age-group world records of 23:01:56 for 100 miles and 105.02 miles for 24 hours. Olander Park 24 Hour: USA Men's, Women's and Masters Championship Sylvania, OH, September 14-15, 2002 MEN WOMEN USATF CLUB TEAM RESULTS MEN WOMEN USA MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS MEN 40-44 More coverage at: http://www.americanultra.org
Nearly 10,000 Athletes Join Top International Competitors
PHILADELPHIA - (September 15, 2002) - The Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run has been the scene of 19 of the top 20 times ever run in any American half-marathon. With one of the strongest fields ever (including American Khalid Khannouchi and four Kenyans training in suburban Philadelphia -Catherine Ndereba, John Kagwe, Ronald Mogaka and Gladys Asiba) and with a $50,000 incentive available to a winner setting a new world record, the 25th running of the JHPDR seemed likely to write a few more lines of history. But that was before the day dawned on a muggy Sunday that felt more like July than September 15. With temperature near 70 degrees and humidity near 100% at the 8AM start, fast times were mostly off the menu. The stories that emerged were a dramatic duel in the men's race, a remarkable performance and a promising debut on the women's side. A pack of eleven hung together through Center City Philadelphia before beginning to string out at Logan Circle. Khannouchi made a move for the lead at about 4 miles, but 2001 JHPDR champion Ronald Mogaka responded with a fast fifth mile of 4:27 and took a lead of more than 100 yards by mile 6. When a challenge came, it was from South African Abner Chipu, who caught an apparently tiring Mogaka just after the Falls Bridge turnaround at mile 8. By then the pursuit pack of Khannouchi, John Kagwe and Kenyan Stephen Kiogora were dots in the rear view mirror. The compact and muscular Chipu ran the course well
and appeared strong while lanky Mogaka continued to bypass water stations
and stray from the tangents. Yet the runners stayed within a couple of
seconds of one another through mile 12, and it was just beyond there that
a resurgent and angry Mogaka made a decisive move to shake Chipu from
his draft while climbing the slight hill alongside the Art Museum. Twice
Mogaka swerved dramatically right to left, close to a photographer's motorcycle,
finally leaving Chipu on the outside of Catherine Ndereba won the women's race in 1:09:20,
an astonishing time in the conditions and the fifth fastest performance
ever by a woman over the distance in the U.S. The marathon world record
holder (2:18:47), who trains in Valley Forge, PA, opened an early lead
and never looked back, winning her fifth consecutive JHPDR and sixth overall. The men's Masters division was highly competitive, with U.S. masters record-holder John Tuttle of Atlanta, GA (1:09:12) holding off local boy Fred Klevan (1:09:29) of Merion Station, PA. John Kelly of St. Davids, PA was third masters in 1:11:42. Gordon Bakoulis of New York was 2002 JHPDR women's masters champion, running 1:20:05, well ahead of Doreen McCoubrie of Haddonfield, NJ and Lee DiPietro of Ruxton, MD. Altogether, more than 8,500 runners registered for the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, with another 1,500 competing in the 5K Classic (also on Sunday) and the RunPhiladelphia Kids Run on Saturday. Male and female 5K winners were Rachid Tbahi of New York in 15:54 and Rosa Apaza of Allentown, PA in 17:09. 25th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance
Run MEN WOMEN MASTERS MEN (40+) 1. Gordon Bakoulis, 41, NY 1:20:05 2. Doreen McCoubrie, 40, NJ 1:21:58 3. Lee DiPietro, 44, MD 1:24:14 Complete race results available are online at www.philadistancerun.org, or by request via email or fax. Contact chris@reynoldsink.com or call (610) 547-9800. |
| 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 |