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Gebremariam, Kiplagat Win World Cross Country Titles in Jordan
Team USA three top five team finishes; Senior titles for Kenya
From Jim Estes, USATF, and IAAF reports

AMMAN, Jordan - (March 28, 2009) - The Team USA Junior men's, Junior women's and Senior women's cross country squads each finished fifth in the respective team standings on Saturday at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships held at the Al Bisharat Golf Course. The Team USA Senior men's team finished eighth as a team.

In the Junior women's 6K, Team USA was led by USA Junior Cross Country champion Neely Spence (Shippensburg, Pa.) who finished 19th in 21 minutes, 33 seconds. Ashley Brasovan (Wellington, Fla.) ran a strong race to finish 26th in 21:55, while Alex Dunne (San Clemente, Calif.) and Emily Pritt (North Canton, Ohio) rounded out the scoring positions, finishing 34th and 43rd in 22:15 and 22:31 respectively.

Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia defended her individual title in 20:14 to lead Ethiopia to the Junior team title.

Two-time USA Junior Cross Country champion German Fernandez (Stillwater, Okla.) led Team USA with an 11th place finish in the Junior men's 8K, running 24:13. Chris Derrick (Napierville, Ill.) finished seven seconds behind Fernandez to take 15th place as Luke Puskedra (Ogden, Utah) and Patrick DuPont (Fairport, N.Y.) wrapped up the team score, running 24:43 and 25:52, finishing 30th and 48th respectively.

Ayele Abshero ran 23:26 to capture the second individual title of the day for Ethiopia as Kenya took their first of three team titles.

Julie Culley (Arlington, Va.) led the Senior women of Team USA in the 8K, running 28:08 to take 21st place. Delilah DiCrescenzo (New York, N.Y.) ran 28:34 to finish 33rd, followed by Rebecca Donaghue (State College. Pa.) and Kathy Newberry (Williamsburg, Va.) running 28:37 and 28:50 respectively to finish 36th and 40th.

Florence Jebet Kiplagat took the overall win in 26:13 over teammate Linet Masai to lead Kenya to the team title (1-2-4-7 to score a low 14 points). Kiplagat was the first Kenyan Senior women's winner since Helen Chepngeno in 1994, and Kenya's team gold was its first since 2001 and broke a string of seven straight by Ethiopia.

In the final race of the day, Ryan Vail (Gresham, Ore.) was the top Team USA man in the Senior 12K with a 33rd place finish, running 36:54, while Bobby Curtis (Ardmore, Pa.) finished six seconds back to take 37th as Max King (Bend, Ore.) followed in 37:05 for 40th. Edwardo Torres (Boulder, Colo.) rounded out the Team USA score, finishing 58th in 37:38.

The final 600 meters of the men's race saw six in contention for the gold medal with Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia pulling ahead in the final exciting stretch for a two second win over Uganda's Moses Kipsoro, 35:02 to 35:04. Kenya claimed the final team title of the day, edging Ethiopia in a tie-breaker. With both Kenya and Ethiopia scoring 28 points, the outcome was decided on the fourth and last scorer: Moses Mosop (11th) vs. Feyisa Lilesa (12th).

37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Amman, JOR, Saturday, March 28, 2009

MEN - 12K
1) Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (ETH), 35:02, $30,000
2) Moses Kipsiro (UGA), 35:04, $15,000
3) Zersenay Tadese (ERI), 35:04, $10,000
4) Leonard Komon (KEN), 35:05, $7000
5) Habtamu Fikadu (ETH), 35:06, $5000
6) Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio (KEN), 35:08, $3000
U.S.
33) Ryan Vail (USA / OR), 36:54
37) Bobby Curtis (USA / PA), 37:00
40) Max King (USA / OR), 37:05
58) Edwardo Torres (USA / CO), 37:38
60) Ed Moran (USA / VA), 37:42
75) Brett Gotcher (USA / AZ), 38:01

TEAM
1) Kenya, 28 points*, $20,000
2) Ethiopia, 28, $16,000
3) Eritrea, 50, $12,000
4) Uganda, 65, $10,000
5) Qatar, 79, $8000
6) Morocco, 107, $4000
8) Team USA, 168
*tie-breaker, better 4th place runner

WOMEN - 8K
1) Florence Jebet Kiplagat (KEN), 26:13, $30,000
2) Linet Masai (KEN), 26:16, $15,000
3) Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 26:19, $10,000
4) Lineth Chepkurui (KEN), 26:23, $7000
5) Wude Ayalew (ETH), 26:23, $5000
6) Hilda Kibet (NED), 26:43, $3000
U.S.
21) Julie Culley (USA / VA), 28:08
33) Delilah DiCrescenzo (USA / NY), 28:34
36) Rebecca Donaghue (USA / PA), 28:37
40) Kathy Newberry (USA / VA), 28:50
69) Samia Akbar (USA / VA), 29:51
75) Lindsey Scherf (USA / OR), 30:27

TEAM
1) Kenya, 14 points, $20,000
2) Ethiopia, 28, $16,000
3) Portugal, 72, $12,000
4) Spain, 117, $10,000
5) Team USA, 130*, $8000
6) Morocco, 130, $4000
*tie-breaker, better 4th place runner

Complete results, photos and more at: www.iaaf.org/wxc09/index.html

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Kastor, Korir Capture Shamrock Shuffle 8K Crowns in Chicago
Hansons-Brooks, Fleet Feet / Nike Racing Team win Elite Club Competition; 13,714 runners brave the elements at 30th edition
From Marianne Caponi

CHICAGO - (March 29, 2009) - Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor and Emmanuel Korir of Kenya led a field of 13,714 runners through the snow on Sunday at the 30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. The race continued its storied tradition by ushering in the spring season in true Chicago fashion with temperatures in the low 30s and steady snowfall throughout the morning.

While 30,000 runners registered for the popular race only 13,714 elected to brave the elements at the country's largest 8K. With the vast majority of registrants hailing from the Chicagoland area, they were familiar with the conditions Mother Nature can deliver during springtime in Chicago.

"We've been communicating to our participants since mid-week that temperatures were looking to be less than ideal and hovering around freezing," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "They were still showing up to the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday with tons of enthusiasm and determination to run today. The energy at today's race is a great testament to the strong will of Chicagoans and their love of the sport."

Korir won the 30th race edition, crossing the finish line in 24 minutes, 18 seconds, while Kastor led the women with a 27:15. Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. was making her first return to road racing since an injury forced her to drop from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon at 5K. The three-time Olympian set the current U.S. women's 8K record at the 2005 Shamrock Shuffle with a 24:36 winning time.

In the inaugural year of the Elite Club Competition the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project team (Rochester Hills, Mich.) won men's title. Team members are Chad Johnson, Nick Arciniaga, Mike Kilburg and Ryan Sheehan. The women's team race was won by the Fleet Feet / Nike Racing Team (Chicago) featuring Jessica Langford, Colleen Newhart, Jokotade Agunloye, Christina Overbeck and Elizabeth Engel.

30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Chicago, IL, Sunday, March 29, 2009

MEN
1) Emmanuel Korir (KEN), 24:18
2) Ryan Meissen (WI), 24:23
3) Jeff Jonaitis (IL), 24:29
4) Tyler Sigl (WI), 24:30
5) Chad Johnson (MI), 24:30

WOMEN
1) Deena Kastor (CA), 27:15
2) Tera Moody (CO), 28:03
3) Casey Owens (IA), 28:55
4) Carol Jefferson (MI), 28:57
5) Catherine Beck (IL), 29:01

Deeper results at: ShamrockShuffle.com

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Regassa, Gemeda Take 10th Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K Titles
Anne Parker takes AT&T Dash for the Cash; race record field of 32,745

RICHMOND, Va. - (March 28, 2009) - Ethiopian runners won the men's and women's titles at the boisterous 10th Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K that saw a race record 32,745 registrants and thousands more cheering along the course.

Ethiopia's Tilahun Regassa, 19, won in 28 minutes 21 seconds, beating his countryman Alene Reta, 26, by 12 seconds (28:33). Lewis Nyariki of Kenya was third in 28:37. American and 2004 Olympian Dan Browne finished fourth (28:50).

"I needed someone to push me because I wanted to break the course record," Regassa explained through an interpreter. "If I had someone to push me, I think I could have done more."

In the women's race, Ethiopia's Amane Gemeda, 26, won handily, finishing well ahead of Richmond's hometown favorite Maria-Elena Calle. Gemeda's time was 32 minutes 37 seconds to Calle's 33:33 (numerologists take note of Calle's age (33) and finishing time). Ethiopia's Hirut Mandefro placed third in 33:35.

"No one wants to be second," said Calle, who has finished 4th, 3rd and 2nd the past three years at the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K and who logged many a training run on elegant and picturesque Monument Avenue while attending Virginia Commonwealth University. "You always race to win, but it was a great day. Richmond is such a pretty town, and it's such a good race. I think we all love it. The 30,000 people who were there had a great day."

Anne Parker, a mother of four from the Richmond suburb of Midlothian, won the $2500 prize in the AT&T Dash for the Cash by crossing the finish ahead of the professional runners, though with the benefit of a 2.6-mile head start. Parker's victory was cheered loudly by her hometown fans. "The crowd support was just awesome with all the signs and people shouting encouragement all the way," said Parker, whose husband, three youngest children, mother and sister watched her outdo the top runners for the cash reward.

With a final registration tally of 32,745, the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K shattered its previous total entry record of 31,158 set last year. The First Market Mile Kids Run had total entries of 1,832, just shy of last year's record of 1,891. Close to 30 bands serenaded participants and spectators. Spirit groups and party stops and impromptu block parties added to the festivities.

Hundreds of participants covered the 6.2 miles dressed in costumes. There were 128 entries in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Dress Up and Run costume contest. The winning entry in the group category was a collaborative effort by six friends from Richmond's West End Presbyterian Church who dressed as a line of characters from the Ms. PacMan video game. The winner of the individual or duo category was Wayne Mancari of Chester, Va. who ran the entire distance dressed as Indian Jones being pursued by a gigantic boulder, which he constructed out of Tyvek® and a weather balloon. "I love running. I love Richmond. And I love fun, and this race provides all three," said an ebullient Mancari as he posed for photos with admirers at the Minute Maid Race Festival.

The 2010 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K will take place on Saturday, March 27th. Registration is scheduled to open on December 26, 2009.

10th Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K
Richmond, VA, Saturday, March 28, 2009

MEN
1) Tilahun Regassa (ETH), 28:21, $2000
2) Alene Reta (ETH), 28:33, $1000
3) Lewis Nyariki (KEN), 28:37, $800
4) Dan Browne (USA / OR), 28:50, $600
5) Demesse Tefera (ETH), 28:55, $400
6) Daniel Muriuki (KEN), 29:18, $200
7) Abiyot Endale (ETH), 29:52, $100

WOMEN
1) Amane Gemeda (ETH), 32:37, $2000
2) Maria-Elena Calle (ECU / VA), 33:33, $1000
3) Hirut Mandefro (ETH), 33:35, $800
4) Frashiah Waithaka (KEN), 33:49, $600
5) Divina Jepkogei (KEN), 34:00, $400
6) Salome Kosgei (KEN), 34:23, $200
7) Caroline Rotich (KEN), 35:52, $100

More results at: SportsBackers.org

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Boit, Abrha Win 3rd ING Georgia Marathon
Three athletes three-peat in the half-marathon; sold-out 15,000 combined field; ING Run for Something Better program draws 1,500

ATLANTA - (March 29, 2009) - After days of drought-relieving rain left Atlanta with cool and windy conditions on Sunday, James Boit felt like this might be his day. Boit, a Kenyan living in Peachtree City, Ga., switched from the half to the full marathon on race day and went on to win the ING Georgia Marathon in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 16 seconds. The combo distance running event sold out with 15,000 participants registering for the third ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon.

"I switched to the marathon today because I felt like I could be fast," said Boit, who notched his second marathon victory in the state of Georgia this March after winning in Albany and here closed with a strong enough sprint to nearly catch the police escort at the finish line. "I was happy that everybody did not start too fast in the first 10 miles. I laid back for a while at the 20-mile mark, then, I was really strong at the end and took the lead for good at mile 24."

Serkalem Abrha of Ethiopia came out on top in the women's field in 2:41:31, edging out runner-up Albina Gallyamova of Russia.

"This was a hard race for me," said Abrha, who won the ING Hartford Marathon in 2008. "But I was very confident when I was leading, so I felt very good once I got to the front."

Kenyan Janet Cherobon, who lives in Rome, Ga., took victory for the third straight year in the women's Open division of the ING Georgia Half Marathon in 1:14:49. Cherobon's pace was fast enough to finish in the top 10 overall in the half-marathon. Patrick Cheruiyot of Kenya was the men's winner in 1:05:18.

"I like this course very much, especially the hills which are very good for me. It's definitely a home course advantage for me," said Cherobon. "I love this race and it was perfect conditions today for a fast race."

"The weather often writes its own story for us in this race and this year is no exception as days of heavy rain left the area just in time for the start," said Michael Hughes, race director ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. "The runners were blessed with cool conditions that were just right for fast times over our beautiful, but challenging course. The participation of everyone, from the runners to the volunteers to the spectators, was a fantastic and energetic way to kick off spring in Atlanta."

The wheelchair half-marathon saw third straight titles for both the men's and women's Open divisions. Krige Schabort and Amanda McGrory defended their titles from 2007 and 2008, further cementing their domination of the event. Schabort, who resides in Cedartown, Ga., finished in 49:14, setting a new race record, while McGrory from Champaign, Ill. clocked a 1:05:36.

"I may be a little bit different than other racers because I actually prefer the hills," said McGrory about the challenging race course. "It's a difficult course, but it is definitely one of my favorites."

The ING Run for Something Better program, also in its third year in Atlanta, sported a field of 1,500 middle school children finishing the Final Mile of a half-marathon along the same course. This year, students in 26 local middle schools (Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools and a Decatur Middle School) ran 13.1 miles over nine weeks in their physical education classes.

The urban marathon racecourse starts and finishes at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta and in-between takes runners through the most interesting areas and historic neighborhoods of Atlanta and the city of Decatur. Adding to its popularity, the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon boasts an incredibly high completion rate of more than 98 percent for its first three years, which reflects the determination of the runners as well as the course experience itself.

RACE HIGHLIGHTS
* 15,000 total entrants
* 11,998 total starters
* 11,918 total finishers
* 99.3 percent finishing rate
* Total Prize Purse: nearly $25,000
* Age of youngest marathoner: 17
* Age of oldest marathoner: 77
* U.S. states represented: 50 (plus Washington DC and the territory of Puerto Rico)
* Countries represented: more than 32
* Number of volunteers: more than 2,000
* Temperature at the start: 44° F (cloudy)
* Temperature at the finish: 49° F (cloudy)
* 1,500 schoolchildren from area middle schools finished the Final Mile as part of ING's Run for Something Better

Complete race results are available at: INGgeorgiamarathon.com

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@RunningUSA.org | www.RunningUSA.org