Running USA wire 32, April 23, 2009
Benita Johnson to Defend Freihofer's Run for Women 5K Title
edit this articleSUBWAY Restaurants, CSC join IAAF Silver Label event as sponsors
ALBANY, N.Y. - (April 23, 2009) - Australia's Benita Johnson will attempt to become only the second woman in the history of the Freihofer's Run for Women to win four consecutive titles when the 31st edition of the storied 5K road race takes place Saturday, May 30 at 10:15am in downtown Albany.
Johnson, a three-time Olympian ('00, 5000m; '04, 10,000m; '08, marathon) and former world cross-county champion, will try to emulate American Lynn Jennings' four victories (1993-96) on the scenic course that weaves through New York's historic capital city.
"We're thrilled to have Benita back in Albany," said Event Director George Regan. "If she claims her fourth title here, she will hold the second greatest number of victories behind Lynn Jennings, who won eight titles (six in the 5K race and two in 10K edition) between 1987 and 1998."
"This race holds a truly special place in my heart," added Johnson, who hit the tape in last year's race in a time of 15:46. "Each year I experience a huge rush of excitement and adrenalin. First when I step into the classrooms around the community to talk to the kids and then second when I stand on that start line looking up the big hill ready for a tough race ahead against the world's best athletes."
Regan also announced that SUBWAY® Restaurants and CSC have signed on as corporate sponsors. As part of its agreement, SUBWAY will offer a $5 off race entry coupon at each of its 105 locations located throughout the Albany metro area.
"The Capital Region SUBWAY Restaurants are delighted to be partnering with the Freihofer's Run for Women," said Franchisee Board Chairman Eddie Hicks. "Our sponsorship is a perfect fit, since it reinforces our brand tradition of offering customers a selection of healthier menu items. We also hope runners will pick up an entry form when they are here."
"We're also delighted to welcome CSC as a sponsor," said Regan. The global leader in providing technology-enabled solutions and services is no stranger to the state of New York as it has been here for more than 22 years working with the Department of Health to serve Medicaid recipients and healthcare providers of the state. "CSC also will become an integral part of our greening effort. By serving runners with water in biodegradable paper cups, CSC staff will help prevent thousands of plastic bottles from ending up in the landfill."
As the weeks count down to the starting gun, organizers are busy building another stellar professional field for the event, which last year joined the Boston Marathon, ING New York City Marathon and Bank of America Chicago Marathon as the only road races in the United States to be awarded label status by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). An IAAF labeled race satisfies a number of important criteria concerning course measurement, safety, medical standards and media services.
The only 5K road race in the U.S. to hold the "silver" label designation, the Freihofer's Run for Women offers $27,000 in prize money with the winner being awarded $10,000. This year's 31st edition will also include the USA 10K Open and Junior Race Walk Championships featuring some of the nation's top race walkers.
A 30-minute Freihofer's Run for Women TV special will air Saturday, May 30 at 10:30pm on FOX23 / WXXA.
To register for the Freihofer's Run for Women, or for more information about the Freihofer's Run for Women, the Freihofer's Community Walk, Freihofer's Kids' Run and CapitalCare Health & Fitness Expo, visit www.FreihofersRun.com. From the home page, you can also link the event's Facebook and Twitter pages.
Ladies First at the 10th Country Music Marathon
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"Battle of the Sexes" $10,000 bonus; online registration closed Sunday, April 19; expo registration available
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It's ladies first in Nashville with the women's professional field starting approximately 15 minutes ahead of the men on Saturday, April 25 at the 10th anniversary of the Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon. For the first time in its 10 year history, the 2009 race will match the elite women against the elite men in a special "Battle of the Sexes" format that awards the first runner to cross the finish line a bonus of $10,000.
"The gender challenge is a unique twist we implemented for the 10th anniversary of the event," said Adam Zocks, General Manager. "Ideally, with the lead male runner closing on the lead female runner, it adds a special touch and provides extra entertainment at the end of the elite race for the thousands of spectators who come out to watch. I'm certain everyone will want to see the race to the finish line."
The men's field is lead by five runners with PRs faster than the event record, including Kenyan Joseph Chirlee, 27, who currently resides in Georgia. Chirlee, owner of a top 5 finish at the 2007 New York City Half Marathon, is better known on the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series for his unfortunate fall mere steps before the finish line in 2007 at San Diego. The incident cost Chirlee third place, but he picked himself up and staggered home for finish in fourth overall with a time of 2:12:10. The same year he also won the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, Ala.
Alirio Carasco of Colombia has made two Colombian Olympic teams off the strength of his Country Music performances - 4th in 2000 and 3rd in 2004 - and owns a PR of 2:12:09 set at the Chicago Marathon in 2003. Abebe Yimer, two-time winner of the Las Vegas Marathon, and Amos Matui, PR of 2:12:14 set in Brussels in 2004, round out the favorites on the men's side.
The women's field will be highlighted by Anne Jelagat Kibor of Kenya who finished 2nd at the Country Music Marathon in 2006. 2008 Beijing Olympian Yuliya Arhipova of Kyrgyzstan owns a PR 2:34:10 from Frankfurt in 2007. Russia's Tatiana Pushkareva (2:34:55 PR) finished 4th at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio and Tigist Abidi of Ethiopia has a PR of 2:33:01 set at the Enschede Marathon in Holland.
Other race favorites include American Michelle Suszek, who qualified for the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. Suszek was seeded 135th and finished 60th with a time of 2:45:16, out-running 75 of America's top distance runners. She has gone on to place in the top 10 women finishers at every race she's run since the Olympic Trials.
The elite women will begin the race first, getting an approximate 15-minute head start. Once the time gap has passed, the elite men will take off with the rest of the marathon field and try to chase down the elite women. The first person to break the finish tape will earn a $10,000 bonus over and above the first place prizes of $10,000.
The exact time difference will be determined by a panel of experts and based on several factors to insure that both male and female runners receive a fair opportunity to compete, with the goal that the two leaders will be sprinting down Titans Way together. The factors will include time difference between the men's (2:12:55) and women's (2:28:06) event records, the most recent performances, there history on courses similar to Nashville and in weather that will be expected on race day, as well as information regarding the athletes' recent training.
Race registration for both events will be available at the Health & Fitness Expo from 11:00am - 6:00pm Thursday, April 23 and 10:00am - 7:00pm Friday, April 24. For more information or to register for the Country Music Marathon or ½ Marathon, visit www.CMMarathon.com or call (800) 311-1255.
About Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon
Celebrating its 10th edition in 2009, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon will attract over 30,000 runners and 100,000 spectators to Music City on Saturday, April 25. The event is a weekend celebration complete with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon and a post-race concert featuring Billy Currington.
Universal Sports to Broadcast Flora London Marathon
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TV and live online coverage of race begins this Sunday at 9:00am ET
LOS ANGELES - (April 21, 2009) - The 2008 Olympic Marathon gold medalists from the Beijing Games headline the field as Universal Sports presents live online and same-day television coverage of the 2009 Flora London Marathon, part of the World Marathon Majors series. Live global webcast begins this Sunday at 4:00am ET at UniversalSports.com with television coverage on Universal Sports beginning Sunday at 9:00am ET.
UniversalSports.com will provide a live global webcast of the race. More information, as well as highlights, full-length videos, photos, breaking news and more are available at www.UniversalSports.com/marathon.
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS: Universal Sports is the broadcast home to the World Marathon Majors (WMM) which include the Boston Marathon, Flora London Marathon, real,- Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and will conclude with the ING New York City Marathon in November. In addition to broadcasting the WMM, Universal Sports will also provide coverage of the Los Angeles, Stockholm and Beijing Marathons, starting at the end of May.
ABOUT THE RUNNERS: Defending champion Martin Lel of Kenya won the London Marathon in 2005, 2007 and 2008, and hopes to become the first man to win four London marathons in his career and to join Dionicio Ceron and Katrin Dorre as a race three-peater.
The London Marathon is known for having a flat, fast course and a place for setting personal, national and world records. When Lel won in 2008, the 30-year-old runner set a course record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 15 seconds, making him the fourth-quickest marathon runner ever.
This year, one of Lel's many challenges will be defeating Beijing Olympic gold medalist, 22-year-old fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru. Wanjiru finished second at the London Marathon last year, only nine seconds behind Lel. Also competing is two-time World champion and Beijing Olympic silver medalist Jaouad Gharib of Morocco and Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia. Americans and Olympians Meb Keflezighi (2004 silver medalist) and Dathan Ritzenhein are also expected to be threats.
On the women's side, Beijing Olympic gold medalist Constantina Tomescu Dita will be racing against four-time Boston Marathon winner Catherine Ndereba. Ndereba attempted to compete in the Boston Marathon again this year, but was told there was no room for her to compete. Instead, she will be facing Dita and many other strong runners in this year's London Marathon. Find more race information at: www.London-Marathon.co.uk
Elite Field Set, 7,000 Expected for Get in Gear 10K Event
edit this articleInaugural half-marathon; USATF-Minnesota Team Circuit and USATF-Minnesota State 10K Championship
MINNEAPOLIS - (April 22, 2009) - Some 7,000 participants are expected for the Get in Gear races on Saturday, April 25, including 4,000 for the 10K, 1,500 for the 5K, 1,000 for the sold-out inaugural half-marathon, and the remaining registered for the 2K Fun Run. More than 33 states will be represented, 57 percent of the participants are women, and 51 corporate teams with 850 runners will compete in the 10K.
"We are very excited to be hosting this high caliber event with a variety of races," said Paulette Odenthal, Get in Gear executive director. "In addition to such a wide range of participants, we've got a deep elite field for our 32nd 10K race, particularly on the men's side, with both male and female competitors who could threaten our 10K course records."
The elite field for the 2009 Get in Gear 10K includes the top three male finishers from last year - Kenyans Sammy Malakwen, William Serem and Richard Kandie - who went first, second and third respectively. Team USA Minnesota's Antonio Vega, St. Paul, who has a best of 29:00 in the 10,000m, and Chris Lundstrom, Minneapolis, who is preparing for Grandma's Marathon, will also be in the mix.
Additional male contenders include the 2009 Human Race 8K champion Brad Lowery of Brookings, S.D., Jeremy Polson of Duluth, and Kenyans Moses Waweru - who won the GiG 10K in 2005 - John Njoroge, Jacob Kenbagor, Japheth Ngojoy and Eric Chirchir - who recently won the All American City 10K in Texas in 29:12. The men's course record of 28:45 was set by Jonah Koech in 1994.
The women's elite field includes the 2008 race champion, former Gopher runner Kim Magee of Bloomington, and the 2007 race champion, Alemtsehay Misganaw, who lives in New York City. Misganaw's time two years ago was only 6 seconds off the course record of 32:52 (set by Janis Klecker in 1991). Others who will contend include Jenna Boren, St. Paul, who won the Human Race 8K in March; Amy Lyons of Mounds View who has posted 34:26 in the 10K; Kenyan Hellen Mugo, with a best of 34:38; and Jennifer Houck of Duluth.
Top returning masters runners include John Mirth of Platteville, Wis., who has been the first male master from 2005-08; and Bonnie Sons of Shorewood, who has been the first female master's runner at the Get in Gear 10K from 2005-08. Sons ran the Boston Marathon on April 20 in a time of 3:15:21.
The 10K prize purse offers $1000, $750 and $500 for first, second and third place for Open men and women, plus $250 each for the first Minnesota male and female. The Master's purse is $500, $350 and $100 per gender. The Get in Gear 10K is part of the USATF-Minnesota Team Circuit and also serves at the USATF-Minnesota State 10K Championship this year.
In addition to the inaugural half-marathon, another feature this year will be the Aquafina Eco Challenge which has new sponsor Aquafina supplying water for all Get in Gear events. The arrangement includes providing staff and recyling bins to collect and recycle empty water bottles.
For more information, go to: www.GetinGear10K.com