Running USA wire 50, June 21, 2009
Semick, U.S. Women Strike Gold at 100K World Cup in Belgium
edit this articleBy: Dan Brannen
Miyazato men's world champion; Wardian top U.S. male in 6th
TORHOUT, Belgium - Kami Semick of Bend, Ore. early Saturday morning, June 20 became the second American, man or woman, to win a world ultramarathon title, taking control early and running away from the rest of the world's top women at the IAU 100K World Cup in 7 hours, 37 minutes, 24 second. Irina Vishnevskaya of Russia was a distant runner-up in 7:46:26. Semick, 43, made the only possible improvement she could have over her surprise silver medal at last year's version of the 62-mile world championship, and over the multi-loop course, she led the U.S. women to the third national team gold medal in U.S. history. Fellow Americans Devon Crosby-Helms and Meghan Arbogast placed 4th and 5th to seal the team victory for Team USA. The dominance of the U.S. distaff squad (taking 4 of the top 7 places) was the biggest surprise of the night, and rekindled memories of 1995, when the USA's Ann Trason, Donna Perkins and Chrissy Duryea similarly crushed the global women's national team field at the World Cup.
For the second straight year, multi-ultra national champion Michael Wardian of Arlington, Va. was the top U.S. man as he finished 6th in 6:53:17. Yasukazu Miyazato of Japan won the world title in 6:40:44 over Jonas Buud of Sweden who was a close runner-up (6:41:50). Miyazato, like Semick, led the way to his country's team title.
23rd IAU 100K World Cup
Torhout, BEL, Fri-Sat, June 19-20, 2009
WOMEN
1) Kami Semick (USA), 7:37:24
2) Irina Vishnevskaya (RUS), 7:46:26
3) Monica Carlin (ITA), 7:53:58
4) Devon Crosby-Helms (USA), 7:59:17
5) Meghan Arbogast (USA), 8:04:29
6) Helena Crossan (IRL), 8:04:40
7) Carolyn Smith (USA), 8:07:03
8) Branka Hajek (GER), 8:07:49
9) Mai Fujisawa (JPN), 8:08:48
10) Yoko Yamazawa (JPN), 8:10:05
Other U.S.
19) Connie Gardner (USA), 8:42:37
TEAM
1) USA, 23:41:10
2) Russia, 24:32:06
3) Japan, 24:41:21
MEN
1) Yasukazu Miyazato (JPN), 6:40:44
2) Jonas Buud (SWE), 6:41:50
3) Giorgio Calcaterra (ITA), 6:42:05
4) Marco Boffo (ITA), 6:45:39
5) Masakazu Takahashi (JPN), 6:51:18
6) Michael Wardian (USA), 6:53:17
7) Christophe Buquet (FRA), 6:55:46
8) Angel Jimenez (ESP), 6:55:59
9) Eric Legat (FRA), 6:57:07
10) Alexey Izmaylov (RUS), 6:58:46
Other U.S.
19) Todd Braje (USA), 7:15:13
34) Howard Nippert (USA), 7:40:06
55) Chad Ricklefs (USA), 8:17:31
TEAM
1) Japan, 20:31:01
2) Italy, 20:43:12
3) France, 21:00:46
Deeper results at: www.iau.org.tw
Harroufi, Smith Defend Steamboat Classic 4 Mile Titles
edit this articleBy: Gary Childs
PEORIA, Ill. - (June 20, 2009) - Ridouane Harroufi and Kim Smith defended their titles Saturday morning at the 36th Steamboat Classic.
And how? (Or in Smith's case, And how!)
Men's 4-mile winner Harroufi, from Morocco, waited until the closing seconds to overtake John Yuda of Tanzania.
Smith, on the other hand, stalked only Steamboat ghosts. The New Zealander finished in 19 minutes, 38 seconds, third-fastest women's time in race history, and a whopping 1 minute, 18 seconds ahead of runner-up Millicent Gathoni of Kenya.
"I drove the course last year beforehand, but didn't really know it," said Smith, 27, who won her Steamboat debut a year ago in 20:00. "This year I jogged it the day before. It definitely helped (knowing the course)."
The women's course record (and world record) of 19:28 was set by Delillah Asiago in 1995. Lornah Kiplagat ranks second all-time with her 19:33 in 2001.
Harroufi, 27, didn't take control until navigating Steamboat's signature Corner - the hard right turn about 50 yards from the finish.
Harroufi finished in 17:44, two seconds ahead of sacrificial leader Yuda.
"I know this athlete (Yuda)," Harroufi said. "He run with me many races."
Beijing Olympic women's marathon gold medalist Constantina Dita of Romania was inducted into the Steamboat Classic Hall of Fame after making her eighth appearance in the race in nine years. Dita, who won Steamboat in 2003 and '05, placed seventh in 21:52.
Overall, in the Midwest summer tradition, there were 2,824 finishers in the 4 mile and another 726 finishers in the accompanying 15K.
36th Steamboat Classic 4 Mile
Peoria, IL, Saturday, June 20, 2009
MEN
1) Ridouane Harroufi (MAR), 17:44, $4000
2) John Yuda (TAN), 17:46, $2500
3) Boaz Cheboiywo (KEN), 18:02, $2000
4) Jason Hartmann (USA / CO), 18:20, $1500
5) Philemon Terer (KEN), 18:22, $1000
6) Martin Fagan (IRL), 18:27, $400
7) Justin Young (USA / CO), 18:42, $200
8) Pat Rizzo (USA / MI), 19:05
9) Luke Humphrey (USA / MI), 19:05
10) Ryan Sheehan (USA / MI), 19:07
WOMEN
1) Kim Smith (NZL), 19:38, $4000
2) Millicent Gathoni (KEN), 20:56, $2500
3) Meskrem Legesse (ETH), 21:08, $2000
4) René Kalmer (RSA), 21:09, $1500
5) Jane Gakunyi (KEN), 21:19, $1000
6) Adriana Pirtea (ROU), 21:21, $200
7) Constantina Dita (ROU), 21:52
8) Kelly Fox (USA / IL), 23:31
9) Allison Arndt (USA / WI), 23:55
10) Joy Guardia (USA / IL), 24:36
Complete race results at: www.SteamboatClassic.org
Tara Quinn-Smith Sets Course Record at Emilie's Run 5K
edit this articleBy: Ken Parker
OTTAWA, Canada - (June 20, 2009) - Tara Quinn-Smith of the Toronto based Brooks Running Project set a new course record of 16 minutes, 16 seconds at the Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women in Ottawa on Saturday morning. Quinn-Smith, who set a Canadian half-marathon record this past April, took the lead just past the 2K mark from Ethiopian Firehiwot Gebreyesus (who had lead from the gun) and she ran away from the field. Quinn-Smith, 29, closed with a 3:15 last kilometer to break the previous course record of 16:30 set by two-time winner Nicole Stevenson in 2006.
Interestingly, Stevenson, who did not run this year, had sent race director Ken Parker an email on Friday predicting that Tara would run 16:12 to break her record.
The race unfolded with Gebreyesus running the first 1K in 3:03 stringing out the record sized field of 364 on the scenic Rockcliffe Parkway route.
After the turn-around, Quinn-Smith (photo left courtesy of Steve Bower) was cheered on as she headed home by the outgoing runners. She ran the fourth kilometer in 3:28 her slowest kilometer split of the race before picking up the pace in the last kilometer (3:15).
Kingston's Emily Tallen placed second in 16:34 and Gebreyesus finished third (16:56). Masters runner Paula Wiltse finished fourth overall in 17:30 and Josiane Aboungono was fifth in 17:43.
The Running Skirts Team of Gebreyesus, Aboungono and Aynadis Bedada won the team championship.
Dana Buchanan of the Ottawa Lions was the top local finisher in 17:49.
Overall, 364 women completed the 5K, up from 290 in 2008. 33 women broke the 20:00 mark, while 143 completed the children's 12 and under 1K run.
4th Emilie's Run 5K Race for Women
Ottawa, CAN, Saturday, June 20, 2009
1) Tara Quinn-Smith (CAN), 16:16*
2) Emily Tallen (CAN), 16:34
3) Firehiwot Gebreyesus (ETH), 16:56
4) Paula Wiltse (CAN), 17:30
5) Josiane Aboungono (GAB), 17:43
6) Dana Buchanan (CAN), 17:49
7) Aynadis Bedada (CAN), 17:53
8) Sarah Dillabaugh (CAN), 17:58
9) Liz Maguire (CAN), 17:59
10) Amy Schneeberg (CAN), 18:07
*course record (previous record, 16:30, Nicole Stevenson (CAN), 2006)
MASTERS (40+)
1) Wiltse, see above
2) Liz Maguire (CAN), 17:59
3) Leslie Sanderson (CAN), 18:16
4) Isabelle Ledroit (CAN), 18:30
5) Judy Andrew Piel (CAN), 18:44
Complete results and more at: www.emiliesrun.com
Brooks® Sports Debuts Green Silence Performance Running Shoe
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Sustainable element incorporated into every aspect of the shoe; groundbreaking move for industry and beyond
BOTHELL, Wash. - (June 17, 2009) - Leading running company Brooks Sports, Inc. has announced the upcoming launch of the Green Silence, a groundbreaking competition racing flat that boasts a sustainable element in each part of the shoe. Using soy-based inks, water-based adhesives, and recycled materials, Green Silence incorporates sustainability - without sacrificing performance - into every stitch of the shoe, which hits retail February 1, 2010.
In recent years, Brooks has declared its dedication to introducing more eco-friendly design and manufacturing practices as well as more sustainable materials. In 2008, Brooks launched its proprietary BioMoGo midsole, the world's first biodegradable running shoe midsole that breaks down 50 times faster than traditional midsoles in an enclosed, active landfill. That same year, the company debuted a new shoe box, made of fully biodegradable, 100-percent recycled paperboard. The Green Silence represents another chapter in Brooks' commitment to environmental responsibility.
"Brooks believes it can continue to lead the running industry when it comes to sustainability," said Jim Weber, president and CEO of Brooks. "Our latest attempt was to create the most sustainable competition racing flat as technologically possible, without compromising the performance, durability, or aesthetic appeal of the shoe. The result is the Green Silence, which lights the path to bringing more eco-friendlier elements into our future core performance training shoes."
With direction from Future Concepts Manager Derek Campbell, Brooks spent three years researching sustainable materials and practices to build a shoe that would not only make an eco-statement, but would also successfully deliver the premium performance and durability expected from Brooks.
Green Silence was constructed with less than half (48 percent) as many parts as comparable shoes. Only 26 parts comprise each Green Silence shoe compared to approximately 54 parts in similar styles. And, more than 75 percent of the 26 components have been recycled by consumers. For example, heel counters are made of recycled compact discs; shoe laces, meshes, linings, gillies and tongue webbings are made from recycled water bottles; and outsoles are made of recycled rubber. These substitutions reduce the energy (41 percent less) and oil (.5 liter less) needed to manufacture each pair of Green Silence shoes.
The dyes, colorants, and adhesives used in production are non-toxic and not harmful to those working in the factory. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were lowered by 65 percent. The midsoles, collar foams and sock liners are completely biodegradable, which reduces waste when the shoes are eventually retired to an active, enclosed landfill.
What's in a name? Brooks' Injo Gunasekara, senior industrial designer of footwear and the creative mind behind the Green Silence design, selected the shoe's name as a nod to its eco-friendlier character (Green) and the belief that sustainability will soon become a consumer expectation rather than a marketable product differentiator (Silence).
By employing its Design for Environment (DfE) approach to the development of Green Silence, Brooks learned key sustainable practices that will flow into the design and production of future footwear offerings.
"We were told Brooks couldn't build running shoes that feel great, perform great, look great and support a healthier environment for years ahead," said Campbell. "With Green Silence, we shattered that belief. We hope this shoe will serve as an inspiration to others in our industry and beyond."
The running and broader footwear industries recently honored Brooks with public high-fives for the brand's sustainability focus. In 2008, Brooks was awarded the 2008 International Green Award from Runner's World, the 2008 Green Award from Footwear News and the 2008 Sprout Award from Trail Runner.
For more information about Brooks' Green Silence and other sustainability initiatives, visit: www.brooksrunning.com/Green+Room/