Running USA wire 40, May 16, 2010

Men's Team USA earns bronze medal; top U.S. woman Piskorka leads team to fourth place; Inoue, Fontaine world champions in France

For the past decade, Scott Jurek has been the preeminent American male practitioner of the art of racing beyond the standard marathon distance. But the 7-time winner and course record holder of the Western States 100 Mile and 3-time winner of the grueling 153-mile Spartathlon (from Athens to Sparta in Greece) had been noticeably off form for the past year and a half. A recent feature profile in Runner's World appeared to show him as a man without a mission.

Historically, the Spartathlon has been the premier international point-to-point road version of ultrarunning's crucible event, the multi-lap 24-Hour race (typically run on a track or short, certified road loop). Its winners' list reads like a "Who's Who" of the world's best 24-Hour specialists. And Jurek sits at #2 on that all-time list (behind only the legendary Greek Yiannis Kouros). Yet in his previous two 24-hour race attempts, at the 2008 and 2009 USA Championships, Jurek, a Seattle resident, seemed unable to get in gear, faltered and retired early.

Meanwhile, during the past year the 24-hour event itself has undergone a virtual revolution, both domestically and internationally. The IAAF finally agreed to grant the event full-blown "World Championship" designation, and the 2010 host event (Brive-la-Gaillarde, France) has brought the event's budget, venue, promotion and overall quality to an unprecedented level.

On the domestic side, after 15 years of lobbying by ultrarunners, USATF finally added funding of ultramarathon national teams to its annual budget. The USA 24-Hour Run Championship also finally secured significant prize money. Coincidentally, the quality of U.S. performances of both sexes took a quantum leap upward. After remaining basically stagnant for about 20 years, the performance quality of the upper echelon of American 24-hour runners rose by almost 8% in 2009. Of the candidate pool to determine the 12 athletes who would eventually comprise the 2010 national team, as many as 7 of them were new to ultrarunning (two who would become team scorers at this year's World Championship had only taken up any running at all in the past 5 years). Last year's #2 scorer on the USA Women's silver medal winning team, Annette Bednosky, could not qualify for this year's team with her top 10 World Championship performance from 2009.

Now, add to all of this the additional, unanticipated phenomenon of Amy Palmiero-Winters, the single-leg amputee who had only taken up ultrarunning in the past year, became the last team member on the last possible qualifying date (bumping Bednosky off the squad by less than 1 mile), won the Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete and had featured profiles in USA Today and The New York Times. The event and the team had suddenly acquired a new identity, personality and self-consciousness.

The opening hours of this year's World Championships on May 13-14 saw something it had never seen in its 8-year history: Americans leading both individual and team races. Jurek and national champion Jill Perry went right to the front and stayed there for more than 4 hours.

For the men, Americans Serge Arbona and national champ Phil McCarthy (who in 2008 placed 4th in this race) situated themselves among the top 10 early and stayed there for more than half the race. After 4 hours, Japan's Shingo Inoue surged to take the lead from Jurek and never looked back. He controlled and dominated the race, maintaining his ability to surge even in the closing hours, when it appeared the American might be able to close what at times amounted to a 5-mile gap. At the final horn, Inoue had become only the 7th man in history to run more than 170 miles (273,708m) in 24 hours, in the process leading Japan to the team gold medal as well.

After two 24-hour run disappointments, Jurek (left, Sam Bon photo), 36, put it all together as the Minnesota native now leaves no question about his legacy in the sport. His final distance of 165.70 miles (266,677m) for the silver medal not only broke the 11-year-old U.S. road record of Mark Godale, but also went beyond the 20-year-old U.S. track mark of Rae Clark as well.

On paper, Arbona and McCarthy were in over their heads, but they hung on heroically during the final 12 hours to keep the Yanks in the team medals. When they needed reinforcements, up from the middle of the pack came Michael Henze, who only a few years ago was a 300lb. non-runner. The Americans lost the team silver medal to the Italians in the final 15 minutes, but Henze's late charge (from 30th to 12th place) and Arbona's pure grit saved the bronze. It was the first time in history three U.S. men had run over 150 miles in the same race.

For the U.S. women, behind Perry, Suzanna Bon and Palmiero-Winters, the latter running on a brand new, custom designed prosthesis engineered specifically for the sometimes tight turns of the course that meandered around Brive's central town park, put the U.S. women in the team lead early. Not only were all three virtual novices to this type of international pressure-cooker, but all three were relatively new to the 24-hour event. And the trio would eventually pay a price for the exuberance of inexperience. Perry was eventually pulled from the race for medical reasons.

As expected, defending world champion Anne Cecile Fontaine of France gravitated to the front and ran away from the field, carrying the French women's team with her 149 miles (239,797m) as the home country ladies took three of the top 8 places. Closing surges by Americans Anna Piskorka, Deb Horn and a rejuvenated Palmiero-Winters were not enough to secure a team medal for the U.S. women, who dropped to fourth.

8th IAU 24-Hour World Championships
Brive, FRA, May 13-14, 2010

MEN
1) Shingo Inoue (JPN), 170.07 miles, gold
2) Scott Jurek (USA), 165.70 miles, silver
3) Ivan Cudin (ITA), 163.94 miles, bronze
4) Yuki Sakai, 41, JPN, 160.87 miles
5) Vladimir Bychkov, 43, RUS, 160.64 miles
Other U.S.
12) Michael Henze, 41, USA, 154.48 miles
21) Serge Arbona, 45, USA, 150.48 miles
32) Phil McCarthy, 42, USA, 143.23 miles
103) John Geesler, 51, USA, 108.70 miles
125) Dan Rose (USA), 91.27 miles (withdrawn for medical reasons)
*U.S. road record (previous record, 162.46 miles / 261,454m, Mark Godale (OH), USA 24 Hour Championship, September 19, 1999); also further than the U.S. track record, 165.24 miles / 265,932m, Rae Clark, September 29, 1990

TEAM
1) Japan, 483.84 miles
2) Italy, 471.57 miles
3) USA, 470.66 miles

WOMEN
1) Anne Cecile Fontaine (FRA), 149.00 miles, gold
2) Monica Casiraghi, 41, ITA, 143.77 miles, silver
3) Julia Alter (GER), 143.07 miles, bronze
4) Annemarie Gross, 40, ITA, 142.39 miles
5) Sylvie Peuch, 48, FRA, 140.19 miles
U.S.
10) Anna Piskorka (USA), 133.23 miles
14) Deb Horn, 50, USA, 129.13 miles
17) Suzanna Bon, 45, USA, 126.31 miles
19) Amy Palmiero-Winters (USA), 123.99 miles
26) Jamie Donaldson (USA), 120.61 miles
69) Jill Perry (USA), 80.36 miles (withdrawn for medical reasons)

TEAM
1) France, 426.13 miles
2) Italy, 408.93 miles
3) Australia, 406.91 miles
4) USA, 388.68 miles

Deeper results at: www.24h-brive.fr/index.php?lang=en

Kitwara defends race title at 99th edition of the Bay Area classic

SAN FRANCISCO - (May 16, 2010) - The 99th ING Bay to Breakers 12K, one of the world's largest and oldest footraces, made history on Sunday morning with Lineth Chepkurui of Kenya finishing in 38 minutes, 7 seconds, a pending world record, over the point-to-point 7.46 mile USATF certified course. Kenyan Sammy Kitwara, 23, became a back-to-back race champion in 34:15 as he edged countryman Peter Kirui (same time). Last year, Kitwara won and tied the 12K world record in 33:31.

Chepkurui, 22, who broke her own world record of 38:10 set two weeks ago at the Lilac Bloomsday, also collected the $25,000 ING Battle to the Breakers bonus as the first runner to break the finish tape. The professional women were given a 4 minute, 51 second head start - based on the course record differential (33:31 vs. 38:22) - over the field. In addition, the 2008 race champion earned the $3000 course record bonus for a total race payout of $35,000.

Defending champion Kitwara also won the Hayes Street Summit bonus and took home a total of $12,000.

The top Americans were Scott Bauhs of Mammoth Lakes, CA and 2008 Olympian Magdalena Lewy-Boulet from Oakland in 6th (35:55) and 7th (41:39), respectively, and each pocketed $1000.

The famed "Human Centipede" team races were won by LinkedIn (men) and ASICS Aggies (women) in 37:58 ($500) and 48:44 ($500), respectively.

"The ING Bay to Breakers race continues to attract world class athletes and today's new world record set is a great example of the talent we see each year," said Angela Fang, general manager of ING Bay to Breakers. "We can't wait until the race's 100th anniversary next year which, if today is any indication, will be as record-breaking and exciting as this year."

ING Bay to Breakers 12K supports numerous beneficiaries in the Bay Area, including the ING Run for Something Better, a national campaign that funds free, school-based running programs and introduces kids to the benefits of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle choices; Breathe California, which works to reduce the impact of lung disease through prevention, education, advocacy and patient services and other local organizations. Additionally, race registration fees help support local San Francisco high school sports.

99th ING Bay to Breakers 12K
San Francisco, CA, Sunday, May 16, 2010

MEN
1) Sammy Kitwara (KEN), 34:15, $12,000
2) Peter Kirui (KEN), 34:15, $3000
3) Tilahun Regassa (ETH), 35:30, $2000
4) Tesfaye Sendeku (ETH), 35:59, $1250
5) Ridouane Harroufi (MAR), 35:55, $750
6) Scott Bauhs (USA / CA), 35:55, $1000 (top U.S.)
7) Simon Ndirangu (KEN), 36:14
8) Gilbert Okari (KEN), 36:14
9) James Kipketer (KEN), 36:37
10) Josh Moen (USA / MN), IA 36:47, $500
11) Jeff Eggleston (USA / AZ), 36:51, $250
15) Charlie Serrano (USA / CA), 37:59, $750 (top Bay Area)

WOMEN
1) Lineth Chepkurui (KEN), 38:07*, $35,000
2) Emily Chebet (KEN), Kenya 38:41, $8000
3) Mamitu Daska (ETH), 39:34, $2000
4) Jelliah Tinega (KEN), 40:14, $1250
5) Caroline Rotich (KEN), 40:37, $750
6) Jane Kibii (KEN), 41:05
7) Magdalena Lewy-Boulet (USA / CA), 41:39, $1750 (top U.S. & Bay Area)
8) Kate O'Neill (USA / CA), 41:52, $500
9) Annie Bersagel (USA / CA), 41:57, $250
10) Clara Horowitz-Peterson (USA / CA), 42:16
*pending world record and U.S. All-Comers record (previous record, 38:10, Lineth Chepkurui (KEN), Lilac Bloomsday, May 2, 2010); also course record (previous, 38:22, Asmae Leghzaoui (MAR), 2005)

Full race results and more at: www.INGbaytobreakers.com

Deba nabs women’s course record; National Kidney Foundation receives $470,000 check from UAE; more than 7,800 finishers for 6th edition

NEW YORK - (May 15, 2010) - For the second year in a row, an accomplished Ethiopian runner debuting at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K smashed the course record. On a beautiful Saturday morning, Gebre Gebremariam, 25, cut six seconds off Tadese Tola's 2009 record, running 27 minutes, 42 seconds - the fastest-ever lap of Central Park.

The race, in its sixth running, had a field of a depth rarely seen on one starting line: 10 entrants had 10K personal-best times faster than 28 minutes, and two athletes were able to produce that kind of speed again, even on Central Park's hills. And local runners proved they were up to the challenge of competing against professionals.

Gebremariam (left, NYRR) and Peter Kamais of Kenya broke from the pack within the first two miles and set the pace at the front for the rest of the race. Great Britain's Chris Thompson and Kenya's Julius Kogo ran their own race for second and third, never coming within striking distance of the leaders.

With 800 meters to go, Gebremariam and Kamais were still shoulder-to-shoulder, as they'd been all morning. But Gebremariam was able to take it up a notch, and he pulled away to win by seven seconds. Kogo kept Thompson at bay to finish third in 28:19.

"I noticed at mile 5 that I was on pace to win, and I wanted to break the course record," said Gebremariam. "I felt I controlled the race." The record performance added the $20,000 Zayed Bonus to his winnings for a $27,500 total.

Kamais, 33, coming off a recent win at the NYC Half-Marathon in March, added a runner-up at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K to his résumé. He wasn't prepared for Gerbremariam's final surge; he looks forward to longer races, such as a marathon this fall.

Abdi Abdirahman of Tucson, AZ, was the first U.S. finisher in sixth place (28:35). This was American Khalid Khannouchi's return to racing after foot surgery last year. The 38-year-old had a pain-free 21st-place finish. "I am so excited to be back running in Central Park-my own backyard," he said. "I'll train solidly for the next four to five weeks before I race again in July."

NYRR Runner of the Year Buzunesh Deba of West Side Runners (WSX) broke the tape in 33:09 and bested the women's event record by 23 seconds, earning $1000 for her efforts. Frances Koons of Bryn Mawr, PA took second in 33:31 and donated her $500 prize purse to the National Kidney Foundation, one of the event sponsors. Koons, who suffered from kidney cancer in 2007, has made a full recovery. Local runner Alemtsehay Misganaw of Adidas East Women's Team was third (33:44). In this friendly but competitive team-points race, there were strong fields in both the women's and men's fields.

In the men's member division, the top-three finishers were Deresse Deniboba of Westchester Track Club in 29:09 and teammates Kumsa Adugna Megersa (29:19) and Tesfaye Girma (29:24) of WSX.

Representative of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the event's primary sponsor showed their commitment to the cause by presenting the National Kidney Foundation with a massive check for $470,000. "We worked with our partners at the UAE and the National Kidney Foundation," said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "It was a race to remember for a very long time."

At a special event on Friday, Abdi Abdirahman, Boaz Cheboiywo and Frances Koons, along with representatives and runners from the United Arab Emirates, who were all in town for the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K, spent the afternoon inspiring children. The athletes spoke about their experiences growing up in very different places and the positive influence running had on their lives. But the event didn't stop there: UAE representatives gave each kid from P.S. 182 and P.S. 83, who participate in the NYRR Mighty Milers program throughout the school year, a race T-shirt and then led stretches and a run with the kids in a Harlem schoolyard. It was a celebratory day for kidney cancer survivors, like Koons, the National Kidney Foundation and UAE, both fighting for research and awareness of kidney health, and the children who have been encouraged to keep running for life.

6th UAE Healthy Kidney 10K
New York, NY, Saturday, May 15, 2010

MEN
1) Gebre Gebremariam (ETH), 27:42*, $27,500
2) Peter Kamais (KEN), 27:49, $5000
3) Julius Kogo (KEN), 28:19, $3000
4) Chris Thompson (GBR), 28:25, $2000
5) Alistair Cragg (IRL), 28:33, $1250
6) Abdi Abdirahman (USA / AZ), 28:35, $750
7) Ben St. Lawrence (AUS), 28:36, $600
8) Mohamed Trafeh (USA / CA), 28:37, $350
9) Ed Moran (USA / VA), 28:39, $250
10) Shadrack Biwott (KEN), 28:57, $100
*course record (previous record, 27:48, Tadese Tola (ETH) 2009)

WOMEN
1) Buzunesh Deba (ETH), 33:09*, $1000
2) Frances Koons (USA / PA), 33:31, $500
3) Alemtsehay Misganaw (ETH), 33:44, $250
*course record (previous record, 33:32, Aziza Aliyu (ETH), 2008)

Complete race results, photos and more available at: www.NYRR.org

33rd edition increases 200 percent since 2003; Bauer, Camp, Adams, Yates, Lagat, Dado race winners

CLEVELAND - (May 16, 2010) - The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon event saw participation increase nearly 200 percent since Rite Aid became the title sponsor - from 5,200 participants in 2003 to 15,631 in this year's 33rd running. Both the half and full marathon sold out for the first time in the event's 33-year history.

"Excellent weather and our runner-friendly course played a major part in increasing participation," said Executive Race Director Jack Staph. "We're happy that our marathon helps shine a positive light on the City of Cleveland. This was an amazing day for our city."

An event record 15,631 runners participated in the 2010 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K, including a 5K on Saturday that drew 794 runners, the We Run This City Program that had 550 school-aged participants from Cleveland Municipal School District and another 550-plus children who participated in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Red Nose Children's Run on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, Brandon Bauer, a 23-year-old runner from Ashland, OH, was the first to cross the marathon finish line in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 10 seconds. In dry and sunny conditions, he led the way with more than a half mile between him and the nearest group of runners for the majority of the race.

"I trained hard and tried to stay focused on keeping my pace," Bauer said. "It was a good course and I enjoyed running it."

Sergey Kostylen, 40, of Russia, was runner-up in 2:30:12, followed by 32-year-old Shaun Evans of Middle Grove, NY, at 2:32:41.

Twenty-four-year-old Nicole Camp of Sterling, OH, won the women's marathon in her debut, finishing in 2:55:38. Orrville, OH resident Beth Woodward, 34, finished second in 2:56:39 with Ashley Anderson, 25, of Denver, CO, third (2:57:10).

Nineteen-year-old Ian Adams from Mt. Berry, GA, finished first in the men's half-marathon in 1:12:56. Parma, OH resident Aaron Apathy, 24, took second in 1:14:29, followed by 19-year-old Michael Sexton, also of Mt. Berry, GA, who ran 1:16:12.

An Ohio runner led the women's half-marathon, with 32-year-old Mandy Yates of Medina clocking a 1:20:30. She was followed by Kathryn Long of Louisville, KY, who crossed in 1:21:40, while Courtney Cooper of Mt. Berry, GA took third (1:23:32).

Common for the 10K race, elite international runners dominated the top spots for the men's and women's events as Philip Lagat, 27, of Kenya and Firehiwot Dado, 26, of Ethiopia won the men's and women's races in 29:05 and 33:08, respectively, and each took home a $1500 purse.

Lagat was followed by countrymen Festus Langat, 25, who finished in 29:08 and Aron Rono, 27, in 29:12.

Yuliya Archipova, 25, of Kyrgyzstan placed second in the women's 10K with a 33:50, followed by 31-year-old Benita Willis of Australia, who finished in 34:19.

The 2010 race featured 13 neighborhood parties, 12 bands and 14 music stations along the course. The Tremont neighborhood, a new addition to this year's course was packed with parties, cheering sections, choirs and other festivities. The finish line area, which featured live bands, a beer garden, massage tents and a meet and greet with Cleveland Brown's first round draft pick, Joe Haden - was overflowing with family and friends of runners enjoying a spot on the grass in Mall B and Mall C.

Registration is open for the 2011 race, scheduled for Sunday, May 15, 2011.

33rd Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
Cleveland, OH, Sunday, May 16, 2010

MEN
1) Brandon Bauer (OH), 2:27:10, $1000
2) Sergey Kostylen, 40, RUS, 2:30:12, $500
3) Shaun Evans (NY), 2:32:41, $300

WOMEN
1) Nicole Camp (OH), 2:55:38, $1000
2) Beth Woodward (OH), 2:56:39, $500
3) Ashley Anderson (CO), 2:57:10, $300

33rd Rite Aid Cleveland 10K
MEN
1) Philip Lagat (KEN), 29:05, $1500
2) Festus Langat (KEN), 29:08, $750
3) Aron Rono (KEN), 29:12, $500

WOMEN
1) Firehiwot Dado (ETH), 33:08, $1500
2) Yuliya Archipova (KGZ), 33:50, $750
3) Benita Willis (AUS), 34:19, $500

Complete results and more at: www.clevelandmarathon.com