Running USA wire 69, August 29, 2010

Kogo, Dibaba overall race winners; race record 9,508 finishers at 34th edition

FLINT, Mich. - (August 28, 2010) - Fasil Bizuneh (Flagstaff, Ariz.) pulled away from 2010 USA Half Marathon champion Antonio Vega (Minneapolis, Minn.) just after seven miles to win the USA Men's 10 Mile title Saturday morning in Flint. The national championship was hosted by the Crim Festival of Races. Bizuneh, 30, ran 47 minutes, 29 seconds to finish fourth overall in the Open field.

With near perfect conditions greeting a race record field of more than 10,000 runners at the 34th edition, the field opened with a fairly relaxed first mile of 4:42 with Robert Letting, Julius Kogo and Kiprotich Kirui of Kenya leading the charge. Vega led the U.S. contingent of Bizuneh and Justin Young (Superior, Colo.) in the lead pack.

Shortly after two miles, Letting dropped a 4:32 mile to lead a break with Kogo and Kirui as Vega and Bizuneh led the chase pack about six seconds back.

Maintaining a pace between 4:32 and 4:35 from three to five miles, Letting and Kogo pulled away from Kirui, and Vega looked to be in charge of the chase pack about 30 seconds back.

After seven miles, Kogo, 25, tested Letting with a short surge, while Bizuneh made his move for the U.S. title. Over the final three miles, Kogo was clearly in charge of the overall race and Bizuneh increased his lead over Vega.

In the final mile, Kogo pulled away for the overall race win in 47:06 with Letting and Kirui taking second and third in 47:15 and 47:24 respectively.

Crossing the line in fourth, Bizuneh celebrated his first USA title, finishing 14 seconds ahead of Vega. Young easily took third in 47:49 followed by Fernando Cabada (Alamosa, Colo.) and Sergio Reyes (Los Osos, Calif.) in 48:30 and 48:32 respectively.

The women's race was a close affair as Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia edged Caroline Rotich of Kenya by two seconds, 53:52 to 53:54.

Masters winners (40 and over) were Michigander Paul Aufdemberge, 45, in 52:43 and Russian Ramilya Burangulova, 49, in 58:53.

The USA Men's 10 Mile Championship was also the seventh stop for the men on the 2010 USA Running Circuit (USARC) and featured $17,500 in U.S. prize money with Bizuneh taking home $7000 as national champion.

The 2010 USARC, a USA Track & Field road series, features USA Championships from one mile to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The circuit offers ten events each for men and women. Post-Crim, Vega leads the men's standings with 44 points.

Highlights of the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship and more are available in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com at www.USARunningCircuit.com

34th Crim Festival of Races: USA Men's 10 Mile Championship
Flint, MI, Saturday, August 28, 2010

MEN
1) Julius Kogo (KEN), 47:06, $5000
2) Robert Letting (KEN), 47:15, $3000
3) Kiprotich Kirui (KEN), 47:24, $1500
4) Fasil Bizuneh (USA / AZ), 47:29, $7000
5) Antonio Vega (USA / MN), 47:43, $3500
6) Justin Young (USA / CO), 47:49, $2500
7) Boaz Cheboiywo (KEN / MI), 48:10, $1000
8) Fernando Cabada (USA / CO), 48:30, $1500
9) Sergio Reyes (USA / CA), 48:32, $1000
10) Brian Ball (USA / CA), 48:36, $600
Other U.S.
12) Ryan Sheehan (USA / MI), 48:49, $1000
13) Brian Medigovich (USA / CO), 49:04, $400
14) Mike Reneau (USA / OR), 49:14, $300
16) Drew Polley (USA / MI), 49:33, $600

MASTERS Men (40+)
1) Paul Aufdemberge, 45, USA / MI, 52:43, $1500
2) Gideon Mutisya, 43, KEN, 53:32, $1000
3) Eric Green, 42, USA / MI, 55:17, $500

WOMEN
1) Mare Dibaba (ETH), 53:52, $5000
2) Caroline Rotich (KEN), 53:54, $3000
3) Teyba Naser (ETH), 53:58, $1500
4) Sharon Thompson (USA / TN), 55:24
5) Catherine Ndereba (KEN), 56:05
6) Andrea Pomaranski (USA / MI), 56:10, $1000
7) Dorota Gruca (POL), 57:00
8) Lanni Marchant (USA / MI), 57:19, $500
9) Lavenna Mullenbach (USA / MI), 58:14, $400
10) Katie Jazwinski (USA / MI), 58:29

MASTERS Women (40+)
1) Ramilya Burangulova, 49, RUS, 58:53, $1500
2) Lisa Veneziano, 45, USA / MI, 59:15, $1000
3) Marybeth Reader, 41, USA / MI, 1:02:57, $500

Full results and more at: www.crim.org

Van Orden, Bednosky USA Masters champions on challenging course

LAUREL SPRINGS, N.C. - (August 28, 2010) - Bobby Mack and Gina Lucrezi won their first national titles at the USA 10K Trail Championship hosted by the second Continental Divide Trail Race on Saturday morning. Over the challenging course, 2010 Team USA cross country team member Mack, 25, Raleigh, N.C. ran 41 minutes, 59 seconds to beat last year's national runner-up Ryan Woods by 32 seconds, while Lucrezi, 27, Southborough, Mass. also was a clear winner with her 52:04 over Molly Nunn's 53:30.

The USA Masters trail champions (40 and over) were Tim Van Orden, 42, in 45:25 and 2010 USA 100 Mile champion Annette Bednosky, 43, in 58:07; the pair also finished 5th and 4th overall respectively.

There were 134 hearty souls who traversed the roller coaster 6.2 mile course with four screaming downhill and uphill sections that included a 20-yard section affectionately known as "the rock climb" that required hands-on effort to scramble up. The event was held just off the famed Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

2nd Continental Divide Trail Race: USA 10K Trail Championship
Laurel Springs, NC, Saturday, August 28, 2010

MEN
1) Bobby Mack (NC), 41:59, $700
2) Ryan Woods (NC), 42:31, $500
3) Ryan Moravec (PA), 44:22, $350
4) Jared Scott (AZ), 44:51, $200
5) Tim Van Orden, 42, VT, 45:25, $450

MASTERS Men (40+)
1) Van Orden, see above
2) Chad Newton, 40, NC, 45:45, $200
3) Andy Ames, 47, CO, 47:35, $100

WOMEN
1) Gina Lucrezi (MA), 52:04, $700
2) Molly Nunn (NC), 53:30, $500
3) Emily Potter (NC), 55:02, $350
4) Annette Bednosky, 43, NC, 58:07, $550
5) Erin Reddan (NC), 59:38, $100

MASTERS Women (40+)
1) Bednosky, see above
2) Alison Gracey, 48, NC, 1:04:01, $200
3) Elizabeth Kempter, 43, NC, 1:05:20, $100

Complete results and more at: www.continentaldividetrailrace.com/Welcome.html

Official race route announced for debut half-marathon

LOS ANGELES - (August 29, 2010) - The Competitor Group (CGI) and AEG have announced that the finish line for the debut Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon will be at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, October 24, 2010. More than 15,000 runners are expected to participate in the 13.1-mile mash-up of music and running, showcasing a scenic course of parks, lakes, trendy shops, clubs, restaurants and the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles.

"We are excited about partnering with the first ever Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon," said Scott Hanley, VP of Events for AEG / L.A. LIVE. "Nothing says Rock 'n' Roll like Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia, the GRAMMY Museum, STAPLES Center and all of the other venues and entertainment at L.A. LIVE and we look forward to welcoming the 15,000 runners, along with their family and friends to experience our one-of-a-kind destination."

"As the first major running event to finish at LA LIVE, the Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon is destined to become an instant classic," said Bouker Pool, SVP of Marketing for CGI. "This half-marathon truly provides a unique tour of Los Angeles starting in the tranquil beauty of Griffith Park and ending in the non-stop excitement of LA. LIVE."

The race begins at 7:30am in historic Griffith Park at the intersection of Zoo Ave and Forest Lawn Drive. The course travels past the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum, through Los Feliz and the trendy enclave of Silver Lake and Echo Park on the way to a spectacular finish through the corridors of downtown high rises before culminating with a celebration at L.A. LIVE.

Keeping with the rock 'n' roll theme, Los Angeles runners and spectators alike will be treated to a post-race concert at L.A. LIVE. All participants and volunteers receive free entry to the concert with their race number. Past acts at other Rock 'n' Roll series events include Five for Fighting, INXS, Journey, the Black Crows, Collective Soul, Goo Goo Dolls and the B-52s.

A full course description of the Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon, including turn-by-turn directions and a course map, is located at online at los-angeles.competitor.com. L.A. LIVE travel packages and other hospitality specials will be announced at a later date.

Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on October 22-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The free expo is open to the public and features more than one hundred fitness retailers, exhibits, free samples and interactive clinics.

For more information about the Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon, visit los-angeles.competitor.com or call (800) 311-1255.

20 winning entries; deadline Friday, September 3

APPLETON, Wis. - (August 24, 2010) - The Community First Fox Cities Marathon presented by Kimberly-Clark, along with Kimberly-Clark's Poise and Kotex brands, announce a contest to recognize the "Great Women of the Race". Entries of 200 words or less will be accepted until Friday, September 3, 2010 to find inspiring women who are participating in the Community First Fox Cities Marathon, ThedaCare Orthopedics Plus Half Marathon, Time Warner Cable 5K Run / Walk or Orthopedic & Sports Institute Relay Marathon on September 18-19, 2010.

Interested candidates may submit entries online at www.foxcitiesmarathon.org or print a PDF form and mail it in.

"We are excited to be able to recognize and feature women who inspire others in many ways in their daily lives. These women come from all walks of life and we are thrilled to learn their stories and share those tales with others to help inspire future runners and walkers," stated Debbie Jansen, Event Manager, Community First Fox Cities Marathon presented by Kimberly-Clark.

Twenty women will be chosen from entries received and will be recognized on race weekend and will be wearing special "Great Women of the Race" singlets. These women will also be featured on the Community First Fox Cities Marathon presented by Kimberly-Clark website.

The Community First Fox Cities Marathon presented by Kimberly-Clark provides a healthy weekend of five running and walking events for any age or ability. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the event has donated over a quarter million dollars to area non-profit organizations in the past 10 years through race proceeds and charity partnerships. Visit www.foxcitiesmarathon.org for more information.