Freihofer’s Threepeat Bittersweet For Johnson
Posted May 31st, 2008 at 3:07 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
As she crossed the finish line with her third consecutive victory at today’s 30th Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, N.Y., Benita Johnson raised her arms in victory, her smile showing nothing but pure joy.
But the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships gold medalist was carrying a heavy weight throughout the race, the knowledge that her terminally ill father was in his last days.
“This race was for my Dad,” she told race organizers after the race. “But I can use things in my life as motivation to go forward and to have strength.”
She had already planned to leave Albany immediately following the race to go home to Australia and be with her father. A phone call placed immediately following the race to share the news of her victory brought instead the worst of news. Her father had died.
“Though we were saddened by Benita’s family tragedy, it’s quite plain to see what a tremendous champion and great athlete she is,” commented long-time event director George Regan. “Because of her, and because of the 3,385 women who followed her, this was a great day for Albany.”
Johnson became only the third women in the history of the race to win at least three times. Lynn Jennings won a remarkable eight times, while Marla Runyan also won three titles. The race was formerly the USA Women’s 5-K Championships from 1989 - 1990 and 1993 through 2004.
Although the Freihofer’s record-standard course is fast, this year’s race was strategic from the starter’s horn. Johnson decided to play it by ear.
“I didn’t have a plan,” she said. “You never know how the race is going to go. The early pace was very slow. And I got a cramp in my leg (at the end) because I had to run the last kilometer so hard. This win was the one that hurt the most. But I really wanted to win three in a row.”
Johnson stopped the clock at 15:46, considerably slower than her two previous victories (15:27 and 15:22, respectively). Ethiopia’s Amane Gobena, second at last Monday’s Bolder Boulder 10-K, also finished second here, in 15:52. Her compatriot, Aziza Aliyu of the Westchester Track Club, finished third in 16:02. Johnson earned $10,000 for her victory.
Canada’s Paula Wiltse of Brockville, Ont., won the masters competition in 17:29. Joan Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist, won the over-50 category in 17:50.
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
Photo: Benita Johnson wins her third consecutive Freihofer’s Run for Women (photo courtesy of the race organizers)
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Tags: 5k, benita johnson, freihofers, road racing, running
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