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Johnson Leads Loaded Freihofer’s 5K Field
Posted May 29th, 2008 at 2:30 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
Australian star Benita Johnson leads a loaded field for Saturday’s 30th edition of the Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, N.Y., one of America’s oldest and most prestigious all-women’s road races.
Johnson has already won the race twice, splashing to victory in heavy rain in 2006, then coming back to defend her title last year. She’s recorded excellent times both years: 15:27 and 15:22, respectively.
“I’m so excited to be returning for my third year in a row,” Johnson said through a press release. “Let’s hope it is third time lucky for me! I love this event and to run it in an Olympic year means it’s vital for my preparation for Beijing. I can’t wait to hear the crowd as I run towards the finish. It’s truly magic in Albany with those fans screaming!”
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Rematch At 30th Annual Freihofer’s Run For Women
Posted May 28th, 2008 at 6:15 PM by thefinalsprint.com
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
Press Release: With the 30th Freihofer’s Run for Women just days away, all signs indicate it will be another hotly-contested race among the open elites and the masters.
In addition to two-time defending champion Benita Johnson’s bid for a three-peat, a strong Kenyan contingent will be on hand to prove they can dominate the short courses just as well as the long courses. Included in that group will be Monday’s Bolder Boulder 10k champion Millicent Gathoni, whose winning time in Colorado (32 minutes and 49 seconds) was the fourth-fastest women’s elite time in the history of the race.
Joining Gathoni on the start line will be fellow Kenyans Jane Gakunyi, a 2004 Olympian, whose PR in the 5K is faster than the Freihofer’s course record (15:18), Genoveva Kigen, Evelyne Lagat, Florence Jepkosgei, Jane Kibii and Jacqueline Nytipei, who has finished in the top three of almost every race she entered over the last year, including a first-place finish in the Carlsbad half-marathon in April.
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Event News From Albany, Minneapolis, New York & Pittsburgh
Posted May 21st, 2008 at 12:30 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing
Here’s the latest news from several prominent road running events in the United States:
ALBANY, N.Y.: Five women are preparing to run in their 30th consecutive FREIHOFERS’S RUN FOR WOMEN on Saturday, May 31. Dubbed the “Fab Five” by race organizers, Linda Campbell, Denise Herman, Cynthia Kelly, Bernadette La Manna and Ellen Picotte have not missed a Freihofer’s Run for Women since its inception in 1979. “It’s an amazing accomplishment when you think about it,” said elite athlete coordinator John Tope. “These women have been able to race each year despite whatever life has thrown at them - the good and the bad. I’m sure they have some interesting experiences that could have derailed the streak.” More info at http://www.freihofersrun.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.: The MEDTRONIC TWIN CITIES MARATHON, set for Sunday, October 5, has reached its entry limit of 11,000 runners. Amazingly, the race filled in just one month despite the entry cap being raised by 500 runners to help meet demand. “Runners looking for a great fall race come to the Twin Cities for the terrific community support, the beautiful fall weather and for a top-quality marathon experience,” said executive director Virginia Brophy Achman. An additonal 150 entries are available for runners wishing to raise money for certain charities. More info at http://www.mtcmarathon.org/index.cfm?
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Johnson Defends Freihofer’s Run for Women 5-K Title
Posted June 3rd, 2007 at 8:45 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Pulling away from course record holder Asmae Leghzaoui with 800m to go, Benita Johnson defended her title at the 29th Freihofer’s Run for Women 5-K here today. Breaking the finish tape in 15 minutes and 22 seconds, she earned $10,000 for her victory.
Johnson, 28, the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country 8-K champion, carefully metered her effort today, hanging back a bit in the first kilometer (which is uphill) after Kenya’s Rose Kosgei went right to the front with Leghzaoui. Johnson would have none of it.
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Kiplagat not invited to Friehofer’s Run for Women after protesting event’s lack of drug testing
Posted May 31st, 2007 at 8:15 AM by Courtney Albon
Section: News & Results, Drugs In Sports
Saturday’s Friehofer’s Run for Women in Albany, NY will once again feature accomplished professionals, such as defending champion Benita Johnson, 2006 runner-up Natalya Berkut, and the controversial winner from 2005, Asmae Leghzaoui.
However, there is a noticeable hole in the lineup as Lornah Kiplagat, last year’s third place finisher, will not be competing.
Kiplagat was not contacted by officials of the race to run this year. Kiplagat has participated in two protests against the race’s policy that does not require runner’s to be tested for performance enhancing drugs and asserts that officials did not follow through with their promise to begin enforcing such screenings.
Several runners joined Kiplagat to protest the 2005 race because Asmae Leghzaoui, the eventually winner, was allowed to compete despite receiving a two year suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.
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Who was America's most-valuable male runner in 2008?
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The Final Sprint
On January 8, 2009
Jimmy said:
Hey nick, im a big fan.. do you do any cross training? and why did you decide to run d3 in college...