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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 21, 2008

Beach to Beacon 10-K Next Stop on U.S. Roads

Posted July 31st, 2008 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

One of American’s most scenic road races, the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10-K, is also one of its most competitive. The 11th edition of this coastal run in Cape Elizabeth, Me., is scheduled for Saturday and features a very strong, mostly African, elite field.

Kenyan Duncan Kibet, who was the first of 4839 finishers in last year’s race in a swift 27:51.7 personal best, returns to defend his title, organizers reported earlier this week. Once again, it will be his goal to snatch the $10,000 first prize, part of a total $60,000 prize money purse.

His biggest rivals will mostly be from his own nation, including Quad-City Times Bix 7 champion Edward Muge, 2006 Beach to Beacon champion Thomas Nyariki, and three time “B2B” winner Gilbert Okari. The Kenyans will have two very strong Ethiopians to contend with (no Ethiopian man has ever won the B2B), led by 2008 AJC Peachtree Road Race champion Terefe Maregu Zewdie, and 2004 Olympian Dejene Berhanu.
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Fairfield Road Races Set for Sunday

Posted June 19th, 2008 at 5:18 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing

One of New England’s great running traditions continues on Sunday when the 28th edition of the Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half-Marathon steps off from Jennings Beach in Fairfield, Conn.

Event coordinator John Bysiewicz of JB Sports expects about 3500 runners from six nations and 35 states to participate in the half-marathon, 5-K and kids’ 1 kilometer run.

“This year’s race should be very exciting,” said Bysiewicz in a prepared statement.

Athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia are the favorites for the $1500 winners’ checks. There is also a $1,000 bonus for a course record (1:02:39/1:12:06).
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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.
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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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Kenyans Kithi & Kosgei Win Medtronic TC 1 Mile With Record Times

Posted May 9th, 2008 at 4:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Kenyans Josephat Kithii and Rose Kosgei won last night’s Medtronic TC 1 Mile, each taking home $4,000 in prize money and setting event records.

“I’m really excited for race officials who put on a $4,000 first place prize purse for a one-mile race,” said second place Haron Lagat from Kenya through a press release. The first place prize is the second highest for a road mile in the United States trailing only the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City which pays $5,000.

Kithii was hoping to break the four-minute barrier and pocket an additional $10,000 time bonus. Although he fell well short that mark, he still set a new event record with a 4:09 finish time, easily topping Luke Watson’s 4:16 event record set in 2006. Lagat was very close behind and was also credited with the same time. American Jordan Fife was third in 4:10.
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Dathan Ritzenhein Returns to Action to Defend Title at 2008 Healthy Kidney 10K

Posted April 29th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

U.S Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein will return to the roads of Central Park to defend his title in the Healthy Kidney 10K on Saturday, May 17, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

Ritzenhein will face stiff competition from an international field that includes ING New York City Marathon 2006 champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil and 2007 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships silver medalist Patrick Makau of Kenya.

Race sponsor Embassy of the United Arab Emirates has once again established a prize-money purse of $23,500—$7,500 for the champion—plus a $20,000 bonus for breaking the Central Park 10K record of 28 minutes, 8 seconds, which Ritzenhein set at last year’s race. Ritzenhein donated his 2007 first-place check of $7,500 to the National Kidney Foundation.

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New Balance Joins Falmouth Road Race As Sponsor

Posted April 7th, 2008 at 6:07 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

The 36th annual Falmouth Road Race, scheduled for Sunday, August 10 from Woods Hole to Falmouth, Mass., announced today that New Balance had become their official footwear and apparel sponsor. The sponsorship is part of New Balance’s new marketing campaign, “LOVE/hate. This is the New Balance,” which highlights a runner’s complex love/hate relationship with running.

“New Balance is excited to be involved in the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race, one of the most recognized road races in the country,” said New Balance’s Dan Green, through a media release. “This race is woven into the fabric of summer in New England and it celebrates the spirit of competition and personal achievement.”
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Two Half-Marathons To Watch For This Weekend

Posted April 4th, 2008 at 2:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Amongst the many road races scheduled for this early Spring weekend, there are two half-marathons on both sides of the Atlantic to watch for, each playing a different role in the running marketplace.

In Berlin, Germany, the massive Vattenfall Berliner Halbmarathon will be held for the 28th time and boasts over 20,000 entrants, according to race director Mark Milde. The field is also packed with top talent, led by 2007 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships silver medalist, Patrick Makau of Kenya. Makau, with a personal best of 58:56, is one of two athletes entered with a sub-one hour personal best. The other is compatriot Joseph Maregu who has a 59:45 to his credit. Jonathan Maiyo (1:00:10), William Todoo (1:00:12), Isaac Macharia (1:00:48) and Eshetu Wondimu have all broken the 61 minute barrier and should also be in contention for the podium.
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Road Race Action This Weekend Includes Cherry Blossom and Carsbad Races

Posted April 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

This weekend’s road racing action includes the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile in Washington, D.C., and the Carlsbad 5000 in Carlsbad, Calif. Both events are scheduled for Sunday, April 6.

In Washington, two-time world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba will open her 2008 season. The 35 year-old Kenyan, who also holds an Olympic silver medal, has never won the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile. Her best finish there was second in 2004 to Kenyan compatriot Isabellah Ochichi. Ndereba, who will be challenged by Kenyan Lineth Chepkurui and Romanian Lidia Simon, will lead a field of elite women in a special early start, 20 minutes prior to the main race of 12,000 runners.
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