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Running USA wire #33-04-04
Wire 33, April 25, 2004
In this edition of the Running USA wire:
1) Kibet, Catuna Win Country Music Marathon
2) Newcomers Champions at Big Sur Int'l Marathon
3) Billy Mills to Start 2004 Marine Corps Marathon
Team Running USA sponsored by Nike
Supported by grants from the New York Road Runners and Atlanta Track Club
Copyright © 2004 Running USA
All Rights Reserved
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon, OH, May 2
http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com
Runner's World Half-Marathon, Allentown, PA, May 2
http://www.runnersworld.com
Fifth Third River Bank 25K, Grand Rapids, MI, May 8
*USA Men's, Women's and Masters Championship
http://www.riverbankrun.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Audra Fleming, (858) 518-2923 or Kim Dettwiller, (615) 330-5656
Kibet, Catuna Win Fifth Annual Country Music Marathon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (April 24, 2004) - It was a pair of Kenyans, including a past champion, who decided the men's victory at the fifth annual Country Music Marathon Saturday in Nashville. Twenty-nine-year-old Luke Kibet, who won the inaugural race title in 2000, used his experience to overcome an impetuous 20th-mile surge by course rookie and countryman Nephat Kinyanjui to capture the men's title in a time of 2:14:11. On the women's side, Romanian Anuta Catuna's hopes for a third Olympic berth remained alive when she posted a time of 2:33:36 to win the women's title. Catuna's mark placed her under the Olympic "A" time standard and third on her country's list of Olympic qualifiers.
A half-hour weather delay at the start, due to heavy rain and lightning, did not deter the runners from staging an exciting race. Though the rain stopped just before the start, humidity lingered and with no pacesetters to lead them, the elite men began their tour of Nashville in tentative fashion. The first 10K was a sluggish 33:36, forecasting a 2:22 marathon finish. The men reached the halfway point with a large pack still intact. By 18 miles, the race had been reduced to four Kenyans with Kinyanjui controlling the pace. A 5:09 20th mile had opened a six second lead for Kinyanjui over Kibet. It was the final ascent on the course, through Shelby Park at approximately 23 miles, where Kibet pulled away and ran unchallenged to the finish.
"I was reminded of the many friends I have made here in Nashville through the years," said Kibet, who in addition to his victory in 2000, also placed second place here in 2001 and third in 2003. "I knew if I won, I would make many more friends and that is what motivated me."
Kinyanjui ended up in second place, at 2:15:52, and Alario Carrasco of Columbia was third, at 2:16:00. The countries of Columbia and Venezuela used the marathon as their Olympic Trials for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens and Carrasco earned a trip with his third place showing.
In the women's race, Russian Firaya Sultanova and Catuna worked together early on. The second place finisher at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon in January, Catuna made her move at 11.5 miles and ran by herself the rest of the way.
"Today was my day," said Catuna, the 1996 New York City Marathon champion. "I am so happy. When I was at Shelby Park, I looked back and did not see anyone and I was able to stay with my pace. I worked so hard to win, and I did it."
Kenyan Gladys Asiba was the second woman across at 2:35:13 and Sultanova, a master, was third at 2:35:56.
Over 16,000 runners and walkers took part in the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon this year, the largest crowd in the five-year history of the race. Among the participants were Senator Bill Frist, who ran the half-marathon in a time of 2:46:13 and Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte, who completed the half in a personal best 3:05:45.
"I loved the new 'out-and-backs' on the course," said Frist, who hadn't anticipated finishing the entire half-marathon. "It was not my best day, but I kept feeling better and better and the fans along the course were great. They really kept me going."
The festivities were capped with a Saturday evening post-race concert featuring country music star Brad Paisley.
5th Country Music Marathon
Nashville, TN, Saturday, April 24, 2004
MEN
1. Luke Kibet, Kenya, 2:14:11, 2004 Nissan Xterra
2. Nephat Kinyanjui, Kenya, 2:15:52, $8,000
3. Alario Carrasco, Colombia, 2:16:00, $4,000
4. David Mutua, Kenya, 2:17:30, $2,000
5. Juan Cardona, Colombia, 2:18:04, $1,000
6. Julian Berrio, Colombia, 2:18:48
7. Diego Colorado, Colombia, 2:18:49
8. Hugo Jiminez, Colombia, 2:19:01
9. Collins Edep, Kenya, 2:20:41
10. Freddy Alvarado, Venezuela, 2:21:57
WOMEN
1. Anuta Catuna, Romania, 2:33:36, 2004 Nissan Xterra
2. Gladys Asiba, Kenya, 2:35:13, $8,000
3. Firaya Sultanova, Russia, 2:35:56, $4,000
4. Elena Makalova, Belarus, 2:38:15, $2,000
5. Elena Orlova, Russia, 2:42:29, $1,000
6. Hannah Lawrence, USA, 2:48:20
7. Iglandini Gonzalez, Colombia, 2:53:41
8. Katherine Danner, USA, 2:59:02
9. M. Hernandez, USA, 3:05:11
10. Emily McReynolds, USA, 3:09:23
Wheelchair Marathon Results
1. Scot Holconbeck, 1:42:06, $500
2. Patrick Doak, 1:50:14
3. Charles Gornall, 2:09:02
Half-Marathon
MEN
1. Andrew Person, Kirksville, Mo., 1:11:48
2. Matt Pulle, Nashville, Tenn., 1:13:39
3. Natnael Amare, Fort Worth, Tex., 1:14:27
WOMEN
1. Barbara Jarnagin, Lilburn, Ga., 1:26:10
2. Candace Chambers, Huntsville, Ala., 1:28:01
3. Kari Velasco, Louisville, Ky., 1:29:29
For complete resuls, go to the race website at: http://www.cmmarathon.com
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Franca Gargiulo, Director of Media Relations
(415) 922-2870; franca.gargiulo@...
Newcomers Claim Wins at Big Sur International Marathon
By Mark Winitz, Running USA wire
CARMEL, Calif. - (April 25, 2004) - It takes just one run over the 26.2 miles between Big Sur and Carmel to discover the spectacularly rugged beauty of the Big Sur International Marathon. But several journeys over the mountainous and often windy Pacific coastline course are typically required to run this race well. Not for Ibrahim Limo or Suzy West, the respective men's and women's winners of this year's 19th presentation of the BSIM.
Limo, a 26-year-old Kenyan tackling his first marathon, claimed the men's victory, heading the field of over 3,000 starters in 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 19 seconds. West, of Putney, Vermont scored the women's win in 3:10:06, her first title among 10 marathon finishes.
This year's mild and almost windless conditions at the 7 a.m. start lured two-time defending champion Jonathan Ndambuki to a fast solo getaway, perhaps, in pursuit of the tough men's course record of 2:16:39 set by Brad Hawthorne in 1987. In his 2002 and 2003 victories, Ndambuki recorded the second and fourth fastest BSIM times behind Hawthorne's barn burner.
Over the innocently rolling first 10 miles starting among California redwoods and proceeding over a tame coastal plain, Ndambuki built a sizable gap on fellow Kenyans Limo and Wilson Gatiha. Following the two-mile, 520-foot climb to the top of aptly-named Hurricane Point at 12 miles, and cresting the highest location on the California coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Ndambuki was apparently on his way to a runaway win.
"I didn't know what to think about him," Limo said about Ndambuki's lead that ballooned to 3 minutes over his pursuers. "I was running within myself, at my own pace."
Limo was taking the advice of one of his relatives, multiple Honolulu Marathon winner Mbarek Hussein. "He told me to just start slow, to do my own thing, because it's a long way to go," Limo commented.
Limo's strategy paid off. Barely halfway through the BSIM course, the most challenging section lies ahead - a brutal series of hills that have proved a bounty or bane for countless Big Sur competitors. With temperatures rising into the mid 60s, Ndambuki suddenly slowed after 20 miles.
"I just got cramps; I don't know why," he said, pointing to his legs which required an hour massage after the race.
Working in tandem, Limo and Gatiha swept by Ndambuki at about 21 miles. A mile later, Limo left his final challenger in his wake and proceeded to victory. Gatiha garnered second a minute and 20 seconds back at 2:27:40. Ndambuki painfully limped home at a relative snail's pace in 2:40:45 for third.
"I surprised myself," Limo commented about his win.
In the women's race, West claimed her winner's crown by little more than the distance between the runners hugging the starting line and several thousand starters many rows back. A gap of only 1 minute and 3 seconds between West and second place female Heather Iasso of Arizona at the finish will have Iasso thinking twice about starting so far back next time.
Like Limo, Morris started conservatively.
"I don't like running downhill because I cramp up," said the 41-year-old dentist. "Since the first 10 miles are downhill, I knew I would cramp if I went out too fast. But, I love uphills."
Fortunately for Morris there were enough vertical climbs over the remainder of the course to jettison her from fifth place at halfway to first at the finish.
"I think a number of women had really bad races, which allowed me to win," said Morris about her 3:10:06 victory which was well off Svetlana Vasilyeva's course record of 2:41:34 set in 1996.
Iasso, starting far back in the pack, finished the challenging course in 3:11:09 to grab the bridesmaid spot.
"I decided to train for this one," said Iasso, who runs in the mountains at 6,000 feet in Hereford, Arizona. "It might have helped."
Iasso's training resulted in an hour's improvement over her only previous marathon. Kim O'Malley of Santa Cruz, CA was third in 3:13:03.
In the accompanying News 46 5K presented by Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Steve Immel of Lincoln, CA successfully defended his Pacific Association/USATF 5K Championship men's title in 15:14. Shaluinn Fullove of Palo Alto, CA was the women's victor in 17:41. Like the marathon, the 5K course is a challenging one.
For most Big Sur participants, who this year represented all 50 states and 17 countries, the allure of Big Sur is incomparable ocean vistas and attention to detail. Over 11,000 entrants participated in the marathon, marathon relay, 5K run and walks. Yet, for the majority, the sounds of Jonah and the Whalewatchers, the last of 26 musical groups strategically located along the fabled course, provide a welcome sound, indeed.
Since its inception in 1986, BSIM has donated more than $1,300,000 in grants and awards to schools and community organizations in Monterey County. Thanks to BSIM's sponsors that include ASICS, Comcast, Blackstone Winery, Granite Construction Company, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Runner's World, Dole Food Company, Earthbound Farm, Gatorade and Monterey Marriott.
19th Big Sur International Marathon
Carmel, CA, Sunday, April 25, 2004
MEN
1) Ibrahim Limo, 26, Kenya 2:26:19 $2,500
2) Wilson Gatiha, 29, Kenya 2:27:40 $1,000
3) Jonathan Ndambuki, 27, Kenya 2:40:45 $500
4) Ramiro Loredo, 40, Nevada 2:46:38 $250
5) Kenneth Macalpine, 34, Canada 2:48:03 $175
WOMEN
1) Suzy West, 41, Vermont 3:10:06 $2,500
2) Heather Iasso, 30, Arizona 3:11:09 $1,000
3) Kim O'Malley, 27, California 3:13:02 $500
4) Audrey Macmillan, 37, Unknown 3:15:00 $250
5) Diane Ridgway, 55, Colorado 3:18:01 $175
For full results, go to: http://www.bsim.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marine Corps Marathon Names Official Starter
Billy Mills, Olympic Gold Medalist and Former Marine, to Start 29th Annual Race
QUANTICO, Va. - (April 19, 2004) - The Official Starter of the 29th Marine Corps Marathon(r), to be held on October 31, 2004, will be Billy Mills, former United State Marine Corps Captain, Olympic Gold Medalist and the sole American to win the Olympic 10,000 meter race.
"Billy Mills, Olympian, Marine and great humanitarian, embodies the spirit of the Marine Corps Marathon. He is a hero to civilian and military runners the world over," said Rick Nealis, Race Director. "It is a great honor that Billy will join us at the 29th Marine Corps Marathon."
Currently, Mills is the national spokesperson of Running Strong for American Indian Youth(r) and making an integral difference in the lives of Indian children throughout the country. Each year he travels as much as 300 days to deliver his message to Native youth based on character, dignity and pride. This October marks the 40th anniversary of Mills' gold medal performance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
"I have always credited the support of the Corps to my Olympic success," said Mills. "To be invited to play a part in the Marine Corps Marathon is a thrill."
In addition to appearing at the starting platform, Mills will be a featured speaker at the MCM Pasta Party held on Saturday, October 30 at the race headquarters, the Hyatt Regency Crystal City hotel. Tickets are available for order through the MCM website at www.marinemarathon.com.
Official starters for the MCM's wheelchair and inaugural 8K race have yet to be named.
The Marine Corps Marathon, the country's 7th largest marathon, continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Since its inception, over 294,000 civilian and military runners from all walks of life have participated, deservingly earning the event its nickname "The People's Marathon." Beginning at the Iwo Jima Monument in Arlington, Virginia, the MCM course is beautifully scenic, guiding runners around the Pentagon, past the Capitol Building, down the National Mall and by the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Runner's World Magazine ranks the Marine Corps Marathon among the 10 Best Beginner Marathons.
Running Strong for American Indian Youth is a nationally recognized non-profit with the mission of strengthening American Indian communities by creating opportunities for self-sufficiency and self-esteem. Throughout 2004 Running Strong for American Indian Youth will be honoring Mills for the 40th anniversary of his gold medal win.
For information, contact Christine Bannister Moore at the Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations office at (703) 432-1164, or moorecb@..., or Molly Farrell at Running Strong for American Indian Youth at (703) 550-2123.
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Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services
385 Oak View Ln
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232; fax (805) 967-5958
http://www.runningusa.org
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