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Deena Kastor, Emmanuel Korir Victorious in Chicago's Snowy Shamrock Shuffle 8K
From Marianne Caponi for Running USA Wire
April 1, 2009
Chicago, IL
For the Washington Running Report
2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, CA and Emmanuel Korir of Kenya led a field of 13,714 runners through the snow on Sunday, March 29 at the 30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. The race continued its storied tradition by ushering in the spring season in true Chicago fashion with temperatures in the low 30s and steady snowfall throughout the morning.
While 30,000 runners had registered for the popular race, only 13,714 elected to brave the elements at the country's largest 8K. With the vast majority of registrants hailing from the Chicagoland area, they were familiar with the conditions Mother Nature can deliver during springtime in Chicago.
"We've been communicating to our participants since mid-week that temperatures were looking to be less than ideal and hovering around freezing," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "They were still showing up to the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday with tons of enthusiasm and determination to run today. The energy at today's race is a great testament to the strong will of Chicagoans and their love of the sport."
Emmanuel Korir won the Shamrock Shuffle 8K men's race in 24:18, while American record holder Deena Kastor plowed to the women's title in 27:15. Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, CA was making her first return to road racing since a broken bone in one foot forced her to drop from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon near 5K. The three-time Olympian set the current U.S. women's 8K record at the 2005 Shamrock Shuffle with a 24:36 winning time.
In the inaugural year of the Elite Club Competition the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project team of Rochester Hills, MI won the men's title. Team members are Chad Johnson, Nick Arciniaga, Mike Kilburg and Ryan Sheehan. The women's team race was won by the Fleet Feet / Nike Racing Team of Chicago, IL featuring Jessica Langford, Colleen Newhart, Jokotade Agunloye, Christina Overbeck and Elizabeth Engel.
30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Top Finishers
Top 5 Men
1. Emmanuel Korir, 28, Lansing, MI, 24:18
2. Ryan Meissen, 30, Mukwanago, WI, 24:23
3. Jeff Jonaitis, 27, Tinley Park, IL, 24:29
4. Tyler Sigl, 23, Seymour, WI, 24:30
5. Chad Johnson, 32, Rochester Hills, MI, 24:30
Top 5 Women
1. Deena Kastor, 36, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 27:15
2. Tera Moody, 28, Boulder, CO, 28:03
3. Casey Owens, 26, Des Moines, IA, 28:55
4. Carol Jefferson, 23, Rochester Hills, MI, 28:57
5. Catherine Beck, 23, Chicago, IL, 29:01
See complete results at ShamrockShuffle.com