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Michael Wardian is Top U.S. Male at 100K World Cup; Kami Semick Wins Women's 100K Title
Kami Semick, Women's Team USA Strike Gold
From Dan Brannen, Running USA
June 23, 2009
Torhout, Belgium
Early Saturday morning, June 20, Kami Semick of Bend, OR became the second American, man or woman, to win a world ultramarathon title, taking control early in the 100 kilometer race and running away from the rest of the world's top women at the IAU 100K World Cup in 7 hours, 37 minutes, 24 second. Irina Vishnevskaya of Russia was a distant runner-up in 7:46:26. Kami Semick (43) made the only possible improvement she could have over her surprise silver medal at last year's version of the 62-mile world championship, and over the multi-loop course, she led the U.S. women to the second national team gold medal in U.S. history. Fellow Americans Devon Crosby-Helms and Meghan Arbogast placed fourth and fifth to seal the team victory for Team USA. The dominance of the U.S. distaff squad (taking 4 of the top 7 places) was the biggest surprise of the night, and rekindled memories of 1995, when the USA's Ann Trason, Donna Perkins and Chrissy Duryea similarly tamed the global women's national team field at the World Cup.
For the second straight year, multi-ultra national champion Michael Wardian (photo by Brightroom, 2009 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon) of Arlington, VA was the top
U.S. man as he finished sixth in 6:53:17. Yasukazu Miyazato of Japan won the world title in 6:40:44 over Jonas Buud of Sweden who was a close runner-up (6:41:50). Miyazato, like Semick, led the way to his country's team title.23rd IAU 100K World Cup
Torhout, Belgium, Friday-Saturday, June 19-20, 2009
Top Ten Men
1) Yasukazu Miyazato (JPN), 6:40:44
2) Jonas Buud (SWE), 6:41:50
3) Giorgio Calcaterra (ITA), 6:42:05
4) Marco Boffo (ITA), 6:45:39
5) Masakazu Takahashi (JPN), 6:51:18
6) Michael Wardian (USA), 6:53:17
7) Christophe Buquet (FRA), 6:55:46
8) Angel Jimenez (ESP), 6:55:59
9) Eric Legat (FRA), 6:57:07
10) Alexey Izmaylov (RUS), 6:58:46
Other U.S. Men
19) Todd Braje (USA), 7:15:13
34) Howard Nippert (USA), 7:40:06
55) Chad Ricklefs (USA), 8:17:31
Team Results
1) Japan, 20:31:01
2) Italy, 20:43:12
3) France, 21:00:46
Top Ten Women
1) Kami Semick (USA), 7:37:24
2) Irina Vishnevskaya (RUS), 7:46:26
3) Monica Carlin (ITA), 7:53:58
4) Devon Crosby-Helms (USA), 7:59:17
5) Meghan Arbogast (USA), 8:04:29
6) Helena Crossan (IRL), 8:04:40
7) Carolyn Smith (USA), 8:07:03
8) Branka Hajek (GER), 8:07:49
9) Mai Fujisawa (JPN), 8:08:48
10) Yoko Yamazawa (JPN), 8:10:05
Other U.S. Women
19) Connie Gardner (USA), 8:42:37
Team Results
1) USA, 23:41:10
2) Russia, 24:32:06
3) Japan, 24:41:21
Learn More at the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Web site
For a summary of Michael Wardian's marathon/ultra racing during the past two years, read "Run Hard or Stay Home," by George Banker/Long Distance Running Chair, Potomac Valley Association/USATF.
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