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Emily Chebet Wins Freihofer's Run for Women 5K, Sets Course Record
By David Monti(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
Albany, NY (05-Jun)--Reigning IAAF World Cross Country champion Emily Chebet overcame steamy conditions and an even hotter field here today to win the 32nd Freihofer's Run for Women 5K in course record time. The 24-year-old mother from Kericho, Kenya, who still has the youthful looks and smile of a teenager, sailed down the homestretch on Madison Avenue to break the tape in 15:12. Chebet broke Asmae Leghzaoui's course record of 15:18 from 2005.
"I am happy now," said the tiny athlete soaked with sweat. "I am the winner."
The twisting record-standard course begins with a short uphill; the lead pack of eight women ran a sluggish 3:14 for the first kilometer, with Africans in the front. Chebet was joined by Ethiopians Teyba Erkesso, the defending champion, Mamitu Daska, Amane Gobena, and Belainesh Gebre; Kenyans Edna Kiplagat and Jelliah Kerubo Tinega; and Australian Benita Willis. The pack stayed together through a faster second kilometer (6:14/3:00), but Willis, a three-time champion here, and Gebre fell back in the third (uphill) kilometer in leafy Washington Park (9:25/3:11).
"I was the only (non-African) who went with them," Willis said. "I gave myself every shot to go for it."
The field began to string out in the fourth kilometer. As the leaders turned right for the second pass through the Park, only four were left in contention: Chebet, Kiplagat, Daska and Erkesso. Chebet knew that the other three women were primarily marathoners and was beginning to feel like this was her day.
"Yes. I see that the body is OK, and I say, I am the winner today," Chebet recalled. "Yes, I feel the body is strong today."
Erkesso drifted back before the 4K mark (12:31/3:06), then Kiplagat upped the pace. Chebet responded, but Daska couldn't hold on. Chebet accelerated immediately as they turned left on to Madison for the final 800 meters to the finish, and began to slowly increase here speed over Kiplagat, who was familiar with Chebet's résumé.
"I knew she would have good speed," said Kiplagat. "When I was in Kenya watching the world cross country (on television) she was among the fast (group). Then, in the last kilometer she outsprinted the world 10,000m champion, Linet Masai."
Chebet did not make a sudden burst for victory, but gently increased her pace; she covered the last kilometer in 2:41. At the line, Chebet's course record of 15:12 gave her a winning margin of eight seconds over Kiplagat. This is her second Freihofer's race, with a sixth place (15:59) finish in 2007.
Chebet's time was the second-fastest on USA soil this year--Ethiopia's Meseret Defar who ran 15:04 at the Carlsbad 5000 in California in April--and earned Chebet $10,000 in prize money.
Kiplagat came home second in 15:20, followed by Daska (15:23), Erkesso (15:36) and Gebre (15:44). Willis finished seventh in 15:49, and Rebecca Donaghue of State College, PA was the top American (ninth, 15:50). Elizabeth Maloy, a native of Loudonville, NY and a graduate of Holy Names and Georgetown University, finished tenth (15:53).
Ukraine's Anzhelika Averkova, 41, won the veterans (masters) competition in 16:50 ($750), and Carmen Troncoso, 51, outsprinted Joan Samuelson, 53, to win the 50-and-over title by one second in 17:47. It was Troncoso's 20th consecutive finish at Freihofer's, and her 19th time breaking 18 minutes.
"If she comes up here it's over," Troncoso said of Samuelson pointing at her left shoulder. "If you let her come, it's over."
Not surprisingly, race director George Regan was pleased with his event which recorded nearly 4000 entrants. "It was just tremendous to have a near-record field, and have a course record," he said. "There's not much more I could ask for. I'm very happy."
From the Freihofer's Run press release: Earlier in the day in the USA 10K Race Walk Championships, Allen James, 46, of Sanborn, NY cruised to victory in a time of 46:39. The top female finisher in the 36-person field was Teresa Vail, 47, of Gainesville, FL, who crossed the line in 47:24.
Freihofer's Run for Women 5K
Open
1. Emily Chebet (Kenya) 15:12 (CR) $10,000
2. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 15:20 $5000
3. Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia) 15:23 $3000
4. Teyba Erkesso (Ethiopia) 15:36 $2000
5. Belainesh Zemedkun (Ethiopia) 15:44 $1000
6. Julliah Tinega (Kenya) 15:48 $750
7. Benita Willis (Australia) 15:49 $500
8. Amane Gobena (Ethiopia) 15:50 $300
9. Rebecca Donaghue (USA/PA) 15:50 $250
10. Elizabeth Maloy (USA/NY) 15:53 $200
Masters (40 & Over)
1. Anzhelika Averkova (Ukraine) 16:40 $750
2. Lisa Harvey (Canada) 17:05 $500
3. Paula Wiltse (Canada) 17:28 $350
Over 50
1. Carmen Troncoso (USA/TX) 17:47
2. Joan Samuelson (USA/ME) 17:48
USA 10K Race Walk Championships
1 Allen James, 46, M, Sanborn, NY 46:39 ($500)
2 Dave McGovern, 44, M, Locus Valley, NY, 47:22 ($400)
3 Teresa Vaill, 47, F, Gainesville, FL, 47:24 ($300)
4 Dan Serianni, 19, M, Rochester, NY, 48:48 ($200)
5 Dave Talcott, 50, M, Johnson City, NY, 50:42 ($100)
6 Alejandro Chavez, 17, M, Pharr, TX 51:24
7 John Soucheck, 44, M, Little Silver, NJ, 52:24
8 David Swarts, 45, M, Jackson, MI, 52:51
9 Dan O'Brien, 45, M, Port Huron, MI, 53:14
10 Omar Nash, 36, M, Cincinnati, OH, 53:35
Event sponsors include the Charles Freihofer Baking Company, Price Chopper Supermarkets, The City of Albany, FOX23, the Times Union, WGNA, host hotel 74 State, CSC, Subway, and Dale Miller Restaurant.
Freihofer's, a leading baker of wholesome products, is committed to fostering the growth and recognition of women in sports and inspiring all generations of women to experience the benefits of exercise and good nutrition. Freihofer's continues to set the pace by sponsoring the annual Freihofer's Run for Women 5K. Now in its 32nd year, the event, which is home to the Master's World & U.S. All-Comers record, features thousands of women of all ages and abilities from Olympians to recreational joggers, who challenge themselves on the picturesque 3.1-mile course. For more information, see www.freihofers.com.