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Freihofer's Run for Women 5K: Ethiopian Mamitu Daska Wins Title
By Ed Parham, Running USA wireJune 6, 2011
Albany, NY
A record 4,816 women jammed the streets of downtown Albany Saturday morning, June 4, for the 33rd running of the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K. Mamitu Daska, 27, of Ethiopia proved to be swiftest of them all, crossing the finish line in 15:19 to claim a first place prize of $10,000.
Clear skies greeted the field, which included Daska, who had placed second in 2009 and third in 2010; three-time past champion, Benita Willis (formerly Johnson) from Australia, and defending champion and course record (15:12) holder Emily Chebet from Kenya. The Americans included 2009 USA Cross Country champion Emily Brown, Nicole Blood, formerly from Saratoga Springs and Megan Hogan, formerly from Ballston Spa. Both Blood and Hogan are emerging talents on the U.S. distance running scene.
The opening half-mile of the race, with a long climb was covered by a cluster of contenders. Daska then took control of the race; Chebet and Aheza Kiros of Ethiopia--winner of the Carlsbad 5000m in April--hung on. The first mile marker was passed in 5:06.
Along rolling hills, Daska continued to increase her lead; her two mile split was 10:04. Chebet made an attempt to close the gap. Daska ran strong during the final half-mile, and secured the victory in 15:19. It was the third fastest time ever at the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K.
"The race was good, the course was good, the weather was good," commented Daska through interpreter, Sabrina Yohannes, after the race. "I've run this race three times. I'm very happy that I won. I could tell that they couldn't keep up after the first mile, so I kept going."
Runner-up Aheza Kiros had a different perspective. "I was watching out for the Kenyan [Chebet] who won last year," she stated. "This was a race that I could have won and should have won."
Chebet, the defending champion, was disappointed, though she explained that injury had hampered her recent training.
"It was very tough for me," she explained. "I have had a knee injury since last year. The pace was very hard." This was her first race since competing in Germany several weeks ago.
This year's race saw some breakthrough American performances. Alissa McKaig, a member of the U.S. team that won bronze medals in this year's World Cross Country Championships, finished fourth (15:53), and local favorite Megan Hogan was fifth (15:54). McKaig became the highest-placed American since this race was opened to international runners in 2005. Hogan, Meghan Armstrong Peyton (ninth, 16:13), and Emily Brown (11th, 16:25) of Team USA Minnesota won the team title, and a $1000 bonus.
The Masters title (40 years and older) went to Canada's Lisa Harvey, 42, (17:14), with Emily Bryans of Schenectady, NY second (17:39), and Ukraine's Tatyana Byelovol third (17:49). Carmen Troncoso, 52, a Freihofer's legend, prevailed in the 50-plus division (18:12), ahead of distance running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson, 54, (18:22).
Benoit Samuelson, winner of the inaugural women's Olympic Marathon in 1984, addressed the runners at the start of the race by calling for a moment of silence for marathoning legend, Grete Waitz, the nine-time winner of the New York City Marathon, who recently passed away after having battled cancer for several years.
33rd Freihofer's Run for Women 5K
1) Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia), 15:19, $10,000
2) Aheza Kiros (Ethiopia), 15:23, $5000
3) Emily Chebet (Kenya), 15:29, $3000
4) Alissa McKaig (USA / NC), 15:53, $2000
5) Megan Hogan (USA / MN), 15:54, $1333*
6) Diane Nukuri Johnson (BDI), 15:57, $750
7) Everlyne Lagat (Kenya), 16:02, $500
8) Tigist Tufa (Ethiopia), 16:05, $300
9) Meghan Armstrong Peyton (USA / MN), 16:13, $583*
10) Risper Gesabwa (Kenya), 16:15, $200
*includes top team purse
Masters (40 & Older)
1) Lisa Harvey, 42, Canada, 17:14, $750
2) Emily Bryans, 45, USA / NY, 17:39, $500
3) Tatyana Byelovol, 46, Ukraine, 17:49, $350
4) Paula Wiltse, 43, Canada, 17:58, $200
5) Lori Kingsley, 47, USA / NY, 18:04, $100
50 & Older
1) Carmen Troncoso, 52, USA / TX, 18:12
2) Joan Benoit Samuelson, 54, USA / ME, 18:22
Complete results at www.freihofersrun.com.