Women finishers out number the men 4290 to 4281.

Let's get started before the wind picks up again
They're an odd couple, John Korir and the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile. Odd in that Korir, 29 and from Kenya, of course, is now the first three-time winner since Bill Rodgers (who won four times, 1978-81) and that all of Korir's wins have come in odd years: 2001, 2003 and now 2005. Korir did not race here last year and finished second 2002 and third in 2000.

One of the world's top road racers the past five years, Korir ran 46 minutes 55 seconds, using his signature powerful kick down the stretch to propel him past runner-up Reuben Chebii, who finished three seconds back. Chebii, 22, finished third at the CUCB last year (48:17).

"I always felt like I could win," Korir said, although a formidable group of three challengers - Chebii, Ernest Meli Kemeil (third in 47:04) and Gilbert Okari (fourth in 47:16) - had matched his pace through eight miles.

Nuta Olaru, 34, from Romania, made her second Cherry Blossom most memorable by beating a strong women's field with a fine time of 52:01 on the cold and blustery day. Even though she was well ahead of runner-up Alevtina Ivanova, a Russian who trains in Gaithersburg (53:17), Olaru kicked furiously in the final quarter-mile.

"She said before the race that she wanted to break 52:00," said Olaru's agent, Brendan Reilly. "And she saw the clock at the finish and really gave it a good shot." Nonetheless, Olaru's time was the fastest since Colleen De Reuck set the course and then-world record of 51:16 in 1998.

Reilly also represents Kazuo Ietani, 27, from Japan, who was the focus of attention for the first half of the race. Ietani finished seventh last year but knows enough about Korir and the other Kenyans to realize he needed to put some distance between himself and their big finishes if he was to have any chance at winning. So while the pack set a modest opening pace of 4:50 per mile, Ietani blazed ahead and alone with a lead of more than 100 meters.

While Ietani has a recent half-marathon personal best of 1:01:30 and a 10-mile best of 46:45, predictably he was caught and then passed just before halfway. Ietani finished 11th in 48:19; Kenyans claimed nine of the 10 places ahead of him.

Turena Johnson Lane of Muncie, IN is sixth woman, first American
Locally, Michael Wardian, 30, from Arlington, VA was the first American and 21st overall in 52:00. "I was working the whole way just to stay ahead of [women's winner Olaru]," Wardian said. Chris Raabe, 26, from Washington, DC finished one spot and fifty- five seconds behind Wardian.

Turena Johnson Lane, 29, from Muncie, IN, was the top American and sixth in 55:37. Susannah Kvasnicka, 33, from Great Falls, VA, took top local honors with her ninth-place finish (57:27). Samia Akbar, 23, a former American University distance-running standout living in Herndon, VA was 10th in 57:40 and Emily Richard, 28, from Washington, DC was two seconds back in 11th place.

Dai Roberts, 43, from England and living in Virginia Beach, VA was the top master in 54:13. Kate Paddon, 43, from New Hartford, CN, was the women's masters champion in 63:12.

Notes: Reuben Cheruiyot, who won the CUCB in 2000 and was the runner-up in 2001 and '03, finished 17th in 50:29, nine seconds ahead of Alexey Khokhlov, a Russian who trains locally.

Wilson Komen, a Kenyan who trains in Washington, DC and Albuquerque, NM, and the winner of last year's Pike's Peek 10K, finished 14th (49:23). More recently, he won the St.Patrick's Day 10K in 31:14. Ethiopian Atalelech Ketema, 22, who trains in Washington, DC and the Bronx, NY, was seventh among the women.

Men's Money Award Winners

                                                  Gun   Prize
                                                  Time  Money
MALES (OVERALL):
1 John K Korir            29 Kenya                46:55 6000 
2 Reuben Chebii           22 Kenya                46:58 2750 
3 Ernest Meli Kemeli      20 Kenya                47:04 1500 
4 Gilbert Okari           26 Kenya                47:16 1200 
5 John C Korir            23 Kenya                47:32 1000 
6 Paul Koech              35 Kenya                47:49  800 
7 Andrew Letherby         31 Australia            47:52  600 
8 Wilberforce Talel       25 Kenya                47:54  500 
9 Samuel Ndereba          28 Kenya                47:56  400 
10 John Itati             31 Kenya                48:11  300 
11 Kazuo Ietani           27 Japan                48:19  250 
12 Araya Haregot          23 Ethiopia             48:53  200 

Women's Money Award Winners

                                                  Gun   Prize
                                                  Time  Money
FEMALES (OVERALL):
1 Nuta Olaru              34 Romania              52:01 6000 
2 Alvetina Ivanova        29 Russia               53:17 2750 
3 Tetyana Hladyr          29 Ukraine              54:16 1500 
4 Aurica Buia             35 Romania              54:57 1200 
5 Sally Barsosio          27 Kenya                55:19 1000 
6 Turena M Joh Lane       29 Usa                  55:37  800 
7 Atalelech Ketema        22 Ethiopia             57:17  600 
8 Luminita Talpos         32 Romania              57:25  500 
9 Susannah Kvasnicka      33 Great Falls VA       57:27  400 
10 Samia Akbar            23 Herndon              57:40  300 
11 Emily Richard          28 Washington DC        57:42  250 
12 Jill Krebs             24 New Windsor MD       58:12  200

Full Results
Photo Gallery Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3
Cherrry Blossom Home Page with age group winners