Photo by Victah/www.photorun.net: Fernando Cabada sets 25K American Record.

At the Fifth Third River Bank 25K on Saturday morning, Fernando Cabada (Bristol, Va.), overwhelmed the men's field, setting a pending U.S. 25K record of 1:14:21 as he won the race overall and the men's title at the USA Championships. Turena Johnson Lane (Muncie, IN.), claimed the women's title in 1:28:42 and second overall. Johnson Lane was the top American female finisher in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (Washington, DC) in 2006 and 2005.

Temperatures in the low 40s and the threat of rain met athletes at the start of the 29th annual event. A large pack opened with a casual first mile of 5:05 before Cabada and eventual runner- up Julius Kibet of Kenya began to assert themselves as the main contenders turning in a series of 4:40 to 4:50 miles to steadily pull away from the field that included defending Open champion Simon Wangai.

As Cabada, a senior at Virginia Intermont College, and Kibet made their way past half-way, Kibet looked to be in control as the pair turned in a 4:37 eighth mile, but Cabada, 24, who was intent on winning the title outright began to talk to Kibet as he matched him stride-for-stride over rolling hills thru 12 miles.

As the pair approached 13 miles, Cabada made his move to the lead, posting a 4:35 mile to open a 12 second lead by 14 miles. At that point, Cabada knew that he had a shot at the U.S. record of 1:14:38 set by Ed Eyestone in 1991.

"I wanted to be the aggressor going in, I wanted to win," said the NAIA All-American. "I got really excited because I knew I had the U.S. championship and I thought I was probably going to get the record, but I just wanted to beat Kibet."

Kibet would fade to finish 44 seconds back while 2005 USA Marathon champion Mbarak Hussein (Albuquerque, NM), finished in 1:16:53 to round out the top three overall (and national runner-up). Hussein, 41, also broke his U.S. masters record that he set last year at River Bank (1:17:12).

In the women's race, 2004 USA 20K champion Johnson Lane, 30, claimed her second U.S. title as she finished second in the women's Open field behind Victoria Klimina of Russia who won in 1:27:47. Melissa White (Rochester Hills, MI.), was third in 1:29:21.

For the twelfth consecutive year, the Fifth Third River Bank Run hosted the USA 25K Championships, which was the fourth stop for men and the second for women on the 2006 USA Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. For more information on the 2006 USARC including current standings, visit: www.USATF.org.

Three local athletes placed in the top 25 men and women: Jacob Frey, age 24 of Oakton, VA (3rd American in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile) placed 11th among men; Dana Coons, age 27 of Charlottesville, finished 4th among women; and 34-year- old Susannah Kvasnicka of Great Falls, VA (2005 Marine Corps Marathon champion) placed 16th (1:34:14).

29th Fifth Third River Bank 25K: USA Championship

MEN

1) Fernando Cabada, VA, 1:14:21*, $8000
2) Julius Kibet, KEN, 1:15:05, $2000
3) Mbarak Hussein, 41, NM, 1:16:53#, $5000
4) Laban Moiben, KEN, 1:16:58
5) Fasil Bizuneh, CA, 1:17:06, $1500
6) Josh Eberly, MI, 1:17:09, $1000
7) Mike Morgan, MI, 1:17:16, $600
8) Emmanuel Korir, KEN, 1:17:20
9) Kyle Baker, MI, 1:17:47, $500
10) Justin Young, CO, 1:17:48, $400
11) Jacob Frey, VA, 1:17:48, $300
12) Nick Stanko, MI, 1:17:53, $200
13) Steve Crane, MI, 1:18:15, $100
*pending U.S. record (previous record, 1:14:38, Ed Eyestone, INB 
Stepahead Stampede, Indianapolis, IN, October 13, 1991) 
#pending U.S. masters record (previous record, 1:17:12, Mbarak 
Hussein, Fifth Third River Bank Run, MI, May 14, 2005)

WOMEN
1) Victoria Klimina, RUS, 1:27:47, $4000
2) Turena Johnson Lane, IN, 1:28:42, $6000
3) Melissa White, MI, 1:29:21, $3500
4) Dana Coons, VA, 1:30:58, $1500
5) Desiree Budd, MN, 1:31:09, $1000
6) Gladys Asiba, KEN, 1:31:32
7) Sopagna Eap, OR, 1:31:32, $600
8) Alvina Begay, AZ, 1:31:33, $500
9) Cassandra Henkiel, TX, 1:32:11, $400
10) Chris Lundy, CA, 1:32:30, $300
11) Beth Old, FL, 1:32:30, $200
12) Dot McMahon, MI, 1:32:39, $100

For more results, go to: 53RiverBankRun.com.