06-06-2011, 02:19 PM
ALBANY, N.Y. - (June 4, 2011) - A record 4,816 women jammed the streets of downtown Albany Saturday morning for the 33rd running of the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K, and it was Mamitu Daska, 27, from Ethiopia who proved swiftest of them all, dominating the race from the outset and crossing the finish line in 15 minutes, 19 seconds, comfortably ahead to claim a first place prize of $10,000.
Daska Dominates Field at Freihofer's Run for Women 5K
McKaig top American since race became international in 2005; race record 4,816 women at 33rd edition
By Edward Parham
At the 10:00am starting time, crystal 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. A top U.S. contingent also toed the line, featuring 2009 USA Cross Country champion Emily Brown, Nicole Blood, formerly from Saratoga Springs and Megan Hogan, formerly from Ballston Spa. Both Blood and Hogan have emerged in recent years as emerging forces on the U.S. distance running scene.
The opening half-mile of the race, with the long climb up Madison Avenue, revealed little, as a cluster of contenders jockeyed for position. Shortly after, Daska forced her way to the forefront and, from that point on, was never headed. Chebet and the talented Aheza Kiros from Ethiopia - winner of the celebrated Carlsbad 5000 in April - attempted to cover the move. Although they stayed close early on, Daska's strength was such that there was little they could do.
The first mile marker was passed in 5:06 with Daska maintaining a two-stride lead and Chebet and Kiros running shoulder-to-shoulder. Behind them, the field of contenders had already been consigned to race for lesser placings.
Through the rolling hills of Washington Park and out onto Washington Avenue, Daska continued to press her advantage. At two miles, a split of 10:04 signified a significant increase in pace, though it made little difference. The leader remained composed, adding meters to her advantage with every stride. As the lead trio swept back into Washington Park - greeted by the cheers of those at the rear of the field - Chebet made an attempt to gain back the ground she had lost. She gained a small advantage on Kiros, but that was all she could manage, and quickly lost it again. Back onto Madison Avenue for the half-mile stretch towards the finish line, the winner was assured.
While Chebet and Kiros battled for second, Daska charged onward in splendid isolation. At the line, her winning time of 15:19, the third fastest all-time Freihofer's clocking, gave her a four second advantage over Kiros who, in turn, carved a six second margin over the weakening Chebet.
"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."
The runner-up Kiros had a different perspective. "I was watching out for the Kenyan who won last year," she stated, implying that while she was focusing on Chebet, Daska stole away. "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 blighted 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.
Though the focus was on the leading African trio, this year's Freihofer's race saw some breakthrough U.S. performances. Alissa McKaig, a member of the U.S. team that won bronze medals in this year's World Cross Country Championships, stole fourth place just before the line from local favorite Hogan, 15:53 to 15:54. In doing so, McKaig became the highest-placed American since this race was opened to international runners in 2005. Hogan had little cause for disappointment, though, as her fifth place finish - along with the 9th place of Meghan Armstrong Peyton (16:13) and the 11th place of Brown (16:25) - enabled their club Team USA Minnesota to take the Freihofer's team title and the $1000 bonus that went with it.
The Masters competition, for runners 40 years of age an older, was dominated by Canada's Lisa Harvey, 42, who stormed through the line in 17:14, well ahead of Emily Bryans from Schenectady, NY (17:39) and Ukraine's Tatyana Byelovol (17:49). Carmen Troncoso (52), a Freihofer's legend, prevailed in the over-50 race (18:12), defeating distance running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson (54), who finished in a time of 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
Albany, NY, Saturday, June 4, 2011
1) Mamitu Daska (ETH), 15:19, $10,000
2) Aheza Kiros (ETH), 15:23, $5000
3) Emily Chebet (KEN), 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 (KEN), 16:02, $500
8) Tigist Tufa (ETH), 16:05, $300
9) Meghan Armstrong Peyton (USA / MN), 16:13, $583*
10) Risper Gesabwa (KEN), 16:15, $200
*includes top team purse
MASTERS (40+)
1) Lisa Harvey, 42, CAN, 17:14, $750
2) Emily Bryans, 45, USA / NY, 17:39, $500
3) Tatyana Byelovol, 46, UKR, 17:49, $350
4) Paula Wiltse, 43, CAN, 17:58, $200
5) Lori Kingsley, 47, USA / NY, 18:04, $100
Over 50
1) Carmen Troncoso, 52, USA / TX, 18:12
2) Joan Benoit Samuelson, 54, USA / ME, 18:22
Daska Dominates Field at Freihofer's Run for Women 5K
McKaig top American since race became international in 2005; race record 4,816 women at 33rd edition
By Edward Parham
At the 10:00am starting time, crystal 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. A top U.S. contingent also toed the line, featuring 2009 USA Cross Country champion Emily Brown, Nicole Blood, formerly from Saratoga Springs and Megan Hogan, formerly from Ballston Spa. Both Blood and Hogan have emerged in recent years as emerging forces on the U.S. distance running scene.
The opening half-mile of the race, with the long climb up Madison Avenue, revealed little, as a cluster of contenders jockeyed for position. Shortly after, Daska forced her way to the forefront and, from that point on, was never headed. Chebet and the talented Aheza Kiros from Ethiopia - winner of the celebrated Carlsbad 5000 in April - attempted to cover the move. Although they stayed close early on, Daska's strength was such that there was little they could do.
The first mile marker was passed in 5:06 with Daska maintaining a two-stride lead and Chebet and Kiros running shoulder-to-shoulder. Behind them, the field of contenders had already been consigned to race for lesser placings.
Through the rolling hills of Washington Park and out onto Washington Avenue, Daska continued to press her advantage. At two miles, a split of 10:04 signified a significant increase in pace, though it made little difference. The leader remained composed, adding meters to her advantage with every stride. As the lead trio swept back into Washington Park - greeted by the cheers of those at the rear of the field - Chebet made an attempt to gain back the ground she had lost. She gained a small advantage on Kiros, but that was all she could manage, and quickly lost it again. Back onto Madison Avenue for the half-mile stretch towards the finish line, the winner was assured.
While Chebet and Kiros battled for second, Daska charged onward in splendid isolation. At the line, her winning time of 15:19, the third fastest all-time Freihofer's clocking, gave her a four second advantage over Kiros who, in turn, carved a six second margin over the weakening Chebet.
"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."
The runner-up Kiros had a different perspective. "I was watching out for the Kenyan who won last year," she stated, implying that while she was focusing on Chebet, Daska stole away. "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 blighted 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.
Though the focus was on the leading African trio, this year's Freihofer's race saw some breakthrough U.S. performances. Alissa McKaig, a member of the U.S. team that won bronze medals in this year's World Cross Country Championships, stole fourth place just before the line from local favorite Hogan, 15:53 to 15:54. In doing so, McKaig became the highest-placed American since this race was opened to international runners in 2005. Hogan had little cause for disappointment, though, as her fifth place finish - along with the 9th place of Meghan Armstrong Peyton (16:13) and the 11th place of Brown (16:25) - enabled their club Team USA Minnesota to take the Freihofer's team title and the $1000 bonus that went with it.
The Masters competition, for runners 40 years of age an older, was dominated by Canada's Lisa Harvey, 42, who stormed through the line in 17:14, well ahead of Emily Bryans from Schenectady, NY (17:39) and Ukraine's Tatyana Byelovol (17:49). Carmen Troncoso (52), a Freihofer's legend, prevailed in the over-50 race (18:12), defeating distance running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson (54), who finished in a time of 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
Albany, NY, Saturday, June 4, 2011
1) Mamitu Daska (ETH), 15:19, $10,000
2) Aheza Kiros (ETH), 15:23, $5000
3) Emily Chebet (KEN), 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 (KEN), 16:02, $500
8) Tigist Tufa (ETH), 16:05, $300
9) Meghan Armstrong Peyton (USA / MN), 16:13, $583*
10) Risper Gesabwa (KEN), 16:15, $200
*includes top team purse
MASTERS (40+)
1) Lisa Harvey, 42, CAN, 17:14, $750
2) Emily Bryans, 45, USA / NY, 17:39, $500
3) Tatyana Byelovol, 46, UKR, 17:49, $350
4) Paula Wiltse, 43, CAN, 17:58, $200
5) Lori Kingsley, 47, USA / NY, 18:04, $100
Over 50
1) Carmen Troncoso, 52, USA / TX, 18:12
2) Joan Benoit Samuelson, 54, USA / ME, 18:22