Posted: September 7, 2004

Athletics: Kiptoo, Hashimoto Win Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile

By Bruce Meyer/Bud James

PARK FOREST, Ill. - (Sept. 6, 2004) - It was a warm and humid morning in suburban Chicago for the 27th running of the Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile. Only Matt Thull pushed the early pace as he led the first mile at 4:57 and the two mile in 9:57 with a flotilla of east Africans 12 seconds back at each check point.

By 5K in a conservative 15:28, the chase pack swallowed the American; the slowest opening 5K in recent race history. Recent Scenic champions Pat Nthiwa and Ronald Mogaka moved to the front pack of 12 athletes through the the 4th and 5th miles - each run in 4:50 and arriving at 5 miles in 24:37. Coming out of the woods, four Westchester based Kenyans began to string it out. In that group were Nthiwa, Valentine Orare, Julius Kibet and Julius Kiptoo. When hitting the open streets of the Village south of Chicago, Nthiwa's hope for a third title began to wilt as many of the runners faded under the harsh conditions. The remaining three fronted by Orare reached 12K in 36:14. At that point, Kibet started to show the effects of the high humidity as Kiptoo, apparently feeling the freshest of the trio, made a decisive move to take control of the race. Kiptoo's 4:42 final mile sealed the victory in 48:01 with Orare two seconds back.

In the women's race, Yasuko Hashimoto of Japan and her countrywomen Ichiyo Naganuma and Aimi Ishida ran together with 1996 U.S. Olympian Jenny Spangler in the early miles. Emerging from the woods, Hashimoto, the 2003 Berlin Marathon champion and 2004 Steamboat Classic titlist, took control as she clicked consistent 5:37 miles to the tape in 55:40, the slowest winning time in recent years. Spangler, 41, from north suburban Chicago finished second (also top master) in 56:56 followed by 2002 Park Forest champion Teresa Wanjiku. Conditions certainly affected many as the warm, summer weather finally made its appearance in the Chicago area after a summer that posted only one 90F+ temperature.

27th Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile - Park Forest, IL, Monday, September 6, 2004

MEN
1) Julius Kiptoo (KEN), 48:01
2) Valentine Orare (KEN), 48:03
3) Julius Kibet (KEN), 48:13
4) Patrick Nthiwa (KEN), 49:02
5) Ronald Mogaka (KEN), 49:18
6) Charles Ndereba (KEN), 49:20
7) Issac Arusei (KEN), 49:38
8) John Kariuki (KEN), 49:47
9) Shadrack Kimeli (KEN), 49:49
10) Peter Tanui (KEN), 49:51

MASTERS MEN (40+)
1) Paul Pilkington (IL), 52:34

WOMEN
1) Yasuko Hashimoto (JPN), 55:40
2) Jenny Spangler (IL), 56:56
3) Teresa Wanjiku (KEN), 58:02
4) Ichiyo Naganuma (JPN), 58:24
5) Aimi Ishida (JPN), 59:13
6) Janet Robertz (MN), 59:44
7) Heather May (IN), 1:00:33
8) Lucie Mays-Sulewski (IN), 1:01:53
9) Dot McMahon (WI), 1:02:32
10) Erin Kelly (IN), 1:02:49

MASTERS WOMEN (40+)
1) Spangler (see above)

For more race results, go to: www.scenic10.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.