Posted: September 20, 2004

Athletics: 2004 Philadelphia Distance Run Beats the Weather and Yields Fast Times

From: Chris Reynolds, (610) 566-1960; chris@reynoldsink.com.

Kibet, Olaru Overall Champions

PHILADELPHIA - (Sept. 19, 2004) - A hurricane named Ivan and a 22-year-old named Julius both delivered surprises at the 27th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run on Sunday. Julius Kibet, 22, who trains in West Chester, Pa. won the half-marathon in 1:01:18, running a course that included a muddy stretch of Kelly Drive, which flooded after the remnants of Hurricane Ivan caused torrential rains the day before. At the 11th hour, race organizers were able to avoid detouring the course, thanks to a heroic nighttime clean-up by the City of Philadelphia.

Leading the pack throughout the outbound section and running alone into the wind on the West River Drive was Kenyan Luke Metto, now a resident of Peoria, Ill. Metto led for nearly 10 miles, opening a lead of 100 yards before fatigue set in. The pursuit pack included the same five runners for most of the race: American Khalid Khannouchi, Kenyans Julius Kibet, Gabriel Muchiri and John Itati and Moroccan El-Arbi Khattabi (who finished second in the JHPDR in 2003).

Mile after mile through the middle section of the race, this pack clustered shoulder-to-shoulder until at mile 11, Muchiri dropped out, clutching his side in pain. The remaining four stuck together past Boathouse Row, up the hill to the Art Museum and down the Ben Franklin Parkway as far as Logan Circle. With about 300 meters to go and the finish line in sight, Kibet made his move, pouring on the speed. Answering Kibet's surge but unable to match his closing speed were Khattabi in 1:01:19 and three-time PDR champion Khannouchi in 1:01:21. Metto finished fourth in 1:01:37.

Kibet ran his race exactly according to his game plan, according to his coach Hussein Makke of Elite International Sports Management in West Chester, Pa. "We wanted him to be patient and pace himself and let someone else go out fast. He got that message and ran this race just the way we discussed."

Flashing a sunny smile, Kibet said, "I didn't expect to win, but when I looked over my shoulder, I could see that I was going to do it."

Nuta Olaru, 34, won decisively the women's race in 1:09:38. The Romanian pulled ahead at 9 miles after running in a pack with defending JHPDR champion Leah Malot and 90-pound Japanese phenom Masako Chiba, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, in 1:10:02 and 1:10:55. Olaru, who had finished 13th in the Athens Olympics Marathon and won the Virginia Beach Rock 'n' Roll Marathon two weeks before the JHPDR, has the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon next on her to-do list.

Two-time U.S. Olympian Marla Runyan from Eugene, Ore. was the top American woman with her fourth place finish (1:11:19). She is also prepping for Chicago.

In the Master's division, 42-year-old Steve Spence (head track & field and cross country coach at Shippensburg University) repeated his 2003 masters victory in 1:06:23, while 2000 JHPDR Masters champion Tatyana Pozdnyakova, 49, of Ukraine, won in 1:13:36.

In the 5K Classic following the half-marathon, the top runners made the day a family affair as the 5K was won by relatives of some of the half-marathon stars. Alae Eddine Khannouchi, brother of Khalid, won the men's race in 16:07 and Steve Spence's 14-year-old daughter Neely won the women's in 18:17.

"I'm very relieved at how the event turned out," said Race Director Mark Stewart, who had been awakened with the news of Kelly Drive's flooding in the wee hours of Sunday morning. "I'm grateful to all the people who were out in the dark and gloom clearing water and muck so the runners could run the course we promised them. Everybody involved in the race owes a huge thank you to the Fairmount Park Commission."

Top local residents in the half-marathon were Edward Callinan, 30, of Cherry Hill, N.J. in 1:06:39 (18th overall) and Emily Kroshus, 21, of Bryn Mawr, in 1:15:55 (8th overall).

27th Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run - Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004

MEN
1) Julius Kibet (KEN), 1:01:18
2) El-Arbi Khattabi (MAR), 1:01:19
3) Khalid Khannouchi (USA/NY), 1:01:21
4) Luke Metto (KEN), 1:01:37
5) John Itati (KEN), 1:02:04
6) Duncan Kibet (KEN), 1:02:45
7) Fred Getange (KEN), 1:02:50
8) Brian Sell (USA/MI), 1:04:00
9) Clint Verran (USA/MI), 1:04:00
10) Samuel Ndereba (KEN), 1:04:27

MASTERS MEN (40+)
1) Steve Spence, 42,(PA), 1:06:23
2) Andrew Masai, 44,(KEN), 1:07:01
3) Abraham Limo, 44,(KEN), 1:07:39

WOMEN
1) Nuta Olaru (ROM), 1:09:38
2) Leah Malot (KEN), 1:10:02
3) Masako Chiba (JPN), 1:10:55
4) Marla Runyan (USA/OR), 1:11:19
5) Aki Fujikawa (JPN), 1:12:42
6) Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR), 1:13:36
7) Gladys Asiba (KEN), 1:14:45
8) Emily Kroshus (CAN/PA), 1:15:55
9) Debbi Kilpatrick-Morris (USA/OH), 1:16:19
10) Lisah Hamilton (PA), 1:16:23

MASTERS WOMEN (40+)
1) Tatyana Pozdnyakova, 49,(UKR), 1:13:36
2) Debbi Kilpatrick-Morris, 41,(USA/OH), 1:16:19
3) Ramilia Burangulova, 43,(RUS), 1:17:33

Complete results are available at: www.ingphiladelphiadistancerun.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.