Posted: May 26, 2005

Athletics: Kiplagat, Legzhaoui Join Stacked Freihofer's Run for Women Field

Kibet, Wanjiku and Americans Shook, Gaffigan and Laura O'Neill Also in Fastest Race Field Ever Assembled

ALBANY, N.Y. - (May 24, 2005) - Lornah Kiplagat, the lady who has traveled 5 kilometers on the road faster than any woman in the world, will travel to Albany to run against the fastest elite field ever assembled for the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K. Hilda Kibet and Asmae Legzhaoui will join Kiplagat for the Capital Region's premier footrace, set to take off from the Empire State Plaza on Saturday, June 4, at 10:15am.

Kiplagat, who is originally from Kenya but now resides in the Netherlands, ran 14:47 in Brunssum, NED on March 28, 2004. That mark is recognized as the world's best by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS). USA Track & Field, however, accepts Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe's 14:51 set at the 2003 Flora Light Women's 5K in London and Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba's 14:51 at this year's Carlsbad 5000 as the world record.

The 31-year-old Kiplagat who also owns the 10 mile world best (50:54) has run 2:22:22 (Osaka, Japan) and 2:22:36 (Chicago) in the marathon. She has broken 31:00 for 10K on the road an unbelievable five times, with a personal best 30:32 at the 2002 Peachtree 10K.

"They just don't come any better than Lornah Kiplagat," says Run for Women Event Director George Regan. "Not only is she a multiple world record holder, but she has won many major road races. We're thrilled to have her here in Albany."

Kiplagat's marathon victories include the LA Marathon ('97-98), Amsterdam Marathon ('99), Osaka Marathon ('02), and most recently, her hometown Rotterdam Marathon this spring. She has won two of the most prestigious road races in the world, the Peachtree 10K and Falmouth Road Race, three times each. To prove she is on top of her game, she recently won the BUPA Great Manchester 10K in Manchester, England with a sparkling 31:28 over a talented field. The list of Kiplagat's records, accomplishments and victories goes on and on.

One less publicized of Kiplagat's accomplishments, yet no less worthy, is the establishment of the High Altitude Training Center (HATC) in Iten, Kenya. She founded the HATC so young, talented athletes can train, study and live in ideal conditions. She is no doubt a role model for many future Kenyan distance-running stars.

Hilda Kibet is one of those who calls Kiplagat her role model. She also calls her cousin. Kibet, like Kiplagat, is native to Kenya, but resides in the Netherlands, and astonishingly only started serious running in 2004. Under Kiplagat's tutelage, she has already risen to prominence with a 15:45 5K and 31:46 10K best, where she gave her training partner a run for her money at the 2005 BUPA Great Manchester 10K.

Asmae Legzhaoui from Morocco might be the hottest runner in the world right now. Since returning to competition this spring after a two-year layoff, she is undefeated in five races, setting course records in three events and a pending world record in one. In her first race back on April 16, she started her remarkable streak with a course record at the Sallie Mae 10k in 31:27. On April 23 she continued her remarkable comeback by winning the Salt Lake City 5K at altitude in a swift 15:14. On May 1, she broke the tape in 39:33 at the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA.

The tiny Moroccan, who currently holds the world record for 8K set at the Crazy 8's in Kingsport, TN in 2002, added another pending world best to her resume at the Bay to Breakers 12K on May 15. Her 38:22 eclipsed Delilah Asiago's previous course and world record by one second. If that wasn't enough, Legzhaoui's journeys across the United States landed her in Cleveland for the Rite-Aid Cleveland 10K on May 22 where, you guessed it, she won in a course record time of 31:10.

Kiplagat, Kibet and Leghzaoui will be joined on the Madison Avenue starting line by other recent commitments: Briana Shook (USA), Ann Gaffigan (USA), Laura O'Neill (USA), and Teresa Wanjiku (KEN). Shook and Gaffigan are the two premier steeplechasers in the U.S. right now. At the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials 3000m steeplechase, Shook crossed the finish line first, but Gaffigan was declared the winner in an American record because Shook missed the first water hurdle. Two weeks later Shook atoned her disappointment by regaining the American record in 9:29.32. O'Neill recently finished a solid 7th at the USA 8K Championship in 26:35. Wanjiku is one of Kenya's most solid road racers, with a 31:01 10K to her credit and many road victories.

"This is truly an unbelievable field, a dream field," remarks Regan. "Please pinch me to see if I am dreaming. This group of elites is fast and deep. This will be - without a doubt - the greatest Freihofer's race ever."

Previous commitments Amy Rudolph (USA) and Silvia Skvortsova (RUS) have withdrawn from the race.

Participants for the Freihofer's Run for Women can pick up a registration form at any Capital Region Price Chopper store, or by visiting FreihofersRun.com. Both online and mail-in registrations will close 5/27 at midnight. In person (last chance registration) as well as bib and chip pickup will take place 6/3 at the CapitalCare Health & Fitness Expo from noon-9pm on the Concourse Level of the Empire State Plaza. Additional information on the CapitalCare Health & Fitness Expo, Freihofer's Community Walk and Kid's Run is also available on the Freihofer's Run for Women website.

Event sponsors include the Charles Freihofer Baking Company (a division of George Weston Bakeries Inc.), Price Chopper Supermarkets, B95.5 FM, NewsChannel 13 and The Clarion Hotel of Albany.