Posted: June 2, 2005

Athletics: Okayo, Prokopchuka, Denisova, Join Circle Of Friends New York Mini 10-K Field

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

A trio of world class marathon champions --Margaret Okayo, Lyubov Denisova and Jelena Prokopcuka-- have joined the strong international field at Circle of Friends New York Mini 10k on Saturday, June 11, in Central Park, The New York Road Runners announced.

Leading the trio is the 25-year-old Okayo, a two-time winner of the ING New York City Marathon, who has also claimed marathon wins in Boston and London. The Kenyan was third in the Mini in 2003 in 32:36 and has a lifetime best of 32.23 at the distance.

Prokopcuka, a three-time Olymian for Latvia, the 28-year-old won this year's Osaka Ladies Marathon in 2:22.56. In last year's Olympic Games, Prokopcuka was seventh in the 10,000, clocking a personal best 31:04.10.

Denisova is the reigning Los Angeles Marathon champion and has a pair of top-three finishes in the New York Marathon to her credit, finishing third last year and second in 2003.

Ethiopian Elfenesh Alemu, fourth at last year's Olympic Games marathon and runner-up at the last two editions of the Boston Marathon, was also announced. Previous announced entrants include Australian Benita Johnson, Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands, Masako Chiba of Japan, and Marie Davenport of Ireland.

"The 10K distance allows the finest track athletes and top marathoners to meet on a middle ground," said Mary Wittenberg, New York Road Runners President and CEO. “With athletes like Margaret, Lyubov, and Jelena, pitted against shorter distance stars like Benita Johnson and Marie Davenport this year’s Mini could be anyone’s race.”