Posted: June 9, 2005

Athletics: Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K Attracts Top International Field

From David Monti

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

Lornah Kiplagat, Benita Johnson, Colleen De Reuck, and at least seven other Olympians will toe the line on Saturday, June 11, in New York City at the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K. The world’s original women-only road race, the Mini began in 1972 with 78 entrants; this year’s event will attract more than 4,000 female runners and walkers. The race is an official New York Road Runners event.

A world-class field has been part of the Mini’s tradition throughout its 34-year history. “Once again, we’ll have the world’s very best athletes at our side and leading the way on Saturday,” said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. Other top entrants include Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, Masako Chiba and two-time Olympic medalist Yuko Arimori of Japan, Margaret Okayo of Kenya, and Marie Davenport of Ireland. Tegla Loroupe of Kenya, 32, is also entered; Loroupe has won the Mini five times (1993, 1996-97, 1999, 2000) and is a former marathon world record-holder.

Last year, as a special tribute to American Olympic hopefuls, the Mini limited its professional field to U.S. entrants. Deena Kastor won in 31:44, the fastest time ever by an American woman in Central Park.

Kiplagat, the 2003 Mini champion in 31:13, is favored to defend her title on Saturday. The 31-year-old Dutch citizen, a native of Kenya, has posted 2005 victories in the BUPA Great Manchester Run 10K (31:28), the Britannic Asset Management Women’s Run 10K (31:44), the World’s Best 10K (32:11), and the Fortis Rotterdam Marathon (2:27:36). She will skip the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki in August in order to prepare for the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Edmonton in October and a fall marathon.

“I’m very excited to be back here in New York,” said Kiplagat, who has placed in the top 10 in the last three ING New York City Marathons.

Johnson, 26, of Australia, enters the Mini following a sixth-place finish at the Flora London Marathon (2:26:32) in April. She placed seventh at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships 8K in March after winning several major cross country races earlier in the year. Following the Mini, Johnson will return to her London training base to prepare for the World Championships in Helsinki, where she will contest the 10,000 meters. Admitting she is not yet in prime racing shape following a post-London break, Johnson said, “I get the best performances out of myself when I run against the world’s best athletes.”

De Reuck, 41, ran 32:50 to place fourth overall in the 2004 Mini as a masters runner. The winner of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon, she finished a disappointing 39th in the Olympic marathon due to a foot injury. De Reuck recently won the USA 25K Championships in 1:25:15, a masters world record pending ratification. “It’s an honor to be part of such a great event,” she said. De Reuck plans to run the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October.

The Mini’s title sponsor, Circle of Friends: Uniting to be Smoke-Free, is a national grassroots movement from the American Legacy Foundation to show support for women struggling to quit smoking, and to highlight the toll of tobacco-related disease on American women, their families, and communities.

NOTE: From the NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS --Ed.