Posted: June 20, 2005

Athletics: Emere and Mitei Return to Scene of Thrilling 2001 Finish at Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (June 17, 2005) - In 2001, Alene Emere from Ethiopia looked like he was on his way to breaking Peter Githuka's long-standing 8K world record of 22:03 set here in 1996. However, he inexplicably backed off the pace over the final kilometer, setting up the most thrilling, and the most agonizing finish in the celebrated history of the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run.

Sensing that Emere was slowing, Kenya's Enock Mitei seemingly came out of nowhere like a thief on the dark streets to almost steal the race away from Emere. They crossed the balloon arched finish line shoulder-to-shoulder with Emere breaking the tape just ahead of Mitei, but just 1 second behind Githuka's record. Race organizers have announced that both Emere and Mitei will return to run the candle-lit streets of Kingsport on Saturday night, July 16, and re-enact their battle from 2001.

"It was no doubt the most exciting race we've ever had," said Hank Brown, co-event director and recruiter of the elite athletes. "Alene apologized to me later for not breaking the record, but he got confused and didn't think he had a chance, so he backed off just a little near the end. When I found out that both Emere and Mitei were coming back this year, I was pretty excited."

Emere's miscalculation cost him the Regional Eye Center $10,008 world record bonus, on offer to anyone breaking Githuka's record, and it almost cost him the first place prize check. The Regional Eye Center will once again offer the bonus for any man or woman breaking their respective world records.

"This year I want to break 22 minutes," said Emere in a recent email. "I have been training for this race and feel good."

Emere will come into Crazy 8's in good shape. He finished 6th at the 2004 World Half-Marathon Championships in New Delhi, India, leading his Ethiopian team to a silver medal. He recently ran 13:15 for 5000 meters. Mitei has covered 10,000 meters in a very swift 27:43, and the half-marathon in 1:00:32. In 2002, he was 9th at the World Cross Country Championships.

Brown also announced the entry of two top American women to the elite field, Ann McGranahan and Nicole Hunt. McGranahan has run 15:46 for 5000m and 26:30 for 8K while Hunt has run 15:52 for 5000m and 33:24 for 10,000m.

The epic clash between Emere and Mitei in 2001 produced the 2nd and 3rd fastest 8K times ever from record standard courses. That same year, Shadrack Kosgei of Kenya finished just a few steps behind, notching the 5th fastest time ever. Of the top 5 8K times in the world, 4 have been run on the famed figure-8 Crazy 8's course. Of course, Crazy 8's also holds the women's world record set in 2002 by Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco with a blazing 24:28.

"Crazy 8's has a reputation as the world's fastest 8K" said Brown, "and Kingsport is proud of this. We'll continue to recruit the very best we can because the people of Kingsport have come to expect the best."

Even though the elite runners get most of the attention in the sports pages, Crazy 8's is much more than just a bunch of fast men and women from faraway places. At 6:28pm over 700 kids will hustle around the Johnson Elementary School soccer fields in the HMG Little 8's Youth Runs. The races range in distance from 100 yards to one mile, and ages from 2-years-old to 14-years-old. At 8:58pm nearly 500 walkers will set off in full motion in the Cardiovascular Associates 3K Heart Walk, a non-competitive event promoting heart healthy activities. In the evening's finale, over 1,000 runners will blast off at 9:58pm on Eastman Road for the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run. With 2,100 participants, Crazy 8's is the largest road race in Northeast Tennessee. It will once again take place during Kingsport's Fun Fest, a weeklong festival of music, fun and sports related events.

For more information or to register, visit Crazy8s.org. Registration is also available at the Fun Fest Store in the Ft. Henry Mall. Sponsors are Indian Path Medical Center, SunTrust Bank, Holston Medical Group, Cardiovascular Associates, Regional Eye Center, Citadel Broadcasting, YMCA, Culligan, Food City, Kingsport Rental, Domino's Pizza and Charter Media. Fluid station/Invited Athlete Sponsors are Mather Dentist Office, Mountain Region Family Medicine, Fleming's Tune-Up, Holston Medical Group, Martin Dentistry, Celebration Church, Dr. Rachel Monderer and Tele-Optics. Crazy 8's is managed by We Run Events.

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.