Posted: July 1, 2005

Athletics: Kosgei, 25K World Record Holder, Headlines Kenyan Commitments to Crazy 8's

Kiptoo, Kipchirchir, Momanyi Add Depth to Field

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (June 29, 2005) - At the Berlin 25K last year, the top 5 males finished under the existing 25K world record, an astounding feat. Of course, only one man could lay claim to the new world record, and that was Paul Kosgei from Kenya. Even more astonishing was the fact that Kosgei's time of 1:12:45 was almost a full minute faster than the previous world record (1:13:44). Kosgei will lace up his record setting racing flats on Saturday night July 16 at the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run. He hopes to claim another world record on the candle-lit streets of Kingsport and collect the Regional Eye Center $10,008 Bonus.

Kosgei will join previous commitments Alene Emere (ETH) and Enock Mitei (KEN) to form a daunting top 3. Emere and Mitei came within a tick of the clock of the 8K world record in their 2001 teeth-gritting photo finish.

Kosgei's credentials might make him even more of a threat to run away with the coveted Crazy 8's title. In addition to his 25K top world ranking, he ranks 18th all-time in the half-marathon with his very swift 59:58 at the 2002 BUPA Great North Run in England. In that same year (2002), he was the World Half-Marathon Champion and Kenyan 10,000m Trials Champion (27:44) and won the prestigious Peachtree 10K and Utica Boilermaker 15K. The 27-year-old proudly wore the Kenya uniform each year from 1997-01 at the World Cross Country Championships, finishing 2nd once, 3rd three times and 5th once. His 10,000m PR is 27:21.56.

"When you look at all the great runners we've had at Crazy 8's over the years, Kosgei has to rank as one of the best," said co-event director and elite athlete recruiter Hank Brown. "He's run all over the world, and has competed at most of the major championships. We feel lucky to get him to Kingsport."

Kenyans Julius Kiptoo, Henry Kipchirchir and Douglas Momanyi will challenge the fearsome threesome of Kosgei, Emere and Mitei. Kiptoo has very impressive PRs of 13:06 for 5000 meters and 27:30 for 10,000 meters. Kipchirchir, at 6' 6" tall, is a very imposing figure on the starting line, and backs it up with some imposing stats - he recently ran 13:30 on the track for 5000 meters and was 16th at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships. Momanyi has run 13:31 for 5K, and so far in 2005, he has a 1st, 2nd and a 4th at three major road races.

"All these guys are great runners and any one of them could win the race," said Brown. "I would expect Kosgei, Emere and Mitei to make a run for the record, but the other guys will certainly be pushing them."

"The race is shaping up very nicely," added co-Crazy 8's director Tyler Hobbs. "Crazy 8's and Kingsport have a great reputation among the elite athletes. They all know about the world records that have been set here, plus the great crowd support. They want to come here and be a part of it."

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 and Dr. Rachel Monderer, Crazy 8's is managed by We Run Events.