Posted: March 30, 2006

Athletics: Top International Field Expected at Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run®

First-Ever Elite Women's Advance Start; $31,500 Purse

WASHINGTON, DC - (March 28, 2006) - Last year, Gilbert Okari, the favorite in the 2006 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run® on Sunday, April 2 in West Potomac Park, was a bit of a late starter. During the spring he lost to John Korir at three major spring races, the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile and the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA. Over the summer, Okari hit his stride with nearly weekly trips to the winner's circle as he strung together wins at the Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, the Utica Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY, the Quad-City Times Bix 7 mile in Davenport, IA, the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, ME and the Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, MA (beating Korir in the last three of these outings).

However, at year-end, he ended up just fractions of a percent behind Korir in Running Times Magazine's "Road Racer of the Year" rankings. He appears to be getting an earlier start in 2006 as he bested Korir at the World's Best 10K (placing 2nd in 28:04 to Korir's 8th in 28:44). Korir is not defending his title here as he prepares for his marathon debut at the Boston Marathon, but Okari looks poised to start his roll a bit earlier this year with an eye toward the top spot in the 2006 rankings. Reuben Chebii is the man considered most likely to derail the "Okari Express". Chebii placed second in 46:58 here last year to Okari's third in 47:16 in near gale force winds. A third Kenyan, Samuel Ndereba, fresh off a win last weekend at the Azalea Trail 10K in Mobile, AL (28:35) and with a second place finish here (48:14) in 2004, could be in the mix.

For a third year, a talented squad of three Japanese runners, traveling here from the Feb., 11th Himeji Castle 10 mile in Himeji, Japan, the "sister" race of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom, will take aim at breaking the Kenyan juggernaut in the winner's circle. Michitaka Hosokawa, who placed 2nd at Himeji in 47:11, Kazuo Ietani, 3rd at Himeji in 47:11 and Shin-ichi Watanabe, 6th at Himeji in 47:19, could offer serious challenges. Last year, Ietani set a fast pace in the early miles before fading to 11th in 48:19.

The top Americans in the men's field are Matt Downin of Norwood, NJ and Chris Graff of Palo Alto, CA. The top American male will be invited to compete in the 2007 Himeji Castle 10 mile.

In the women's race Luminita Talpos of Romania, the 2002 champion, and Olga Romanova of Russia, the 2003 champion, will take on 2000 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Lidia Simon, who is making her debut here. Alevtina Ivanova of Russia, 3rd last year in 53:17 and 1st last weekend at the Uptown 8K in Dallas, TX in 25:16, also could be a factor. Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia is a bit of a wild card as she is racing on just two week's rest after winning the Los Angeles Marathon in 2:25:10.

Whoever wins the women's race will establish a world record as the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile is the first 10-miler on a loop course to utilize an advance start for the elite women's race. Approximately 25 women will begin at 7:50am - 10 minutes before the men - guaranteeing that the first runner to reach the tape will be female and will set the world record for a women-only race. If the first American woman finishes ahead of the first overall man, she will establish a U.S. 10 mile women-only record as well. Top Americans in the field include three Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholars Kristin Price, Turena Johnson Lane (6th here last year in 55:37) and Lucinda Hull. Heather Hanscom, the 2003 Marine Corps Marathon champion (2:37:59) and formerly from Alexandria, VA now training in Palo Alto, CA, is also entered. The top American female will receive an expenses-paid trip to a race in Japan.

The elite runners will compete for a total purse of $31,500, the event's largest ever, with $6000 going to each race champion. The event is the only world-class running event in Washington and is part of the Professional Road Running Organization circuit.

The event, which filled its 10,000-runner field in a matter of days last December, draws runners of all abilities to participate in what is known as "The Runner's Rite of Spring" in the Nation's Capital. Two members of Congress, Sen. Max Baucus and Rep. Jim Marshall, lead the nation's lawmakers taking part. The event, which costs the Washington, DC taxpayers nothing and has minimal impact on the city's neighborhoods, is conducting an economic impact study through George Washington Univ. to measure its impact on the Washington, DC economy.

This year's charity recipient is the Children's Miracle Network, which will receive a donation of over $500,000. This will bring the total charitable contributions to over $1.5 million dollars since the Credit Union Miracle Day Committee became the title sponsor in 2002. The event also funds two $5000 grants for developing U.S. distance runners as part of the Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholar program.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is part of the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 25 to April 9. The race will be televised on local ABC affiliate WJLA Channel 7 in a half-hour special from 5:30pm - 6:00pm on Saturday, April 8th and in a half-hour show on the Outdoor Life Network.

For additional information, visit CherryBlossom.org, send an e-mail to race_director@cherryblossom.org or contact the race hotline at (301) 320-3350.

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.

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