Posted: April 3, 2006

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 20

Kastor sets American records in Berlin

In finishing as the runner-up Sunday at the 2006 Berlin Half Marathon, 2004 Olympic Games women's marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor continued her assault on the U.S. record books.

Kastor's time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, 34 seconds bettered her national half marathon record set last year in Philadelphia by 19 seconds. During the race Kastor set three additional U.S. pending records in the 12 km (38:24), 10 miles (51:31) and 20 km 1:04:07.

"Of course I wanted to win, but I am happy with my U.S. records," Kastor told the IAAF website, www.iaaf.org. "I probably have to come back to Berlin to win." Kastor's next stop is London where she'll begin training for the April 23 Flora London Marathon. "My result suggests that I am in better form than before my last marathon," she added.

For 14 kilometers Kastor ran closely with eventual winner Edith Masai of Kenya, who won the race in a world leading 1:07:16. Both Masai and Kastor bettered the previous course record of 1:08:22 set six years ago by Kenya's Joyce Chepchumba.

For more information on the 2006 Berlin Half-Marathon, including the complete results, visit IAAF.org.

Johnson wins LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K

Hanson's Brooks Distance Project team member Chad Johnson battled strong winds and displayed an impressive kick Sunday in winning the men's race at the LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago.

Johnson finished ahead of Josh Eberly and former world marathon record holder Khalid Khannouchi to win the race in 23 minutes, 52 seconds. Eberly was the runner-up in 23:56, with Khannouchi, who is looking to compete later this month at the Flora London Marathon, finishing third in 23:57.

Johnson took the lead from Khannouchi for good when they turned on to Columbus Avenue with less than a half mile to go. "It felt like we were starting to close on him after the fourth mile," Johnson told The Associated Press. "When we turned the corner (off Roosevelt), he looked back. I didn't pass him until there were about 200 meters to go. I felt real strong today. Khalid was out there alone in the wind. Being able to work together (with Eberly) really worked to our advantage."

Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania won the women's competition comfortably in 26:27. Hansons Brooks runners Melissa White (27:21) and Desiree Devila (27:58) finished second and third respectively.

For more information on the LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K, including the complete results, visit www.shamrockshuffle.com.

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