Posted: May 8, 2006

Athletics: Kipchirchir, Jelagat, Victorious at Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K

New Women’s Course Record Set

SAN DIEGO (May 7, 2006) – Two newcomers to San Diego city streets proved that they were fast learners and cruised to convincing victories at the 18th Union-Tribune Race for Literacy held Sunday, May 7, 2006. Over 4,350 runners participated in the fast point-to-point 8K course under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures hovering in the low 60s.

Henry Kipchirchir, 23, covered the 4.97-mile course in 23 minutes, 5 seconds, good for first place overall and a $1,000 payday. Jemima Jelagat, 21, dominated the women’s field to a course record-setting win of 25:26. Jelagat’s efforts earned her $1,000 for the victory plus a $500 bonus for the new course record. Both champions hail from Kenya and train in Tucson, Ariz.

After a start in the scenic, 1,200-acre Balboa Park, the lead pack of Kipchirchir, Ibrahim Limo, Nate Jenkins and Justin Patananan took control of the field and clocked a 4:44 first mile. Anxious to pick up the pace, the lanky 6’4’ Kipchirchir opened up a 20-yard lead from the pack just after 2 miles and gradually increased it during the final miles.

“I knew my pace was comfortable and nobody was near me,” said Kipchirchir, who never looked to see who was behind him during the race. “The first mile was slow so I knew that a new course record (22:28) was not in sight.”

The trio of Limo, Jenkins and Patananan took turns leading the chase pack, all hoping for a second-place finish. Limo and Jenkins pulled away from Patananan in the final stretch and sprinted to the finish with Limo prevailing in 23:25, one second ahead of Jenkins. Patananan finished 5 seconds later in 23:31.

“After three miles, I thought Kipchirchir may come back, but I wasn’t planning on it,” said Jenkins, of his unsuccessful chase after Kipchirchir. Jenkins qualified for the 2008 Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials in his debut marathon last February in Austin, Texas with a time of 2:15:28. “I’m slow,” quipped Jenkins, referring to his finish line sprint loss to Limo and of his fondness for longer distance events.

Kipchirchir, who could have pocketed a $300 bonus for a sub-23:00 performance, was happy with his victory but expressed disappointment in missing out on the bonus by 6 seconds. “I didn’t know about the bonus,” said Kipchirchir at the post-race awards ceremony.

The women’s competition seemed to be decided on even before it got started. Jelagat led wire to wire with a textbook win over defending champion, Erin Nehus, who finished one minute, 42 seconds back in 27:08 – her exact time in last year’s race.

"We never saw her again after the race got started,” said Nehus of Jelagat’s commanding performance. Nehus of Indianapolis, Ind., pulled ahead of challengers Tiffanie Marley and Tamara Lave, both of San Diego, just prior to the 4-mile mark en route to her runner-up finish. Marley placed third in 27:37 and Lave, fourth in 27:49.

“My plan today was to break the course record,” said Jelagat of her debut 8K win and course record. Her effort shaved 6 seconds off of the previous course record of 25:31.

A relative novice on the racing scene, Jelagat started racing just two years ago. ”I am not well known because there are so many good runners in my country, “said Jelagat. “I would like to be known better in the future.”

A former nine-time NAIA All-American, Nehus currently runs for the Indiana Invaders track and field team. Lave, 38, who competed in the IAAF World Track & Field Championships (Women’s Marathon) in 2003, won the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy in 2003 and 2002.

James Sheremeta, 42, of La Jolla, Calif. placed first in the men’s masters division (25:19) and Laura Stewart, 41, of Encinitas, Calif. won the women’s masters division in 29:03.

The unique Union-Tribune Race for Literacy course winds through Balboa Park and the colorful Hillcrest neighborhood before taking runners onto the closed Cabrillo Parkway, a picturesque highway near downtown San Diego. The race’s final mile tours through the historic Gaslamp District and finishes in downtown.

The Union-Tribune Race for Literacy weekend also included a Kid’s Magic Mile fun run, which took place on Saturday, May 6, 2006. Over 5,000 children participated in the one-mile dash through Balboa Park. All event proceeds benefit The San Diego Council on Literacy, which provides reading programs to more than 100,000 San Diegans.

For more information and full results, visit www.inmotionevents.com..

Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K. San Diego, Calif. (May, 7, 2006)

Top Finishers
Place, Name, Country, Time, Prize money

Men
1)  Henry Kipchirchir, 23,  KEN/AZ,  23:25,  $1,000 
2)  Ibrahim Limo, 28, KEN/NM,  23:25,  $600 
3)  Nate Jenkins, 25, USA/MA,  23:26,  $300
4)   Justin Patananan, 25, USA/CA  23:31,  $100
5)  Sergio Reyes, 24, USA/CA,  23:44
6)   J Keino, 24, USA/CA,  23:49
7)   Okwaro Raura, 32, USA/CA,  24:42  
8)   Paul Wellman, 27, USA/CA,  24:46  
9)   James Sheremeta, 42, USA/CA,  25:19  
10) Jeff Klemmer, 36, USA/CA,  25:25  


* First Masters 
Women
1) Jemina Jelagat, 21, KEN/AZ,  25:26  $1,500 ($1,000 plus $500 course record bonus)
2)  Erin Nehus, 25, USA/IN,  27:08,  $600
3)  Tiffanie Marley 23, USA/CA,  27:37,  $300
4) Tamara Lave, 38, USA/CA,  27:49,  $100
5) Kristi Markowicz, 36, USA/CA,  28:02

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