Posted: May 27, 2006

Athletics: Near Record, Davenport Wins Moonlight Run 5-K

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

NEW MILFORD, Conn. (26-May) -- Irish Olympian Marie Davenport handily won tonight's 13th annual New Balance Moonlight Run, and nearly toppled the course record held by her friend and compatriot, Breeda Dennehy-Willis.

Davenport, 31, who resides in Guilford, Conn., wasn't far behind the men's lead group when they split the first mile in 4:43. She was shadowed by Kenyan Eunice Chepkirui, but early in the second mile on the downhill portion of the out and back course, Davenport broke away and was running on her own. Did she know she was running at course record pace?

"I didn't," said Davenport who came to the race with husband Dan and their 8 week-old Weimaraner puppy, Seamus. "I had no idea. The second mile was uphill. It was pretty tough."

With the night air soaked with humidity from thunderstorms which rolled through the area in the afternoon, Davenport labored over the final mile, which includes a gravel path and a grass field. She hit the finish line in 15:53, just two seconds short of Dennehy-Willis's record.

"I was happy to run under 16 minutes," said Davenport who had just run the second fastest women's time in the history of the race. "That's a good blowout. I needed that race."

Chepkirui finished second in 16:08, with Alemtsehay Misganaw of Ethiopia third in 16:24.

The men's race was dominated by Julius Kiptoo of Kenya, who blew apart the lead pack with an all-out surge just past the halfway point of the race.

"I was thinking one of the other guys would push," said Kiptoo who was surprised by the slow opening mile. "I was thinking who has the finishing kick."

Although Alene Emere Reta of Ethiopia was able to close the gap a bit in the final mile, Kiptoo's lead was insurmountable, and the other athletes finishing kicks were neutralized. He won in 14:08, eight seconds up on Reta. Joshua Kemei of Kenya finished third in 14:28.

Both Davenport and Kemei earned $1000 for their victories; Davenport missed out on a $250 bonus race director Wallie Jahn of Road 'N' Track Sports had offered for a course record.

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