Posted: June 2, 2006

Athletics: Big Day For Distance Running In New York Tomorrow

From David Monti

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

With action both on the road and the track, tomorrow will be a big day for distance running in New York, featuring dozens international stars.

Racing begins tomorrow morning at 10:15 in Albany, the capital of New York State, with the 28th annual Freihofer's Run for Women, a 5 km road race. Beginning with last year's edition, race director George Regan opened the race up to international competition (it had been a long-time USA championship race), and elite athlete coordinator John Tope has recruited an outstanding field.

Defending champion and event record holder, Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco, is entered, but she may not be 100% after shutting down her efforts at the ING Bay to Breakers 12-K on May 21, hobbling to the finish with pain in her left hip. Wearing bib #1, Leghzaoui won last year's race in 15:18 (15:17.6), a course record.

Two of her top challengers, Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands and Benita Johnson of Australia, boycotted last year's race, after organizers had invited and promoted Leghzaoui's participation on the heels of her emergence from a doping suspension for the endurance booster, EPO. Kiplagat and Johnson have been in top form this year, and have to be considered the two top threats for victory. Kiplagat, the reigning European cross country champion, has a 5-K road personal best of 14:47. Johnson, the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country champion at 8-K, has run 14:59 on the road, the Australian record.

Other top entrants include Natalya Berkut of Ukraine, who just set a national record over 10 km at the BUPA Great Manchester Run (31:14); Jemina Jelegat of Kenya, who recently won both the RiteAide Cleveland and Get in Gear 10-K's; and Maria Cristina Mazilu of Romania.

A $27,000 prize money purse is on the line in Albany with $10,000 going to the winner.

About 150 miles south of Albany, in New York City, the 2nd annual Reebok Grand Prix meeting at Ichan Stadium will serve up an excellent menu of middle and long distance running, featuring five races from 800 to 5000 meters for both men and women.

Khadevis Robinson of the United States and William Yiampoy of Kenya lead the field for the men's 800m, and the winner will establish a new meeting record (the event was not contested last year). Double World Championships gold medalist Rachid Ramzi of Bahrain leads the field for the men's mile and will be challenged by former University of Michigan teammates Nick Willis of New Zealand and Nate Brannen of Canada. Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam, who won last year's 3000m event, is the leading entrant in the 5000m, facing off against the reigning world champion at the distance, Benjamin Limo of Kenya, and reigning European indoor champion at 3000m, Alistair Cragg of Ireland.

On the women's side of the meet, Commonwealth Games silver medalist Sarah Jamieson of Australia will square off against 2005 Golden Gala 1500m winner, Mestawat Tadesse of Ethiopia, and U.S. Olympian, Carrie Tollefson, in the 1500m. Going longer will be American Olympian Marla Runyan --back from maternity leave-- in the 5000m, going against two reigning Olympic champions: Ethiopian Meseret Defar (5000m) and Chinese Xing Huina (10,000m). Americans Blake Russell and Katie McGregor are also in the race.

The weather in the New York area for tomorrow won't be particularly good for spectators, but should be fine for distance runners. According to the website Weather.com, there is a 90% chance of rain tomorrow morning in Albany, with the same forcast holding for New York City in the afternoon. Temperatures will be cool in the mid-60's F (about 18C) with high humidity.

Both of tomorrow's events have official websites: Freihofer's Run for Women, Reebok Grand Prix

NOTE: RRW will have exclusive coverage from both events.

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