Posted: June 3, 2006

Athletics: Johnson Wins Rainy Freihofer's 5-K

From David Monti

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

ALBANY, N.Y. (03-Jun) -- Benita Johnson of Australia, the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country champion, prevailed in a sprint finish at the 28th annual Freihofer's Run for Women here today, overcoming unexpected challenges from both a top-notch international field and the weather.

As over 3000 women lined up for the start on Madison Avenue outside of the New York State Museum, they were pelted by a steady and intensifying rain which made the 60°F (16°C) temperature feel much colder. The certified out-and-back course, which had been prevalidated this morning by Jim Gerweck, had significant standing water, some of which was hiding potential hazards.

"Don't step in any puddles," Gerweck counseled Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat before the race, saying at least one concealed a dangerous pothole.

It was Kiplagat who got the race off to a flying start, taking the lead from the gun. The first 300 meters are straight uphill, but with Johnson right behind her, Kiplagat hit the first kilometer in 3:02, well under course record pace.

"Lornah and I went out really hard," said Johnson after the race, and the top American finisher today, two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph, agreed.

"They went out so hard it was crazy," said Rudolph.

Early in the second kilometer, as the race began to wind through Washington Park, Johnson and Kiplagat had separated themselves from the pack, and it looked to be a two-women affair. They passed the 2-K mark in 6:08 (3:06), and appeared to be pulling away further from the field.

But in the mostly uphill third kilometer, their pace slackened providing an opportunity for Ukranian Natalya Berkut to break away from the chase group and close up on the leaders. After Johnson and Kiplagat fought through the driving rain to reach the 3-K mark in 9:26, Berkut was only a few steps behind and in a few strides was on Kiplagat's heels. Berkut wasn't so much catching up as the leaders were coming back to her.

"I knew I could hold the pace," Berkut said later, explaining that she had gone out conservatively and was just trying to maintain her speed.

The Ukranian then went on the attack and pushed into the lead. Johnson responded, but Kiplagat began to drift back. At the 4-K (12:34) Johnson and Berkut were together and Kiplagat, who shot several glances behind her, was now beginning to think more about defending her position. Johnson was now setting herself up for the finish.

"I had a plan in my head to go with one (kilometer) to go," said Johnson who picked up the tempo for the long straightaway to the finish line. Berkut hung right on her shoulder, and both atheltes knew it would come down to the final downhill sprint to the line. Berkut knew that wouldn't play in her favor.

"It is not my best strength," Berkut admitted about her sprint, adding that a downhill finish wasn't really to her liking. "I would rather finish uphill," she said.

The pair hit the Swan Street intersection together for the final 300m, and Johnson turned on the speed that she showed in last weekend's Prefontaine Classic where she ran 4:07.90 for 1500m. She hustled to the finish line in 15:27, capping her race with a 2:53 kilometer and becoming the first Australian to ever win here.

"I think my speed today really showed," said Johnson. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and today I won."

She earned $10,000 in prize money for her victory.

Berkut was timed in 15:29, while Kiplagat held onto third place in 15:47. Lineth Chepkurui came home fourth in 15:50 while Rudolph was given the same time in fifth place.

"It was fine for me," said Rudolph of the weather. "I don't mind. I'm happy."

Johnson, Berkut, Kiplagat and Rudolph will face off again next Saturday in New York City at the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10-K. Berkut liked her chances better next week. Besides the longer distance, which she prefers, the race has an uphill finish.

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