Katie McGregor wins the Guidant Heart of Summer 10K
Minneapolis, MN (August 19, 2006) — The third annual Guidant Heart of Summer 10K attracted top female runners from across the country. The Minneapolis event featured a women’s only race – the RRCA Women’s Distance Festival 10K – as well as a 10K run/walk and a 5K run/walk, both of which were co-ed races. Runners were drawn both by the flat, fast two-loop course around Lake Nokomis and the generous prize purse of $17,300 earmarked for the women’s race.
As has become her custom, Katie McGregor of Team USA Minnesota made an early and unrelenting escape from the field. The St. Louis Park, Minnesota resident led right from the start, passing the one-mile mark in just under five minutes. Olympian and three-time national 5,000 meter track champion, Marla Runyan of Eugene, Oregon, followed a few seconds back. A large group of women gave chase, passing the mile in 5:12.
28-year old McGregor, who says she “didn’t have a race plan,” seemed to slow down a bit the next couple miles, but still continued to increase her lead. She passed the 5K mark in just under 16 minutes, with a comfortable lead on Runyan.
The battle for third place heated up, as a pack of four women hit the 5K mark in 16:48. The group was comprised of two other Team USA Minnesota runners, Kristin Nicolini, 28, of Minneapolis, and Jenelle Deatherage, 28, of St. Louis Park, as well as Jenny Crain, 38, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Nicole Hunt, 36, of Deer Lodge, Montana.
With first and second places out of reach, the pack focused on the race for third. Nicolini said, “I felt sort of heavy and flat early on, so I just tried to tuck in with the other girls.” She made a move between the fourth and fifth miles, gapping the rest of the pack.
McGregor cruised through the second lap of the course, crossing the finish line in 32:27, ten seconds off the course record she set last year. “It was a little harder on the second lap to keep up the pace,” said McGregor. Nonetheless, she felt strong all the way, and took home $7,500 for her efforts. Runyan held on for second in 33:18, and Nicolini took third finishing in 33:45.
Runyan, who is returning to competition after giving birth last year, expressed some frustration with her performance. “I do workouts faster than I ran today,” said Runyan. “I’m finding it very difficult to travel and take care of the baby because I’m up several times during the night.” Runyan is slated to compete at the Twin Cities Marathon this fall.
Nicolini, historically more of a 5K specialist on the track, has been running in road races of 10K and longer this summer and finding remarkable success. Most recently, she was sixth overall and the top U.S. finisher at the Bix 7 Mile. “I’m happy with my results,” said Nicolini. “I had hoped to run a little faster, maybe closer to where Marla was, but I feel pretty good about how it went.” She will compete next on Labor Day at the New Haven 20K, site of the USATF 20K championships.
Matthew Chesang, 24, of Manhattan, Kansas defended his title in the men’s 10K race. His time of 28:57 gave him the victory over Jason Lehmkuhle, 28, of Minneapolis. Lehmkuhle, another Team USA Minnesota athlete, stayed with the Kenyan-born Chesang until the final quarter mile. His time of 29:02 is the fastest 10K ever run by a Minnesotan on Minnesota roads.
The Guidant Heart of Summer 10K, hosted by the Runner’s Soul Running Club, is dedicated to the mission of educating women about the role of health and fitness in the prevention of heart disease.
About Guidant
Guidant is now part of Boston Scientific. Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit www.bostonscientific.com.
About Moving Soles Running/Walking Club
The mission of Moving Soles Running/Walking Club is to promote and encourage fitness, and to bring the joy and health advantages of running and walking to everyone regardless of age or ability. For more information on the Guidant Heart of Summer 5K and 10K, please visit www.heartofsummer.org.
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