News Archive
Diane Johnson 6th with new Burundi NR at Freihofer’s; Meghan Armstrong 9th
Diane Nukuri Johnson (ASICS) broke her own Burundi national record with a 15:57 6th-place run at Saturday’s Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K in Albany, New York. Diane ran 52 seconds than her 16:49 18th-place result in last year’s steamy weather at Freihofer’s. New Boulder Wave athlete Meghan Armstrong of Team USA Minnesota took 9th in a 16:13 PB. Irvette van Blerk was bothered by stomach problems after the long trip from South Africa and came home 13th in 16:35.
Diane and Irvette are staying in Albany for the week, and will travel down to New York City on Thursday for this weekend’s NYRR New York Mini 10K, which will also serve as a tribute to the late great Grete Waitz. Meghan will be racing a 5000m on the track looking for a qualifier for US nationals.
Bangalore, a Stepping Stone for Kenya’s Edna
Bangalore, a Stepping Stone for Kenya’s Edna, India’s Deccan Herald newspaper, June 3, 2011.
Wide coverage of Constantina Dita’s visit to India
Sample of articles in today’s Indian newspapers on Constantina Dita’s role as Event Ambassador for the 2011 TCS World 10K Bangalore.
Champ on a trip to inspire the young, Deccan Herald newspaper
Constantina inspires 10K runners, The Hindu
Kogo, Changeywo top billing for Bangalore World 10K, IAAF website
Oldest Olympic champ Constantina aims to inspire youngsters, Times of India
Constantina Inspires 10K Runners, Indian Sports News
Constantina Dita and Edna Kiplagat featured in TCS World 10K Bangalore media day
Greetings from Bangalore, India! Constantina Dita (ASICS) and Edna Kiplagat (Nike) were featured in today’s activities and media events for the TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) World 10K Bangalore, which takes place this coming Sunday morning. Over 20,000 runners are expected for the race day events, which include the elite race, a people’s race, and also a fun run. TCS has put up a very attractive prize purse, featuring $21,000 for both the men’s and women’s champions on Sunday, going down to $1,000 for 10th place on each side.
Constantina is on hand as the Event Ambassador for this year’s race. Race organizers Procam have put her up in a beautiful two-room suite at the host ITC Windsor hotel in Bangalore. Her press conference yesterday was widely reported in the today’s Indian newspapers. This afternoon, she visited Shree Kenteereva Stadium to help V.D. Wadhwa, the Managing Director for Timex Group India, unveil the official timing clock and watch for this year’s race. Following this unveling, Constantina met about 100 athletes and coaches of the Bangalore youth track programs who were training at the stadium. In addition to the kids’ enthusiastic requests for autographs and photos, they also gave her numerous gifts, with earrings, necklaces, and a nifty new hat!
Coming off her ING New York City Marathon win and 2:20:46 in April’s Virgin London Marathon, Edna is one of this year’s featured invited athletes. She arrived early this morning after a circuitous travel route of Eldoret to Nairobi to Doha to Bangalore. After a well-earned nap, Edna also had a press conference at the stadium, and then stayed on hand to meet the young Indian athletes and their coaches.
Tonight’s featured event will be the Official Welcome Party at the beautiful colonial host hotel, the ITC Windsor, and the Kingfisher Fashion Night, during which Constantina will also strut the catwalk in an outfit created by the show’s top designer just for her.
Irvette van Blerk Wins South African 10K Champs / Diane Johnson Wins 5K in Iowa
A pair of wins by two of our women who will shortly be racing the US circuit in June.
In the South African 10K Championships in Germiston this morning, Irvette van Blerk exacted a measure of revenge on Lebo Phalula, who pipped her by four seconds at the Spar Ladies 10K in Port Elizabeth, with a very strong 34:03 win at 5400 feet altitude.
In Marion, Iowa, Diane Nukuri Johnson (ASICS) successfully defended her title at the Marion Arts Festival 5K. Describ ing her run as “a hard workout,” Diane came home in 16:07, 20 seconds faster than her winning time last year.
The next race for both Irvette and Diane will be the Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K in Albany, New York, on June 4th.
Pat Butcher’s comments on Sammy
Pat Butcher offers his comments as well.
http://www.globerunner.org/index.php/05/mercury-among-mortals/
Memories of Sammy
Memories of Sammy, courtesy of Toni Reavis, whom I’ve known for about 30 years now.
http://tonireavis.com/2011/05/16/i-am-sammy-wanjiru/#more-1021
Nasty Weather for Grand-Prix von Bern 10 Mile: Yuri Kano 3rd; Yumi Hirata 5th
In reported conditions of rain, lightning, and thunder, Switzerland’s Grand-Prix von Bern 10 Mile had some of the slowest winning times in race history today. The men’s race was won in 48:18, with only five men from the elite international field breaking 50:00. On the women’s side, nobody went under 55:00. Rough day to be out on the roads in Bern. On the women’s side, Yuri Kano (Mizuno) of the Second Wind AC took 3rd in 57:25, with teammate Yumi Hirata (Mizuno), who moved to SWAC this Spring from her former Shiseido club, finished 5th in 58:44. The women’s race was a sprint to the finish as Kenya’s Monica Chepkoech outleaned Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics 55:55.7 to 55:55.8. Yuri and Yumi fly back to Albuquerque tomorrow, and their next race will be the May 30th Bolder Boulder 10K, where they will run on Team Japan with Miki Ohira.
