Saturday June 27, 1998
| Race Report Saturday June 27, 1998 | |
Avon Running-Baltimore Showcases Running Stars and First-Time Fitness Walkers
Hot Temperatures Don't Deter Eleven-Time All-American, Alisa Harvey
June 27, 1998
BALTIMORE -- Alisa Harvey won the inaugural Avon Running-Baltimore 10 K event on Saturday, June 27, 1998 with a time of 35:44. Harvey was joined Saturday morning by Avon Running's Program Director, Kathrine Switzer, and 1,587 other runners and walkers to complete the sixth leg of the Avon Running U.S. Global Women's Circuit in sunny, ninety degree weather.
An eleven-time All American and resident of Manassas, Virginia, Hill (age 33) was followed closely by runners Senoria Clarke (36:20) and Connie Buckwalter (36:30). Clarke (age 33) is a resident of Chevy Chase, Marlyand, and Buckwalter (age 27) hails from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hill will now travel to Chicago to compete in the Avon Running National Championship on November 8, 1998 and for a chance to go on to the Global Championship, featuring a total prize purse of $50,000 -- the richest 10 K race prize money in the history of women's running.
A mother of a four-year old, Hill is a 1986 N.C.A.A. Division I Track and Field Champion. She is currently training for the 2000 Olympic Games to take place in Sydney, Australia. Avon Running teamed with the Baltimore Area Road Runners Club to offer the 10 K Run and 5 K Fitness Walk along Baltimore's world-renowned Inner Harbor. The course found participants traveling in and around Baltimore's scenic Inner Harbor and through historic Fort McHenry. As an indication of the international appeal of the Avon Running Global Women's Circuit, participants came from as far away internationally as Berlin, Germany and the Netherlands. Nationally, participants traveled from as far as Hawaii, Alaska and Texas.
In the true spirit of the Avon Running Program, participants represented all ages and fitness levels including 642 women over the age of 40 and 78 Mother/Daughter Teams. Randon Fritsch was joined by her daughter, Jennifer Fritsch, to win the Mother/Daughter team competition with a combined time of 1:37:24. In team competition, the Red Rose Racers team of Connie Buckwalter, Brenda Pennell, Jo Rupp, Denyse Rehiel and Kerri Robbins won the event with a combined time of 1:57:00.
Lee DiPietro, 40, of Baltimore was the first Master's Finisher with a time of 36:57 - placing 4th overall. Jennifer Gamber, a 14-year-old standout from Houston, Texas finished with an impressive time of 44:37.
Among the participants were 63 Avon Representatives and an additional 76 Avon Associates and employees. Of the Avon Representatives, 57 walked the 5K and six ran the 10 K. Of the Avon Associates and employees, 62 entered the 5 K and 14 ran the 10 K. Top Avon finishers in the walk included, Lois Smith (32:48), Patricia Green (41:16) and Faye Liberatore (41:46). Top Avon finishers in the run included Bonnie Murtha (54:44), Diane Filo (57:16) and Pamela Brennan (1:12:10).
Special recognition and a standing ovation was given to the oldest participant, Hedy Marque, who at 81, completed the race in just over one hour. Marque finished first overall in the female age group (80-99) and sixth in the Mother Daughter Team Division with her daughter, Marjorie Marque. Switzer, who gained international notoriety in 1967, when she broke the gender barrier in Boston by becoming the first woman to officially run a marathon, relayed her enthusiasm and excitement to the thousands of women gathered at the post-race awards ceremony. Today, as an example of her commitment to the Avon Running program, Switzer continues to develop new opportunities for women runners.
Also participating in the awards ceremony were Mr. Angie Rossi, regional vice president of Avon's Northeast Division, and Vicki Banchak-Crowell and Mr. Bill Singleton, both regional sales directors of Avon's Northeast Division.