Saturday July 8, 2000
Race Report
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Saturday July 8, 2000 Race Report |
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Contact: Bruce H. Alexander
(860) 633 1826 realbha@yahoo.com
HARTFORD - July 8, 2000 -Cassandra ("Cassie") Henkiel of Austin (TX) took home the Avon Running-Hartford title today with a 10K winning time of 35:46, fastest time in a field of women ranging in age from 14 to 85 at every fitness level.
The Avon Running event, now in its third year here, included the10K Run (6.2 miles) and a 5K Walk (3.1 miles). The Avon Running Global Women's Circuit is the only international series of its kind that provides women the opportunity to pursue elite racing, moderate running or simple fitness in unified events.
As the Avon Running-Hartford champion, the 30 year-old former All American took home $500 in prize money and won an expense-paid trip to the Avon Running National Championship on December 10 in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a personal trainer "taking a break from the Texas heat" under the cool clear skies here.
Ellington (CT) resident Yolanda Flamino, 23, ran close behind (36:23) and won second place ($250). She is a Trinity College graduate now pursuing graduate studies at Smith College. She was running the event with her mother, Randi Flamino, also of Ellington.
Dr. Kim Griffin, 38, of New York City won 3rd prize at 36:37. She is assistant director of the cardiac-thoracic intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan who ran her first marathon last year. Over 1,200 women ran or walked in near perfect weather conditions.
Top Avon Representative division winner Margo Braud, 41, of Austin (TX) won the Avon Representative award with at 39:44. The Top Master prize of $100 was awarded to Janice Moore, 41, of Nyack (NY).
The Top Master and the Avon Sales Representative winners also won expense-paid trips to the Avon Running National Championship in Phoenix.
"Avon Running is bringing thousands of women and girls from all over the world to the starting line of fitness and helping them to realize their individual potential," said Julie Martel, District Sales Manager for Avon Products. "While most of our walkers and runners were from Southern New England, the beauty of the Avon Running Hartford course and the rose garden here attracts women from all over."
Avon Running Supports MADD
Martel and Kathrine Switzer, Program Director of the Avon Running Global Women's Circuit, presented a check for $2,500 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), one of the charitable beneficiaries of this year's event. The mission of the Connecticut State Organization of MADD is to stop drunk driving and to support victims of this violent crime.
Avon Running Hartford is part of the 2000 Avon Running Global Women's Circuit, the only international series of its kind to offer 10K runs (6.2 miles) and 5K walk/runs (3.1 miles) exclusively for women. Avon Products, Inc. created the program in 1998. Avon Running provides women of every fitness level the opportunity to pursue elite racing, moderate running or simple fitness walking in unified events, with programs offered in some 12 countries around the world.
The mission of Avon Running is to spread the message of health and fitness, particularly cardiovascular fitness, and to engage women in a healthy running or walking regimen, which is one of the most accessible and affordable forms of exercise for even the busiest woman. To date over 100,000 women have taken part in Avon Running worldwide, including about 4,000 at Avon Running Hartford. Avon Running is one example of Avon's commitment to be the company for women.
Additional information and race applications for Avon Running events are available by calling (212) 282-5350 or on the Avon Running web site at www.avonrunning.com, where race results are also posted.
Avon is the world's leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $5.3 billion in annual revenues. Avon markets to women in 137 countries through 3 million independent Sales Representatives. Avon product lines include such recognizable brands as Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Avon Color, Far Away, Rare Gold, Perceive and Women of the Earth. Avon also markets an extensive line of fashion jewelry, apparel, gifts, and collectibles. More information on Avon and its products can be found on Avon's award-winning web site: www.avon.com.