Chirchir, Nehus Win Union-Tribune Race For Literacy
Posted Tuesday, 10 May, 2005
Contact:
Patrice Malloy, Malloy Marketing Group (760) 635-2833
Lynn Flanagan, In Motion, Inc (760) 692-2900
SAN DIEGO (May 8, 2005) – Eric Chirchir of Kenya was able to add “Race for Literacy victory” to his vocabulary and $1,000 to his checking account by winning the 17th Union-Tribune Race for Literacy held on Sunday, May 8, 2005, in San Diego. Over 3,200 runners finished the fast point-to-point 8K course under sunny skies with temperatures hovering in the low 60s.
The 21-year-old Kenyan champion covered the partially downhill course in 22:49, bettering his previous 8K personal record by 10 seconds and claiming the victory with a 10-second margin. Tunisia's Chokri Dhaouadi followed in 22:59 for a second-place finish for the second consecutive year and Paul Kezes of Washington finished just two seconds back for third (23:01). Both Chirchir and Dhaouadi earned and extra $300 in prize money for their sub-23-minute performances.
A tightly-knit lead pack of Chirchir, Dhaouadi, Kezes, Aden and Reyes ran in sync for the first half of the 4.97-mile course which included a tour through historic Balboa Park and a one-mile stretch down the Cabrillo Parkway, a scenicte highway.
Friends and former training partners Chirchir and Dhaouadi broke away from the group 2.5 miles into the race and ran together for a mile before Chirchir surged ahead for a textbook win in his first Race for Literacy attempt.
Dhaouadi’s runner-up finish was not a disappointment for the Albuquerque-based 33-year-old who ran almost 40 seconds faster than the race’s 2004 edition. “I am happy with my finish,” said Dhaouadi who won the Revlon Run/Walk for Women 5K and a $500 purse just a day earlier in Los Angeles. Dhaouadi pocketed $800 for Sunday’s effort.
“I liked the course and I would like to break the course record next year,” said Chirchir who lives and trains in North Carolina. The course record of 22:28 was set in 2002 by Kenyan David Kipngetich.
Erin Nehus, 24, of Ohio won the woman’s race in 27:08 defeating Tamara Lave of San Diego by 14 seconds. The two women battled it out for four miles after which Nehus made her move and pulled away for the win. A former nine-time NAIA All-American, Nehus currently runs for the Indiana Invaders track and field team. Lave, 36, who competed in the IAAF World Track & Field Championships (Women’s Marathon) in 2003, won the Race for Literacy in 2003 and 2002.
The Union-Tribune Race for Literacy weekend of festivities also included a Kid’s Magic Mile fun run which took place on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Over 3,600 children participated in the one-mile dash through Balboa Park. All event proceeds benefit The San Diego Council on Literacy, which is comprised of more than 20 literacy programs for children and adults throughout San Diego County.
For more information and full results, visit www.inmotionevents.com.
Top Finishers:
Men
1) Eric Chirchir, KEN/NC, 22:49, $1,000 ($700 plus sub-23:00 $300 time bonus)
2) Chokri Dhaouadi, TUN/NM, 22:59, $800 ($500 plus sub-23:00 time bonus)
3) Paul Kezes, USA/WA, 23:01, $300
4) Ibrahim Aden, SOM, 23:31
5) Sergio Reyes, USA/CA, 23:58,
6) Travis Laird, USA/AZ, 24:13
7) James Sheremeta, USA/CA, 24:38*
8) Jason Delaney, USA/CA, 24:45
9) Okwaro Raura, USA/CA, 24:58
10) David Kloz, USA/CA, 25:08
* First masters finisher
Women
1) Erin Nehus, USA/OH, 27:08, $700
2) Tamara Lave, USA/CA, 27:22, $500
3) Kristi Markowicz, USA/CA, 29:19, $300
4) Lesley Paterson, USA/CA, 29:29
5) Chandra Goodnough, USA/CA, 30:16
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