Kiprotich, Chepkemei Win Quad-City Times Bix 7
By Jim Gerweck, Running USA wire
Posted Monday, 31 July, 2006
DAVENPORT, Iowa - (July 29, 2006) - In its 32-year history, the Quad-City Times Bix 7 has seen plenty of heat and humidity, as well as its share of surprise finishes. This year, fans of the hilly 7 miler in Davenport got their share of both. While it wasn't the hottest or fastest Bix on record, it came close on both counts, and one could certainly make a good case for the men's winner being among the most unlikely, and almost certainly the youngest.
Ignoring the 79 degree temperature at the start, second highest in race history, and stifling 85 percent humidity that blanketed the region, as well as the reputations of his elder competitors, 19-year-old Lawrence Kiprotich made his American road racing debut an impressive one, turning in the 10th fastest time in Bix history, 32 minutes, 13 seconds, on a day when conventional wisdom should have dictated a more cautious, tactical pace.
"I never saw the mile split, but when we went past 2 in 9:09 I knew these guys were running really aggressively," said Meb Keflezighi, who won the race when it was the American-only USA Championship in 2002 and returned the following year to place third. In fact, the leaders had passed the first mile, which includes the steep Brady Street hill, in 4:58, faster than the normal split under more forgiving conditions.
The out-and-back course at Bix has almost no level stretches save the final kilometer, and the outcome is seldom decided until the runners begin retracing their steps back to the finish, but defending champ Gilbert Okari, who perhaps should have known better, made the first move, surging hard on the McClellan Boulevard descent to the turnaround. That had two effects: it dropped Keflezighi and five-time champ John Korir and brought the leaders thru halfway in 15:48, ahead of pace of record Korir's 31:52. Only Kiprotich and Evans Cheriuyot could handle that, so for the second half of the race, it was a three-man affair. The combination of the fast early speed and the conditions began to tell, and the pace lessened, although the intensity did not.
"I could see them up ahead, and they seemed to be slowing down, but I couldn't gain on them," said Keflezighi, a Team Running USA athlete.
The trio continued to push the uphills, especially the final, long climb up Kirkwood Boulevard, hoping to establish a cushion before the screaming descent on Brady.
"I could sense the others were stronger on the downhills, and I was better on the uphills." Kiprotich said, noting that the heat didn't affect him. "I have been training in Italy, and it has been very hot there," he explained.
At five miles, Okari let go, and Kiprotich and Cheriuyot made the final turn onto Third Street almost even. The youngster found one more gear to pull away to a six second victory, the fastest time since Korir's record. Okari was third and William Chebon was fourth. Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, placed fifth as the first American in 32:56 in his second road race since placing third at the Boston Marathon in April. He'll now turn his focus to the track, pointing for a fast 5000 and 10,000 in Europe this August. Jason Lehmkuhle of Team USA Minnesota, the top returning American, joined Meb in the top 15, placing 14th in 33:48.
While Kiprotich beat Cheriuyot and Okari to the finish, he was not the first across the line. For the second year in row a runner in the Rhythm City Jackpot, David Ramp, who was spotted a 2.8-mile head start, got there first, earning $3200 for his efforts.
The women's race, if less frenetically paced than the men's, was equally as exciting. Susan Chepkemei, making her first Bix appearance since setting a CR 35:24 two years ago, came off Brady and onto the finishing straightaway on Third Street dead even with another Kenyan youngster, 21-year-old Jemima Jelagat. Chepkemei, perhaps having paced more conservatively due to her knowledge of the course and 10 years seniority over Jelagat, was able to find one extra gear to pull away to a 37:35, four-second victory, but well off her course record set under ideal conditions in 2004. Kristen Nicolini of Team USA Minnesota was the top American in sixth in 39:21.
In spite of the stifling weather, 16,017 finished the 7 miler and the accompanying 2 mile Quick Bix, down about 800 from last year and the lowest total since 2001. A number of them fell victim to the heat, with more than one hundred requiring medical help and several dozen being admitted to the hospital.
32nd Quad-City Times Bix 7
Davenport, IA, Saturday, July 29, 2006
MEN
1) Lawrence Kiprotich, Kenya, 32:13, 2006 car
2) Evans Cheruiyot, Kenya, 32:19, $4000
3) Gilbert Okari, Kenya, 32:34, $2500
4) William Chebon, Kenya, 32:49, $1500
5) Meb Keflezighi, USA / CA, 32:56, $1000
6) John Korir, Kenya, 33:16, $900
7) John Kibowen, Kenya, 33:17, $800
8) Samuel Rongo, Kenya, 33:19, $700
9) Simon Arusei, Kenya, 33:25, $600
10) Kimeli Meli, Kenya, 33:29, $500
WOMEN
1) Susan Chepkemei, Kenya, 37:35, 2006 car
2) Jemima Jelagat, Kenya, 37:39, $4000
3) Lidia Simon, Romania, 38:13, $2500
4) Luminita Talpos, Romania, 38:24, $1500
5) Kathy Butler, Great Britain, 38:34, $1000
6) Kristen Nicolini, USA / MN, 39:21, $900
7) Natalia Belova, Russia, 39:37, $800
8) Nuta Olaru, Romania, 39:55, $700
9) Masako Chiba, Japan, 40:07, $600
10) Zoila Gomez, USA / CO, 40:29, $500
For full results, go to: www.Bix7.com
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