Grigoryeva, Okari Breeze in Cherry Blossom
By Jim Hage, Washington Running Report
Posted Tuesday, 4 April, 2006
For those who live and race in the Washington area, it is easy to take the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile for granted. For 34 years, the race has been a mainstay on the calendar, providing world class and the best in local competition on a flat, fast course.
But talk to the thousands - of this year's record field of 10,593 finishers - who came into town to compete in the midst of this city's most famous flowering trees, particularly with the weather cooperating as it did this year. Only then can one begin to appreciate the esteem in which the Cherry Blossom race is held nationwide.
Better yet, go international and ask Gilbert Okari [Photo above] from Kenya or Lidiya Grigoryeva from Russia, men's and women's winners of this year. Okari (27), who arrived from his native Kenya just two days before the race, enjoyed a quick and scenic traipse along Ohio Drive, across Memorial Bridge and back, and then through Rock Creek Park, where he blitzed his competition in the final half mile to win in 47 minutes 25 seconds.
Not all considered Okari the best road racer in the world last year, even though he won nearly every road race he entered after finishing fourth at Cherry Blossom. This year, Okari seems intent upon converting any remaining doubters. He ran with the leaders from the start, and took control once the field was winnowed to just four in the last couple of miles, where Okari put an end to the others' aspirations.
"Endurance and speed," is how Okari described his tactics and strategy.
Lidiya Grigoryeva (32), from Russia, likewise flew to Washington just prior to the race. Grigoryeva had been recovering the previous two weeks at her home in Cheboksary since winning the Los Angeles Marathon (and about $180,000) in 2:25:10 on March 19. She showed admirable turnaround time and then leg turnover - running her last two miles in 9:53 - to break away from Alevtina Ivanova, another Russian from Cheboksary who lives and trains in Germantown.
"I felt comfortable throughout the race and planned on making a move at Mile 8," Grigoryeva said through an interpreter. "When I pushed, things gradually opened up."
Grigoryeva motored to the finish alone in 52:11. Because the field of about 25 elite women started 10 minutes prior to the rest of the field, her time was a world best for a women-only field. Grigoryeva broke a tape held by Katherine Switzer, who was famously harassed by Jock Semple for having the audacity to compete officially in the 1967 Boston Marathon.
Ivanova was the runner-up for the second straight year, this time in 52:39. Athens Olympic marathon silver medalist, Lidia Simon (32), from Romania, finished third in 55:18.
Despite its international reputation, the Cherry Blossom remains an opportunity for the best runners in Washington to go at it all out for 10 miles. And although he hails from Kenya, Wilson Komen (28) lives in Washington most of the year and was the top local finisher, fifth in 47:58. Komen, who finished 16th in last year's Boston Marathon, is headed to Boston to race again on April 17.
"I'm not racing as much this year and am taking time to let my training work," said Komen, generally a prolific racer. He recently returned from a three-month training sojourn in Albuquerque.
Matt Downin (29), from Norwood, NJ, was sixth but 45 seconds behind Komen. As the top American man, however, Downin is in line to receive a trip to compete in the Cherry Blossom's sister race, the Hemiji 10 Mile run in Japan. Chris Graff (30), from Arlington, was seventh, just 12 seconds behind Downin.
Novice road racers Jacob Frey (24), a William & Mary graduate who trains in Oakton with miler Alan Webb, finished 12th in 49:38, and American University graduate Patrick MacAdie (22), the runner-up at the St. Patrick's Day 8K in March, was 13th in 50:19.
Turena Lane Johnson (30), from Muncie, IN, led a strong contingent of American women, finishing fifth in 55:42. Mary Kate Bailey (31), from Arlington, was the first local woman, ninth in 57:07, "an okay time," she allowed. Casey Smith (26), from Arlington, and Christina Wells (31), from Woodbridge, finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
Martha Merz (42), from Mystic, CN, was the top woman master. Merz, formerly from Annandale and still a frequent area competitor, is moving back to the area in August. Ronald Shaiko (46), from Ocean City, NJ, was the fastest masters man in 55:08.
Lou Lodovico's pace of nine minutes per mile may not sound particularly impressive, but the resident of Ellwood City, PA is 82 years old. Lodovico edged Nianxiang Xie, from Rockville, who is 78 and ran 1:34:17. Toshiko Delia (76), from Ridgewood, NJ, was the oldest female finisher and ran 1:34:36.
And no Cherry Blossom race would be complete without a result from Ben Beach (56), from Bethesda, who ran 1:13:32. Beach is the only runner to have completed every one of the race's 34 editions. He will attempt to extend his string of 38 consecutive Boston Marathon finishes later in April.
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