Kastor, Korir Capture Shamrock Shuffle 8K Crowns
Posted Sunday, 29 March, 2009
From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA and Marianne Caponi
CHICAGO - (March 29, 2009) - Olympic bronze medalist
Deena Kastor and Emmanuel Korir of Kenya led a field of 13,714 runners
through the snow on Sunday at the 30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle
8K. The race continued its storied tradition by ushering in the spring
season in true Chicago fashion with temperatures in the low 30s and steady
snowfall throughout the morning.
While 30,000 runners registered for the popular race
only 13,714 elected to brave the elements at the country's largest 8K.
With the vast majority of registrants hailing from the Chicagoland area,
they were familiar with the conditions Mother Nature can deliver during
springtime in Chicago.
"We've been communicating to our participants
since mid-week that temperatures were looking to be less than ideal and
hovering around freezing," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski.
"They were still showing up to the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday
and Saturday with tons of enthusiasm and determination to run today. The
energy at today's race is a great testament to the strong will of Chicagoans
and their love of the sport."
Korir won the 30th race edition, crossing the finish
line in 24 minutes, 18 seconds, while Kastor led the women with a 27:15.
Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. was making her first return to road racing
since an injury forced her to drop from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon
at 5K. The three-time Olympian set the current U.S. women's 8K record
at the 2005 Shamrock Shuffle with a 24:36 winning time.
In the inaugural year of the Elite Club Competition
the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project team (Rochester Hills, Mich.) won
men's title. Team members are Chad Johnson, Nick Arciniaga, Mike Kilburg
and Ryan Sheehan. The women's team race was won by the Fleet Feet / Nike
Racing Team (Chicago) featuring Jessica Langford, Colleen Newhart, Jokotade
Agunloye, Christina Overbeck and Elizabeth Engel.
30th Bank of America Shamrock
Shuffle 8K
Chicago, IL, Sunday, March 29, 2009
MEN
1) Emmanuel Korir (KEN), 24:18
2) Ryan Meissen (WI), 24:23
3) Jeff Jonaitis (IL), 24:29
4) Tyler Sigl (WI), 24:30
5) Chad Johnson (MI), 24:30
WOMEN
1) Deena Kastor (CA), 27:15
2) Tera Moody (CO), 28:03
3) Casey Owens (IA), 28:55
4) Carol Jefferson (MI), 28:57
5) Catherine Beck (IL), 29:01
Deeper results at: ShamrockShuffle.com
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