Kichumbe Koech, Limika Win 32nd Crim 10 Mile
By Brian Smith
Posted Monday, 25 August, 2008
FLINT, Mich. - (August 23, 2008) - Kenyans Stephen Kichumbe Koech and Irene Limika are the race champions of the 32nd Crim 10 Mile. At the 8:00am start on Saturday, skies were sunny with a light haze and a temperature of 73 degrees with 70% humidity.
Running in his first Crim, and first race of the year, Kichume Koech, 32, won with a time of 48 minutes, 4 seconds and took home $5000. Daniel Kipkoech and a local high school runner pulled ahead the pack and were side-by-side up to the one mile mark. By the three mile mark, Kipkoech was joined by 10 other runners who formed the lead pack. Eight runners were in the lead pack at the five mile mark. Into the eighth mile, five runners were together well ahead of the field.
Turning onto the red bricks toward the finish in downtown Flint, Kichumbe Koech and Samuel Ndereba were neck-and-neck, but Kichumbe Koech sprinted ahead to the finish under the arches in downtown Flint for the victory.
Kichumbe Koech said, "At the eight mile mark, I wondered who would win. I thought he (Ndereba) was stronger than me, but I had a really strong kick. I was comfortable, but the pace was slow because it was humid."
Ndereba, 31, from Kenya, finished with a time of 48:07. Boaz Cheboiywo of Ypsilanti, Mich. finished third at 48:09.
Also running in her first Crim, Limika, 29, won with a time of 55:49. Limika said, "I am excited! This is my first time here and my first win. The course was really tough because of the humid weather. I am not used to running in the humid weather."
Limika took the lead at the seven mile mark with three other runners moving ahead with her. She left her fellow Kenyans and housemates behind, sprinting ahead the last 400 meters. Master Edith Masai, 41, came in second at 55:53 and suffered a rare road loss this year, and countrywoman Neriah Aasiba, 27, finished third (55:56).
Among the Masters runners, Paul Aufdemberge, 43, of Redford, Mich. finished first in 52:15, while Gideon Mutisya, 41, of Kenya finished second (52:49) and David Homann, 41, of Brighton, Mich. third at 56:17. Edith Masai's overall runner-up finish was the top women's Masters time (55:53). Russian Albina Gallyamova, 44, finished second at 59:14, and Monica Joyce, 50, of Ann Arbor, Mich. finished third in 1:02:58.
Cheboiywo, 30, of Ypsilanti was the top Michigan runner (48:09) finishing third overall. Nicholas Stanko, 27, of Ann Arbor finished second (51:14), while Paul Jellema, 24, of Rochester, was third (51:27).
Top American woman and 9th overall Mandi Zemba, 25, Hudsonville, was the top Michigan female runner for the second year in a row with her 57:14. Rebecca Walter, 24, of Beverly Hills, finished second at 58:21 and Kelly Stewart, 27, of Ann Arbor, placed third (58:26). Top Michigan finishers earned bonus money.
The Crim family of races, which also includes a ten mile competitive walk, a 8K run and walk, a 5K run and walk, a one mile run and walk, the Lois Craig Invitational for Special Olympics and the Teddy Bear Trot, had over 14,200 participants. Once again, over 3,000 volunteers came together to make this event a success.
32nd Crim Festival of Races 10 Mile
Flint, MI, Saturday, August 23, 2008
MEN
1) Stephen Kichumbe Koech (KEN), 48:04, $5000
2) Samuel Ndereba (KEN), 48:07, $2500
3) Boaz Cheboiywo (KEN / MI), 48:09, $2800
4) Edward Muge (KEN), 48:17, $1500
5) Daniel Kipkoech (KEN), 48:36, $1000
6) Hosea Rotich (KEN), 48:53, $800
7) Emmanuel Korir (KEN), 49:09, $600
8) Dagne Alemu (ETH), 49:05, $400
9) Reuben Chebii (KEN), 49:18, $250
10) Andrew Smith (CAN), 50:07, $150
Michigan Bonus
1) Cheboiywo, see above
2) Nicholas Stanko (MI), 51:14, $400
3) Paul Jellema (MI), 51:27, $250
MASTERS Men (40+)
1) Paul Aufdemberge, 43, USA / MI, 52:15, $1200
2) Gideon Mutisya, 41, KEN, 52:49, $900
3) David Homann, 41, USA / MI, 56:17, $500
WOMEN
1) Irene Limika (KEN), 55:49, $5000
2) Edith Masai, 41, KEN, 55:53, $3700
3) Neriah Aasiba (KEN), 55:56, $2000
4) Angelina Mutuka (KEN), 56:08, $1500
5) Jane Murage (KEN), 56:11, $1000
6) Hyvon Ngetich (KEN), 56:16, $800
7) Mamitu Daska (ETH), 56:20, $600
8) Jane Muia (KEN), 56:30, $400
9) Mandi Zemba (USA / MI), 57:14, $1050
10) Soon Duk Kang (KOR), 57:56, $150
Michigan Bonus
1) Zemba, see above
2) Rebecca Walter (MI), 58:21, $400
3) Kelly Stewart (MI), 58:26, $250
MASTERS Women (40+)
1) Masai, see above
2) Albina Gallyamova, 44, RUS, 59:14, $900
3) Monica Joyce, 50, USA / MI, 1:02:58, $500
Full results and more at: www.Crim.org
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