Hank Brown, Running USA wire
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(May 13, 2000)--A new course in a new location on an unusually windy day brought some unexpected challenges to race organizers, but Kenya's Joseph Kariuki made sure the scenery in the front of the pack remained exactly the same for the 23rd annual Old Kent River Bank Run, the country's largest 25K. Kariuki, who set the world 25K record here in 1998 (1:13:55), ran essentially unchallenged after the 5K mark to win his third straight Old Kent title in 1:16:26.
After the halfway point, Russia's Svetlana Zakharaova pulled away from a small pack that included Kristin Beaney of Wayland, Mass., and Kenya's Margaret Kagiri and Lucia Subano to claim the women's race in 1:27:35. Beaney outdueled the two Kenyans and a hard charging Susannah Beck to finish second in 1:28:53 and capture the USA Women's 25K Championship. Shawn Found from Boulder, Colo. won the U.S. Men's title by finishing third overall in 1:17:45.
Because of road construction throughout downtown Grand Rapids, race organizers were forced to design a totally new course, which required shuttling runners to the start/finish area. When the gun went off for the 25K race, and a few minutes later for the accompanying 5K, hundreds of runners were either still at the shuttle area waiting for a bus, or were desperately trying to make their way to the start area by foot.
Kariuki made sure that he didn't miss the start, or the finishing tape. He allowed an early lead by Found in the first mile (4:47), assumed the leadership role in the second mile, and made it a one-man show after the 5K. On a day more suited for Winnie-The-Pooh's Blustery Day (a finish line volunteer was hit when part of the finish line scaffolding blew over and interrupted the 5K finish) than for world records, Kariuki nonetheless flirted with his own record early. But as the wind picked up in the latter miles, he put it in cruise control, settling into 4:50-5:00 pace the rest of the way.
"I was close (to the record) for awhile, but it was very very windy," said the tall Kenyan. "I am very happy with this win."
Found, 29, knew it was just a matter of time before he would relinquish his early lead to Kariuki. "I was shooting for 1:15:30 today, which is about 4:50, so I didn't think the first mile was too fast. I knew Kariuki would blow by us and run his 4:30's. This is my first U.S. title so I'm very pleased with my race"
Like Found, this was also Beaney's first U.S. title. "I'm very happy," said the 27 year-old Princeton graduate. "The first half of the race went just how I wanted it to go. We were running about 5:40's. Then after the halfway point, Svetlana made a move and I just wasn't gutsy enough to match it. It wasn't a big move... just a subtle one. She had made a couple of moves earlier and we were able to bridge back up. I guess I was hoping we could catch up again. That move kind of broke up the pack and I was on my own the last 6-7 miles. Then when we hit that wind, I knew I couldn't catch her."
Old Kent River Bank Run 25K USA Men and Women's Championship Grand Rapids, MI, May 13, 2000For more results, visit the Old Kent River Bank Run.MEN 1) Joseph Kariuki (KEN) 1:16:26 $4000 2) Philip Manyin (KEN) 1:17:35 $2000 3) Shawn Found (CO) 1:17:45 $5500* 4) Charles Subano (KEN) 1:17:47 5) Eric Tollefson (WA) 1:18:03 $2000 6) Joseph Kamau (KEN) 1:19:39 7) Paul Aufdemberge (MI) 1:19:57 $1500 8) Eddy Hellebuyck (NM) 1:21:02 $1000 9) Brad Kirk (MI) 1:21:11 $600 10) Chad Newton (NC) 1:21:25 $500 11) Joey Keillor (MN) 1:22:00 $400 12) Simon Gutierrez (NM) 1:22:20 $300 13) Paul Zimmerman (OR) 1:22:29 $200 14) Keith Madaras (OH) 1:22:47 $100 15) Robert Hyde (OH) 1:23:43 *Includes Open prize money
Masters Men 1) Jim Hage (MD) 1:24:52 $1500 2) Gerard Donakowski (MI) 1:25:45 $750 3) John Steinberg (MI) 1:25:51 $500
WOMEN 1) Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 1:27:35 $4000 2) Kristin Beaney (MA) 1:28:53 $6000* 3) Susannah Beck (OR) 1:29:02 $3500* 4) Lucia Subano (KEN) 1:29:19 5) Margaret Kagiri (KEN) 1:29:23 6) Jennifer Tonkin (WA) 1:32:04 $1500 7) Michelle Byrne (TX) 1:32:09 $1000 8) Chris Clark (AK) 1:32:33 $600 9) Ann Shaefers-Cole (IL) 1:33:50 $500 10) Jane Welzel (CO) 1:35:19 $400 *Includes Open prize money
Masters Women 1) Jane Welzel (CO) 1:35:19 $1500 2) Claudia Kasen (FL) 1:38:11 $750 3) Doris Windsand-Dausman (TN) 1:45:33 $500
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator
USATF Road Running Information Center