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Catherine Ndereda winning Avon Global Championship |
Budapest, Hungary (October 14, 2001) - Catherine Ndereba of Kenya captured the Avon Running Global Championship title today, crossing the finish line in Margit Island stadium after running the 10-K course through the downtown streets of Budapest. She covered the distance in a personal best time of 31:02, the fastest certified road 10-K ever run on Hungarian soil, and equal to the second-fastest ever run in Europe. Elana Meyer of South Africa finished second in a South African national record of 31:13. Also setting a national record was Olivera Jevtic of Yugoslavia, who finished third in 31:31.
The top three women quickly separated themselves from the field of 3,400 as they left the starting area on Margit Island and ascended the ramp to the Arpad Bridge. Under a bright hazy sun accompanied by unseasonably warm temperatures, it was Meyer who pushed the pace with Jevtic and Ndereba following closely behind. The trio passed through the half-way point in 15:20, under the world record pace for an all-women's 10-K race.
"I knew Catherine ran a world record in the marathon last week," said Meyer of Ndereba's 2:18:47 winning time at the Chicago Marathon. "I tried to make it a hard race."
Jevtic was the first to fall off of the pace in the eighth kilometer (fifth mile), leaving Meyer and Ndereba to battle to the finish. They were still on world record pace through 8-K (24:45), and Ndereba decided to make her bid for victory.
"I was hoping to run very fast and I always like to finish feeling strong," said Ndereba. "I thought I would probably break my personal best because that is always my goal."
Ndereba, 29, in control of the race for the final kilometers, slowed a bit from the record pace. She entered the stadium alone, cheered on by many of the 13,600 women who had taken part in the companion 3.6-K event, and crossed the finish line alone with her arms raised in triumph.
Ndereba was awarded $15,000 for finishing first, while Meyer took home $10,000 for second, and Jevtic earned $5,000 for her third-place finish. A total of $50,000 in prize money, the richest women's 10-K purse, was shared among the top 10 overall finishers, the top three Avon Circuit winners and the top three Masters (over 40) division finishers. In honor of the occasion, and for the first time in Hungarian athletic history, the Hungarian Athletic Federation, Magyar Atletikai Szovetseg, awarded the title of official Hungarian Women's Cup to the event. An additional $3,000 was awarded to the top three Hungarian athletes: Beata Raconczai (4th overall), Simona Staicu (5th overall) and Aniko Kalovics (9th overall).
The prestigious women-only 10-K run (6.2 miles) uniquely showcased top international and U.S. athletes alongside women of every age and fitness level in one unified event. More than 17,000 runners from 21 countries participated in both the 10-K race and 3.6K walk/run.
The scenic route of the Global Championship began in downtown Budapest on Margit Island in the Danube, crossed the Arpad Bridge, ran along the Pest embankment (Szechenyi Rakpart), past the Houses of Parliament, across the Margit Bridge to finish in the Margit Island stadium
Other International Athletes Competing in Budapest Avon Running international events were held in 12 countries in 2000. The champions of each of these circuit races were awarded travel to Budapest to represent their countries in the Avon Running Global Championship. Many of these athletes are the best runners in their countries, which include Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand and the U.S.
The 2002 Avon Running Global Championship Looking ahead to next year, the 2002 Avon Running Global Championship will take place on November 10, 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. The winners of the national Avon circuit races for 2001 will win expense paid trips to compete in Bangkok. The 2001 Avon Running U.S. National Championship event will be held on Dec.9 at Tempe Town Lakes in Phoenix.
Avon Running Global Women's Circuit Promotes Benefits of Regular Exercise In addition to creating a competitive environment for emerging women runners around the world, the Avon Running Global Women's Circuit has the mission of communicating the message of health and fitness, particularly heart disease, to women worldwide, and providing the knowledge and tools to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Studies show that regular running and walking can substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death among women, as well as significantly reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer and other diseases. Through Avon Running, women learn the benefits of a regular running and walking regimen, one of the most accessible and affordable forms of exercise for even the busiest women. The program includes both a 10-K run and 5-K fitness walk to offer participation opportunities for the nearly 40% of the women in the Avon Running program who are beginners.
To help beginning runners get started, Avon Running offers training clinics, one of the unique aspects of the Avon Running program. These grassroots training workshops are conducted in each race city, providing beginning runners and walkers with invaluable information and guidance from leading experts in running, fitness and health.
Additional information and race applications for Avon Walking and Running events are available by calling 1-800-748-1047, ext. 5350 or on the Avon Walking and Running web site at www.avonrunning.com.
2001 Avon Running Global Championship
Budapest, Hungary
October 14, 2001
Race Results - Top 10 Overall
Place Name Country Time Prize Money 1 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 31:02 $15,000 2 Elana Meyer South Africa 31:13 $10,000 3 Olivera Jevtic Yugoslavia 31:31 $5,000 4 Beata Rakonczai Hungary 32:26 $4,000 5 Simona Staicu Hungary 32:27 $2,500 6 Milena Glusac USA 32:41 $2,000 7 Helena Javornik Slovenia 33:10 $1,750 8 Kathrin Wessel Germany 33:19 $1,500 9 Aniko Kalovics Hungary 33:31 $1,250 10 Selma Candido dos Reis Brazil 33:56 $1,000 Race Results - Top Avon Circuit Winners Place Name Country Time Prize Money 1 Milena Glusac United States 32:41 $1,500 2 Kathrin Wessel Germany 33:19 $1,000 3 Aniko Kalovics Hungary 33:31 $500 Race Results - Top Three Masters Division Finishes Place Name Country Time Prize Money 1 Margo Braud United States 40:09 $1,500 2 Ilona Varga Hungary 40:54 $1,000 3 Ildiko Matyas Hungary 41:08 $500 Contact: Aldina Tracey David Monti Avon Products, Inc. Media Consultant-Budapest (212) 282-5669 +36 1 487 9427 (press room) aldina.tracey@avon.com dmonti@dellepro.com Note: Avon Running Global Championship photograph available through Associated Press Photo Express