RRCA Road Race of the Year Award

Runner’s World Seasonal Favorite Race

Race Director: Trish Portuese

Title Sponsor: JRag

2006 Video Recap: Windows Media Player required
large (18MB)

10K Top Finishers:

Men:
1. Joseph Chirlee 26yrs old - 30:00
2. Andrew Baksa 22 yrs old – 30:52
3. Vincent Longei 28 yrs old – 31:09

Women:
1. Shannon Womack 23 yrs old – 34:47
2. Michelle Scott 37 yrs old – 37:11
3. Isabell Nyamwange – 27 yrs old – 38:24

Male Master: Jeff Terry - 33:53
Male Grand Master: Sam Swofford - 35:45
Male Great Grand Master: Doyle Thomas – 42:45

Female Master: Lori Goldweber - 43:14
Female Grand Master: Joan Huey - 52:53
Female Great Grand Master: Brenda Cooter - 58:06

Highlights:

· Joseph Chirlee, a Kenyan from Ackworth, GA was a late entrant to the race, but, easily claimed the title of winner of the Vulcan Run. Prior to Friday night before the race, there were no signs that any Kenyans were coming to the race. Chirlee along with Andrew Baska of Knoxville, TN and Kenyan Vincent Longei ran together for the fist mile, but Chirlee easily pulled away. They finished Chirlee, Baska, and Longei. Local Birmingham runners Scott Strand and Dewayne Miner finished fourth and fifth. Another long time Birmingham runner (and winner of Vulcan Run Marathon), Jeff Terry won the Men’s Masters title. Sam Swofford of St. Matthews, SC, led the Grand Masters award, Doyle Thomas of Ringgold, GA took to Great Grand Master award.

· The Women's race also produced some fine talent coming to Birmingham to take home prize money. 23-year-old Shannon Womack of Chattanooga, TN pretty much ran by herself the entire race with a winning time of 34:37. The next female, Michelle Scott was from Bowling Green, KY and finished in 37:11. Kenyan female runner Isabell Nyamwange finished 3^rd with a time of 38:24, as home town favorite Johanna Siemon took fourth place with a time of 39:16 while Kate Brun of Marietta, GA took 5^th in a time of 39:35. Local runner, Lori Goldweber of Homewood took the Female Masters award in a time of 43:14. Joan Huey of Birmingham took the Grand Master award in a time of 52:53. Brenda Cooter of Grovetown, GA ran 58:06 to take the Great Grand Master award.

· $2,500 in Prize Money (donated by Trak Shak) provided to the Top 5 Male and Female finishers, and top Male and Female Master. $500 for first place, $250 for second, $150 for third place, $100 for fourth place, and $50 for fifth place. For the master's winners, they each received $200 in prize money.

· Chip timing was used to record racers times, “Gun Time” was used to calculate awards. “Gun Time” is the elapsed time from the start of the gun to the participant crossing the finishing matt.

· Awards went to top 5 Overall, First Master, First Grand Master, First Great Grand Master Male and Female winners, and, top 3 in each age group.

· Race conditions: Great day for a race! Comfortable Cool morning for the start of the race, with a bit of humidity as the participants crossed the finish line.

· Racecourse stayed with tradition. The 10K course starts by Boutwell Auditorium on 19th street heading south and winds through the very flat part of downtown and heads out towards the rolling hills of Historical Birmingham. Runners head up to Highland Avenue as they overlook the golf course. The course winds past the stately homes of Highland Avenue, then a final turn onto 20th Street, racing downhill, beneath the majestic buildings of downtown to the finish line at Linn Park and the post race ceremony inside Boutwell Auditorium.

· 1,581 of the 1,814 registered completed the course.

· Post Race activities were held in Boutwell, bagels, ice cream from BlueBell Creameries, and some "Adult Beverage" from our sponsor Supreme Beverage.

· Old Brown Shoe Band played while results were tabulated.

· Lots of Great door prize giveaways!

· Proceeds benefited Vulcan Park Foundation and the Birmingham Track Club.

· Vulcan Run was the RRCA Southern Regional 10K Championship Race.

· The Vulcan Run was also on the Running Journal Grand Prix Circuit.

· The Vulcan Run was named in the November issue of Runner’s World one of their six seasonal favorite races.