Kiplagat, Leghzaoui Set Course Records at Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile
By Amy Rushlow, Running USA wire

PARK FOREST, Ill. - (September 4, 2006) - Their legs pumped in rhythm like a piston engine as Kenyans Nelson Kiplagat and Reuben Chebii matched each other stride-for-stride in the last two miles of the 2006 Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile on Labor Day. With the finish line in sight, Kiplagat surged ahead to win in 46 minutes, 30 seconds, more than 20 seconds faster than the course record set in 1995 by Jimmy Muindi.

"This is my best race this year," Kiplagat said. "I was confident going in." He won $4000 including a $500 course record bonus.

Chebii followed a split second later also in 46:30, worth $2500.

Four runners - Kiplagat, Chebii, Julius Kibet and Nicodemus Malakwen - broke ahead at 4.5 miles. With Malakwen leading, the four Kenyans crossed the 10K mark on a course record pace (28:39).

Kiplagat and Chebii pulled ahead at the 8 mile mark and gained a solid lead over Kibet, who finished third in 46:47. Malakwen's aggressive racing at the front of the pack took its toll in the last two miles, and he placed fourth in 47:12.

Asmae Leghzaoui of Fès, Morocco broke the women's course record by nearly 40 seconds with her unchallenged 52:40. The win in Park Forest was Leghzaoui's first victory after she injured her upper thigh during the Paris Marathon. Magdalene Mukunzi of Kenya was second in 54:11.

"The course is good," Leghzaoui said. "I enjoyed going through the forest, the music and the people cheering."

Dan Held of Pewaukee, Wis. (52:48) was the top masters (40+) runner, while Boulder, Colo. resident Patty Murray (58:52) was the top masters female runner. Each won $500.

A steady rain poured down during the entire running of the 29th annual race. The Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile is a mostly flat course through the neighborhood streets and forest preserve of Chicago suburb Park Forest.

Around 1,700 participants were registered for the Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile, which also offered a 5K option. More than a dozen musical acts lined the course, including a string quartet and bagpipes. The race has won the "Best Race" award from the Chicago Area Runner's Association (CARA) for 15 of the past 17 years.

29th Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile
Park Forest, IL, Monday, September 4, 2006

MEN
1) Nelson Kiplagat, KEN, 46:30*, $4000
2) Reuben Chebii, KEN, 46:30, $2500
3) Julius Kibet, KEN, 46:47, $1500
4) Nicodemus Malakwen, KEN, 47:12, $1000
5) Worku Beyi, ETH, 47:34, $800
6) Samuel Ndereba, KEN, 48:28, $500
7) Joshua Kemei, KEN, 48:53, $300
8) Richard Kimeli, KEN, 49:07, $150
9) Laban Moiben, KEN, 49:25, $100
10) Tim Keller, USA / WI, 49:27, $50
*course record (previous record, 46:51, Jimmy Muindi (KEN), 1995)

WOMEN
1) Asmae Leghzaoui, MAR, 52:40*, $4000
2) Magdalene Mukunzi, KEN, 54:11, $2500
3) Mercy Cheburet, KEN, 55:09, $1500
4) Tatyana Chulakh, RUS, 55:39, $1000
5) Alemteshay Misganaw, ETH, 55:43, $800
6) Lyudmila Biktasheva, RUS, 55:55, $500
7) Hannah Mitei, KEN, 56:06, $300
8) Eunice Chepkirui, KEN, 57:23, $150
9) Suk Yun Sun, KOR, 57:34, $100
10) Desiree Budd, USA / MN, 58:48, $50
*course record (previous record, 53:18, Alevtina Ivanova (RUS), 2003)

Complete results at: Scenic10.com

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