INTERNATIONAL FIELD SET TO COMPETE FOR $23,000 PRIZE PURSE AT 6/2 FREIHOFERS RUN FOR WOMEN IN ALBANY, NY
Anyones Race with Daska, Chebet, Willis and Chepkirui in the Mix
Press Release
May 22, 2012
ALBANY, NY Race officials today announced the international field
for the 34th Freihofers Run for Women scheduled for Saturday, June 2,
2012 in Albany, NY
http://freihofersrun.com/elite_athlete_bios.htm#international
Among those
scheduled to race at the prestigious all-female 5K race include the
course record holder, the defending champion, a three-time winner, a
young Kenyan phenomenon making her Freihofers
debut, and a slew of other elite international runners eager to take on
the U.S. field for the $10,000 first-place prize.
With such big names involved, it could very well be anyones race this year.
Ethiopian Mamitu Daska,
28, has made the Freihofers podium every year shes raced, winning it
for the first time last year (15:19). She is fresh off 1st place
victories at the Bay to
Breakers 12K (39:02.4) and 2012 Bloomsday Run 12K (38:26). Emily Chebet,
26, from Kenya, set the Freihofers Run course record in 2010 with a
time of 15:12 beating the previous record by seven seconds. She recently
placed 4th at the Worlds Best 10K
and 3rd at the African Cross-County Championships.
Chebet and Daska face a serious challenge in the form of
Joyce Chepkirui, a 23-year-old Kenyan who boasts a 15:08 5K
personal best and has won almost every race shes entered this year.
This includes the Prague Half Marathon (1:07:02), the African
Cross-Country Championships and the Kenyan Cross-Country Championships.
Chepkirui also placed 2nd at the Worlds Best 10K (31:09).
Benita Willis,
33, who earned three Freihofer's titles between 2006-2008 only the
third woman to accomplish that feat is looking to reassert herself on
this famed course after three
years finishing off the podium. The three-time Australian Olympian
(2008 Marathon, 2004 10,000m and 2000 5,000m), who will represent her
nation in the marathon at the London 2012 Olympics, has a proven track
record (14:47 at 5000m) and is showing strong form
in 2012. Last Saturday she finished 8th in the BUPA Great Manchester
Run 10K (33:35).
Toeing the line next to Willis for the first time on June 2nd will be compatriot
Lara Tamsett, 24, who recently ran to 8th place at the Carlsbad
5000 in 15:52. Tamsett, whose 5K personal best is 15:28, has climbed to
the top of the Australian rankings over the last three years.
It is
tremendous to have a three-time winner, last year's winner, and the
course record holder all competing in 2012, said Professional Athlete
Recruiter John Tope. With the talent of the
international field and the strength of the U.S. field, it could be a
special day of running on June 2nd."
Four strong
African runners who, like Chepkirui, are eager to make an impact in
their Freihofers debut, round out the international field. Alemitu Abera,
26, from Kenya, has proven herself
a considerable threat at long distances, having won both the 2012 Daegu
Marathon and 2012 Houston Marathon. It remains to be seen how her
endurance training will fare on a 5,000m course, though she holds a
32:46 10K personal record. Aberas countrywoman,
Ashu Kasim, 27, is riding high off a 1st place finish at the 2012
Xiamen Marathon in China with a time of 2:23:09, which beat her own
personal record by three minutes.
As for the Kenyan contingent, it includes
Genoveva Kigen and Risper Gesabwa. Kigen, 30, won the 2012
Crescent City Classic 10K (32:12) and placed 4th at the recent
Bloomsday Run 12K (39:55). Gesabwa, 23, is fresh off of winning the 2012
LA Half Marathon (1:14:37) and placed second at
both the 2012 Pittsburgh Half Marathon and 2012 ING Georgia Half
Marathon.
Additional
information about the 2012 Freihofers Run for Women, Freihofers
Community Walk, Freihofers Kids Run, Freihofers Junior 3K Run and the
CapitalCare/CDPHP Health & Fitness Expo can
be found at www.freihofersrun.com. From the home page, you can also link to the events Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
Event
sponsors include the Charles Freihofer Baking Company, Price Chopper
Supermarkets, CSC, The City of Albany, FOX23, the Times Union, and 99.5
The River.
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Freihofer's,
a leading baker of wholesome products, is committed to fostering the
growth and recognition of women in sports and inspiring all generations
of women to experience the benefits
of exercise and good nutrition. Freihofer's continues to set the pace
by sponsoring the annual Freihofer's Run for Women 5K. Now in its 34th
year, the event, which is home to the Master's World & U.S.
All-Comers record, features thousands of women of all ages
and abilities from Olympians to recreational joggers, who challenge
themselves on the picturesque 3.1-mile course. For more information,
visit
http://www.freihofers.com/
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