Posted: April 14, 2005
Athletics: Leghzaoui Returns From Suspension At Sunday's Sallie Mae 10-K
From David Monti
(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com
By Bob Ramsak
After serving a two-year ban for EPO, Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui returns to competition at Sunday's 22nd Sallie May 10-K in Washington, D.C.
The 28-year-old West Chester, PA-based Leghzaoui was little known in June, 2002 when she won the New York Mini 10-K in 30:29, then a world record. Thirty-five days later she set a world best for 8 km at the Crazy 8's 8-K in Kingsport, Tenn., running 24:28. In March, 2003, after doubling at the the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Avenche, Switzerland, finishing 18th in the long course and 12th in the short course, Leghzaoui tested positive for the blood-boosting drug. She was suspended in May, 2003 for two years, retroactive to the date of the violation (29-Mar-2003).
The women's field is topped by several U.S.-based Russians, including Tatyana Petrova, Olga Romanova and Tatyana Chulakh. Tatyana Pozdnyakova, who ran a 50+ world best marathon of 2:31:05 at last month's Los Angeles Marathon, is also in the field.
Kenyans Reuben Chebii, Sammy Nyamongo, David Korir and Charles Kibiwot to the men's field, along with New Zealand's Olympian John Henwood.
Kenyan men have won 12 of the last 13 races while Russian women have taken the last four. A total cash purse of US$ 13,600 will be awarded. An event record bonus of $250 is on offer as well. The men's record of 27:43 was set by Kenyan Thomas Nyariki in 1997; the women's record, 32:00, was set by Briton Jill Boltz in 1991.