FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Janet Bawcom Sets American Record To Win USA Women's 10 Mile Championship,
Presented By America's Credit Unions
Dramatically Close Finishes Define both Men's and Women's
Races at 41st Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run
April 7, 2013, Washington, DC: U.S. Olympian Janet Bawcom ran 10 miles in
53:28 this morning to set the single-sex American record at the Credit
Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. In doing so, Bawcom from Flagstaff, AZ,
claimed her third consecutive USA Women's 10 Mile Championship, and led
three other American women under the former record time of 54:38, set by
the late Sally Meyerhoff in the 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile
Run.
But Bawcom's record run was certainly not the only story among elite
competitors. The finish of the men's race was initially too close to call;
judges ultimately awarded the victory to Kenyan Daniel Salel over
countryman and defending champion Allan Kiprono. Salel's winning time was
46:06, well off the course record of 45:15 Kiprono set last year. And in
the women's race, Kenyan Caroline Rotich and Ethiopian Belaynesh Oljira
broke away from a large group of women over the last three miles of the
race, with Rotich prevailing for a three second victory in 52:46. Bawcom
ended up fourth overall in the women's race, just behind Kenyan Risper
Gesawba, who ran 53:22.
In her post-race comments, Janet Bawcom credited the highly competitive
international field of women for helping her break the American record, and
said "this victory gives me a lot of confidence going into to the track
season." (Bawcom placed 12th in the 10,000 meters, in a time of 31:12.68,
in the London Olympic Games.)
While Bawcom can now look ahead with confidence, Caroline Rotich drew upon
the confidence gained from her recent win at the NYC Half Marathon as
today's race unfolded: "With three miles to go, I didn't want the race to
come down to a sprint with Belaynesh Oljira, who is a 10K runner, so I kept
pushing and pushing, knowing I had a lot of strength in my legs."
From a total pool of $65,000 in prize money and bonuses, Daniel Salel and
Caroline Rotich each won $8,000, while Janet Bawcom won a total of $9,000
($1,500 for her fourth place finish overall, $5,000 for the USA
Championship, and $2,500 for setting the American record). Three other
American women placed among the top-ten overall to "double-dip" in prize
money: Brianne Nelson (Boulder, CO) placed 8th /2nd U.S. and earned $3,300
total; Sarah Crouch (Blowing Rock, NC) placed 9th /3rd U.S. and earned
$2,600; and Kellyn Johnson (Flagstaff, AZ) placed 10th /4th U.S. and won a
total of $2,000.
Three-time U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes, CA) took home $1,000
for her 5th place among American women; Katie DeCamillo (Providence, RI)
earned $800 as 6th place American; Heather Cappello (Boston, MA) was 7th
and earned $600; Ladia Albertson Junkans (St. Paul, MN) earned $500 for 8th
place; Stephanie Pezzullo (Charlotte, NC) placed 9th and earned $300; and
Clara Grandt (Morgantown, WV) earned $200 as 10th American woman.
Top-placing American men were also able to take home both overall and top
American prize money, though the American prize money was limited to just
the top-three: Tyler McCandless (Boulder, CO) placed 8th and won a total of
$1,700, Patrick Rizzo (Boulder, CO) placed 9th and earned $1,100; and Chris
Kwiatkowski (Chevy Chase, MD) placed 10th and earned $750.
On the fundraising front, a total of $483,000 was raised for Children's
Miracle Network Hospitals this year, with $115,000 of that raised directly
by Credit Union Cherry Blossom runners. Since the Credit Unions became the
title sponsor of the race in 2002, over $6 million has been has been raised
for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
This year's event – the Runner's Rite of Spring® – took place on the
third weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival®, the nation's
greatest springtime celebration. The 2013 Festival, March 20 – April 14,
commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of
Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The gift and annual celebration honor
the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan and the
continued close relationship between the two countries.
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is a proud member of the
Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) Circuit, and is the only
truly elite road race held in the Nation's Capital. PRRO is an alliance of
race directors who together organize and the PROO Circuit, a nationwide
series of premier non-marathon road racing events. Circuit events include
the World's Best 10K in San Juan, PR, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10
Mile, the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA, the Boilermaker 15K in Utica,
NY, and the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA. A trip to the PRRO Race
of Champions at the 2013 AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2013 will be
awarded to the first local man and woman.
Award Results - U.S. Women's Championship
Award Results - Men
Award Results - Women
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