FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kastor, Korir Capture Shamrock Shuffle 8K Crowns in Chicago
Hansons-Brooks, Fleet Feet / Nike Racing Team win Elite Club Competition;
13,714 runners brave the elements at 30th edition
From Marianne Caponi
CHICAGO - (March 29, 2009) - Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor and
Emmanuel Korir of Kenya led a field of 13,714 runners through the snow on
Sunday at the 30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. The race continued
its storied tradition by ushering in the spring season in true Chicago
fashion with temperatures in the low 30s and steady snowfall throughout the
morning.
While 30,000 runners registered for the popular race only 13,714 elected to
brave the elements at the country's largest 8K. With the vast majority of
registrants hailing from the Chicagoland area, they were familiar with the
conditions Mother Nature can deliver during springtime in Chicago.
"We've been communicating to our participants since mid-week that
temperatures were looking to be less than ideal and hovering around
freezing," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "They were still
showing up to the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday with tons of
enthusiasm and determination to run today. The energy at today's race is a
great testament to the strong will of Chicagoans and their love of the
sport."
Korir won the 30th race edition, crossing the finish line in 24 minutes, 18
seconds, while Kastor led the women with a 27:15. Kastor of Mammoth Lakes,
Calif. was making her first return to road racing since an injury forced
her to drop from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon at 5K. The three-time
Olympian set the current U.S. women's 8K record at the 2005 Shamrock
Shuffle with a 24:36 winning time.
In the inaugural year of the Elite Club Competition the Hansons-Brooks
Distance Project team (Rochester Hills, Mich.) won men's title. Team
members are Chad Johnson, Nick Arciniaga, Mike Kilburg and Ryan Sheehan.
The women's team race was won by the Fleet Feet / Nike Racing Team
(Chicago) featuring Jessica Langford, Colleen Newhart, Jokotade Agunloye,
Christina Overbeck and Elizabeth Engel.
30th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Chicago, IL, Sunday, March 29, 2009
MEN
1) Emmanuel Korir (KEN), 24:18
2) Ryan Meissen (WI), 24:23
3) Jeff Jonaitis (IL), 24:29
4) Tyler Sigl (WI), 24:30
5) Chad Johnson (MI), 24:30
WOMEN
1) Deena Kastor (CA), 27:15
2) Tera Moody (CO), 28:03
3) Casey Owens (IA), 28:55
4) Carol Jefferson (MI), 28:57
5) Catherine Beck (IL), 29:01
Deeper results at: ShamrockShuffle.com
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