Sunday, July 5, 2009

Scott Smashes 4 on the 4th Record! Updated - More to Come!

Derek Scott, a member of the Brooks Team Indiana Elite, called early in the week and said he was coming to the Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4th, and added that he was quite confident he could break the course record of 19:26.9 set last year by Paul Jellema of the Hansons-Brooks team in Michigan. When I Googled and saw that Scott had run a 3:57.9 mile in May down in St. Louis, I knew the guy had what it takes. Well, it all came true. Scott took the lead from the start, although SIU runner Kyle Kirchner of Frankfort, IL, stayed a step behind him until about 1.5 miles. Then it was no contest. Scott pulled away on an uphill and breezed to a 19:07, beating runner-up Kirchner, who made a game effort, by almost a minute as Kirchner crossed the line in 20:05. "I was very pleased with how the race went," Scott said. "It was my first time at the event and it was set up great. The registration was smooth, good post-race snacks and Gatorades, high energy announcers, etc. Starting the race, I knew I was going after the course record, so I was a little surprised to have some company for close to a mile and a half. It helped keep the pace honest. The best part was looping around halfway and being able to see all the other runners on the other side of the road. I was getting a lot of cheers and even some people hollering at me saying, 'is that all you got?' It was funny, people were having a good time. I knew I was well under pace so I was able to relax the third mile and run comfortably to the finish. I'm glad I came out. Third place in a very competitive "second pack" went to Christian Escareno, 21, of Mount Prospect, who runs for the Fast Track Racing Team and is the current overall CARA points leader. He ran a 20:08, closing on Kirchner and holding off No. 4 Alex Sutphen, 21, of Napervile, who ran 20:11. Fifth was Charlie Kern, 40, of Elmhurst, who ran a 20:25 as a hard training run for the world masters meet later this month in Lahti, Finland. Dani Prince, also of Team Indiana Elite, the 2008 women's Columbus marathon winner in 2:48, and Derek's girl friend, won the women's competition in 22:45. "This was my first time doing the 4 on the 4th and I really enjoyed the race," said Dani, who changed into a party dress before the awards ceremony! "It was great to hear all the support from the other runners and walkers when you hit the turnaround. You could tell everyone was enjoying the race and the 4th. My training has been minimal lately since I am getting ready to gear up for a fall marathon (Twin Cities), but I was happy with the results considering how little I've been doing. The race was a fun way to mix up the week of training." Runner-up woman was Hong Kong transplant Suet-Fei Li, 33, now of Schaumburg, who came in at 23:18. Third-place woman was Christine Overbeck, 23, of Chicago, who posted a very nice 23:35. Overbeck runs for Fleet Feet and is the CARA women's overall leader. She was followed in fourth and fifth by Emma Keenan, 21, of Niles in 23:38 and Kareen Ripperda, 39, of Elmhurst in 24:11. We had 832 finishers and a lot of very strong runners duking it out on the streets of Elmhurst. Some of the most honorable people I've run into in quite a while deserve to be mentioned. We had a results problem for a while in which Sutphen was listed ahead of Escareneo. Everyone was very professional, and we got it fixed. Also, Kirchner, Escareno and Sutphen also must be commended for saying upfront they could not accept prize money or gifts because they are collegiate runners. Class acts? Yes! Photo 1 from Ray Hecker shows Derek Scott near the 2-mile mark after he broke Kyle Kirchner. Photo 2 shows women's runner-up Suet-Fei Li pacing with Dave Schaefers (center) and one of his Fast Track Racing Club teammates, Wes Benson. Photo 3 shows gallant Kyle Kirchner who made it interesting for a while for Derek Scott. Photo 4 shows third-place finisher Christian Escareno ahead of a group of very good racers.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Favela Keeps On Winning

Emisael Favela, 32, of Cicero, continued to be the man to beat on Sunday, winning the 10K division of the Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate in Evanston in 31:54. Peter Mones, 25, of Evanston, ran a nice 34:14, and he was followed by Matthew Marol, 18, of Evanston, who posted a 34:29. I don't know 55-year-old David Williams of Skokie, but his time was worth a second look. He is down as men's masters winner in 34:29. Hmm. Li Suet-Fei, 33, of Schaumburg, a native of South Korea, won the women's race in 38:05. Olivia Aranda, 30, town unknown, was second in 39:52, and Elise Tropaino, 22, of Evanston, was third in 41:03. And the women's masters award went to 62-year-old Nancy Rollins of Evanston, who ran 45:44.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

CARA Standings Up-to-date

I had some time tonight and checked out the updated CARA Runners' Choice Series standings. There are some outstanding runners in every age group, both genders, who are having terrific seasons. The most recent Runners' Choice Series races were the North Shore Half-Marathon in Highland Park and the Downers Grove Park District 5-Miler. Next up for "Circuit" runners is the Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4th. As a co-director of the 4 on the 4th, it's always fun for me to see who shows up. I'm hoping for a vintage crop of A-level racers again this year. We shall see who's there on the morning of the 4th! After that comes the always-loaded Extreme 10-Miler at Waterfall Glen on July 25.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Katie McGregor Makes U.S. Team

I was so happy Thursday night to watch 2008 Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4th female winner Katie McGregor make the U.S. team for the World Championships in Berlin later this summer. To do that, she ran a 32:08 10,000 on the track at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., during the USA Track & Field Championships. Way to go, Katie!! It also was fun to see Wheeling-area natives Jorge and Edwardo Torres competing in the men's 10,000. Neither placed, but both ran well.

Swoosh! Nationals News

Going back to June 20, some Illinois high school runners did well at the Nike Nationals in Greensboro, NC. Lincoln-Way Central sensation Lukas Verzbicas, 16, but only a sophomore-to-be, ran 8:55.58 to place third in the 2-mile (not 3,200). Trevor Dunbar of Kodiak, AK, was the winner in 8:49.79. Illinois 1,600-meter champion Jeff Thode of Conant ran a strong fifth in 8:57.36. In the girls' 2-mile, always reliable Lizzy Hynes of St. Charles was sixth in 10:27.26. Other results included the following: York (Kroy in the postseason) placed seventh in the 4 X 1-mile relay in 17:49.91. The team included Jordan Hebert, Jack Driggs, Pat Morgan and Steve Sulkin. In the 800-meters, Peter Callahan of Evanston ran a strong fifth in 1:51.57 and Ryan Lynn of Park Ridge was 11th in 1:53.23. Kroy was eighth in the 4 X 100-meter relay with John Fox, Khara Williams, Carl Edwards and Hubert Maxwell running a 42.06.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Steamin' at the Steamboat

Ridouane Harroufi passed John Yuda of Tanzania very late in Saturday's Steamboat Classic (June 20) to win the world-class 4-mile race on Peoria's riverfront for the second year in a row. Harroufi won it in 17:44, two seconds ahead of Yuda, who led much of the way. On the women's side, there was another repeat winner as Kim Smith of New Zealand ran a 19:38 to beat runner-up Millicent Gathoni of Kenya by 1:18! Smith won it a year ago in 20 flat. Constantine Tomescu-Dita finished seventh in 21:52 and was inducted into the Steamboat Classic Hall of Fame. There were 2,824 finishers in the 4-mile and another 726 in the 15K.

Catching Up: Green Bay Marathon

It's been a month, but with a few things going on, I missed this one. Chad Ware of Deerfield ran a terrific 2:20:56 to place second at the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon. He lost to winner Geoffrey Kiprotich of Coon Rapids, MN, who wasn't far ahead with a final time of 2:20:06. Angie Paprocki of Hoffman Estates was fifth woman in 2:57:03.