7 April 2019

Media Contact Information:
(not for publication)

Keith Peters, Media Coordinator
307-690-6803 or [email protected]

Website: www.cherryblossom.org

Ideal Conditions Yield Record Times In 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile

Stanley Kebenei breaks Greg Meyer's American record set here in 1983; Rosemary Wanjiru runs fastest U.S. all-comers, women's-only race record; Jemal Yimer defends his title

April 7, 2019, Washington, DC: On a picture-perfect day, with Washington DC's cherry trees in full bloom, two long-standing records fell at the 47th running of the Runner's Rite of Spring®. American Stanley Kebenei ran 46:00 to place fourth overall and first American at the 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, breaking the American record set here in 1983 by Greg Meyer when he won the race in a time of 46:13. Kebenei will take home $16,500 in prize money and bonuses.

Kenyan Rosemary Wanjiru ran 50:42, the fastest 10-mile time ever on U.S. soil in a women's-only race, breaking the all-comers record of 51:44, set here in 2007 by Tebya Erkesso, by a whopping one minute and two seconds to win a total of $9,000 in prize money and time bonuses.

Defending champion Jemal Yimer, from Ethiopia, won the men's race in a time of 45:36, providing perhaps the best indication of how fast the conditions were in our nation's capital today by running 41 seconds faster than he ran here last year. Yimer won $9,000 in prize money and time bonuses for his winning effort.

After running 46:36 to win the 2017 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, Kebenei had a laser-like focus on Meyer's American record this year. "I told people I was going for the record," Kebenei said post-race. "I'm glad the record is gone." Greg Meyer said in a text to race director Phil Stewart, "cool, it's about time. I was going to start charging you rent!"

Here's a compilation of place, times and money earned by the top-10 men and women overall, along with the top-10 American men and women. The top-three male and female alumni of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Roads Scholars and/or RunPro Camp were eligible for a separate prize purse, as noted below:

• Jemal Yimer (45:36), took home $8,000 for the victory and an additional $1,000 for breaking 46:00;

• Kenyan Josphat Tanui (45:38), took home $4,000 for 2^nd place and an additional $750 for being the second man to break 46:00;

• Kenyan Edwin Kibichiy (45:58), took home $2,000 for placing third;

• Stanley Kebenei (46:00), from Colorado Springs, CO, earned $1,500 for placing fourth, an additional $5,000 as first American, and $10,000 for breaking Meyer's American record;

• Kenyan Stephen Sambu (46:55), the winner here in 2014 and 2015, earned $1,000 for 5^th place;

• Futsum Zienasellassie (46:57), from Flagstaff, AZ, won $900 for placing 6^th, $2,500 for being the 2^nd American, and $1,500 for winning the RRCA Roads Scholar/RunPro Alumni Challenge;

• Reed Fisher (47:03), from Boulder, CO, earned $800 for 7^th place, and additional $1,500 for placing third among American men, and $1,000 for placing 2^nd in the RRCA Roads Scholar/RunPro Alumni Challenge;

• Willie Milam (47:07), from Boulder, CO, took home $700 for 8^th place, $1,000 for being the 4^th American, and $500 for 3^rd place in the RRCA Roads Scholar/RunPro Alumni Challenge;

• Kiya Dandena (47:26), from Flagstaff, AZ, took home $700 for 8^th place, and $800 additionally as 5^th American;

• Louis Serafini (47:38), from Somerville, MA, won $500 for 10^th place as well as $600 for placing 6^th among Americans;

• Tim Young (47:40), from Fredericksburg, VA, won $400 for being the 7^th American man to cross the finish line;

• Josh Izewski (47:54), from Blowing Rock, NC, took home $300 for placing eighth among the American men;

• Haron Lagat (48:21), from Colorado Springs, CO, earned $200 as 9^th place American; and

• Mark Leininger (48:21), from Colts Neck, NJ, picked up the last paycheck of the day for the men as 10^th American, winning $200.

On the women's side:

• Rosemary Wanjiru (50:42), took home $8,000 for her victory in the women's race as well as $1,000 for breaking 52:00;

• Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreslase (50:47), won $4,000 for her 2^nd place run, along with $750 for being the second woman to break 52:00;

• Kenyan Margaret Muriuki (51:38), earned $2,000 for placing third;

• Ethiopian Hiwot Ayalew Yimer (51:57), won $1,500 for 4^th place;

• Kenyan Vicoty Chepngeno (52:08), took home $1,000 for 5^th place overall;

• Emma Bates (52:18), from Boise, ID, earned $900 for 6^th place, an additional $5,000 for being the first American, plus $1,500 for winning the RRCA Roads Scholar/RunPro Alumni Challenge among the women;

• Ethiopian Hiwot Gebrekidan (52:29), the women's victor here in 2017, earned $800 for her 7^th place effort;

• Stephanie Twill (52:28), from Great Britain, took home $700 for 8^th place;

• Kenyan Iveen Chepkemoi (53:21), won $600 for 9^th place;

• Bethany Sachtleben (53:40), from Fairfax, VA, earned $500 for her 10^th place run, plus $2,500 as 2^nd American woman;

• Samantha Palmer (53:44), from Northport, AL, won $1,500 for placing 3^rd among American women as well as $1,000 for being second in the RRCA Roads Scholar/RunPro Alumni Challenge;

• Katy Jermann (54:03), from Burnsville, MN, earned $1,000 as 4^th American, and $500 for placing third in the RRCA Roads Scholar/RunPro Alumni Challenge;

• Alexis Zeis (54:32), from Boulder, CO, took home $800 for being the 5^th American;

• Grayson Murphy (54:35), from Flagstaff, AZ, won $600 for her 6^th place effort among the Americans;

• Allison Cleaver (55:34), from Austin, TX, earned $400 by placing 7^th among the Americans;

• Maddie Van Beek (55:38), from Fargo, ND, won $300 as the 8^th American;

• Kelsey Bruce (55:39), from Bracketville, TX, took home $200 for being the 9^th American; and

• MeghanPeyton, (56:23), from ST. Paul, MN, was 10^th American, earning $200.

*The complete listing of results and awards can be found below the "About America's Credit Unions' boilerplate below

The only man to have run every Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, Ben Beach of Bethesda, MD, ran 1:44:45 today, and will line up to start his 53nd consecutive Boston Marathon on April 15.

Other notable finishes among the event's special guests included a time of 59:15 for the 2004 Olympic Women's Marathon bronze medalist, 46-year-old Deena Kastor, of Mammoth Lakes, CA; a time of 1:10:44 for 57-year-old Joan Nesbit Mabe, from Chapel Hill, NC, and the last American woman to win the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile (1996); and a time of 53:28 for 44-year-old Michael Wardian, of Arlington, VA.

Over 27,000 runners submitted applications to participate in the 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and 5K Run-Walk, and the list of accepted runners represents all 50 states and 14 foreign countries. The event is limited to 16,000 finishers by the National Park Service.

The 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run marks the 18th year of title sponsorship by Credit Union Miracle Day. Since 2002, over $9.5 million has been raised for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, including $400,000 this year.

About the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile:

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, organized by Cherry Blossom, Inc., a 501c(3) chapter of the Road Runners Club of America, is known as "The Runner's Rite of Spring®" in the Nation's Capital. The staging area for the event is on the Washington Monument Grounds and the course passes in sight of all of the major Washington, DC Memorials. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a consortium of 170 premier children's hospitals across North America. About one-third of the funds raised support Washington, DC's own Children's National ("Children's Hospital"). The event also funds two $5,000 Road Runners Club of America "Roads Scholar" grants designed to support up-and-coming U.S. distance running talent.

Since 2002, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk have raised over $9.5 million dollars for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, with $400,000 of that total being raised this year. The 2019 event marked the 18th year of title sponsorship by Credit Union Miracle Day.

Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a consortium of credit unions and credit union suppliers in partnership with CUNA Mutual Group and PSCU, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, 5K Run-Walk and Kids' Run. Other sponsors include Garmin, the presenting technology sponsor; and supporting sponsors E-Trade, Gatorade, Gold's Gym, Honey Stinger, Mamma Lucia, MedStar Sports Medicine, ParkMobile, Peet's Coffee, Potomac River Running, Suburban Solutions, Under Armour and UPS.

The event is a proud member of the PRRO Circuit (PRRO.org), a series of non-marathon prize money road races in Tampa, FL; Washington, DC; Spokane, WA; and Utica, NY. The circuit is committed to a drug-free sport and funds drug testing at all circuit events in compliance with the standards of international and U.S. drug testing authorities.

In addition to being sanctioned by USA Track & Field and the Road Runners Club of America, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run has earned Gold Level Inspire Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport in recognition of its legacy of commitment to sustainability and thoughtful resource management. To learn more, visit www.CherryBlossom.org and follow the event on social media @CUCB and #CUCB2019.

About Credit Union Miracle Day

Credit Union Miracle Day is a partnership of over 100 credit unions, CUSOs and partner organizations united to sponsor the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, promoting awareness of the credit union difference and benefitting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide.

About America's Credit Unions:

Credit unions provide consumers choices for financial services such as checking accounts, investments and loans of all kinds including mortgages. Funds are federally insured, but unlike banks, there are no stockholders at credit unions. Earnings are returned to member-owners in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, low or no-fee products and services. The credit union philosophy of placing members' needs first is why more than 115 million Americans do their banking at one of America's 5,500 credit unions. Credit unions are for everyone - no matter where you live, there is a credit union to meet your needs.

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