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The Runner’s Rite of Spring ®

rono followed the advice and surged into a lead which only 2014 (April 6)
grew larger with each additional stride. By the finish line, he With a positive reaction to hosting the USA Women’s
had amassed a 1:13 lead over Kiplagat and reduced the 2011 National Championship in 2013, the organizers bid on
event record by a stunning 21 seconds with a time of 45:15. and received both the USA Men’s and Women’s National
On the women’s side Jelliah Tinega repeated as champion 10 Mile championships from USA Track and Field. The
by matching her 2011 winning time of 54:02, 22 seconds added infusion of top American runners raised the possi-
up on Ethiopian Malika Mejdoub. The anniversary run at- bility that the event could see its first American champions
tracted some special VIPs, including Greg Meyer, who still since Chris Fox won the men’s race in 1990 and Joan Nesbit
owns the fastest time by an American, 46:13, for the event; won the women’s race in 1996. However, it was not to be.
Colleen DeReuck, who owns the current women’s event On the men’s side Kenyans Stephen Sambu and Daniel
mark of 51:16; and Gar Williams, one of the race founders Salel finished 1-2 with the 2 and 3 fastest men’s times
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in 1973 and former DC Road Runners and Road Runners ever recorded for the event (both were timed in 45:29 with
Club of America President. The race also feted 39-year-old Sambu given the win). Christo Landry finished sixth in
Gerri Baer of Rockville, who was born on April 1, 1973, the 46:41, the fourth fastest American time for the event behind
date of the first race. Bethesda’s Ben Beach finished the race Greg Meyer, Thom Hunt and Bill Reifsnyder and less than
for the 40 consecutive time, the only runner with perfect 30 seconds off Meyer’s 1983 American 10 Mile record (still
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attendance. The Children’s Miracle Network fundraising standing) of 46:13. Meyer had returned to hold the finish
juggernaut continued with an additional $515,000 raised by tape in hopes of seeing his mark bettered after more than 30
the sponsoring Credit Unions and runners. years. On the women’s side, American Janet Bawcom gave
serious chase to Ethiopian Mamitu Daska but fell seven
2013 (April 7) seconds short of Daska at the end as the Ethiopian claimed
USATF’s USA Women’s National Championship 10 Mile the title 52:05 to Bawcom’s 52:12. Bawcom’s consolation
Presented by America’s Credit Unions made its first ap- was the single-sex American 10 mile record, bettering the
pearance at the race. An extra prize purse of $14,400 for mark she had set a year earlier by 1:16. Nathan Davis, now
American women (added to the existing $42,000 in open 13-years-old, repeated as 5K champion in 17:58. A long
prize money) produced a deep elite field featuring strong and cold winter meant the cherry blossoms were just shy of
American talent on the women’s side. With U.S. 2012 Olym- blooming for the second straight year. The credit unions, in
pian Janet Bawcom in the field, hopes ran high of having the 13 year of their sponsorship, donated another $487,000
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the first U.S. female overall champion since Joan Nesbit in to Children’s Miracle Network.
1996. Bawcom hung with the lead pack for about 2/3rds of
the race but succumbed to the relentless pressure of Kenyan
Caroline Rotich, who powered to a 52:46 victory. Bawcom
placed 4 in 53:28 but still bested the late Sally Meyerhoff’s
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single sex American record by 70 seconds. Brianne Nelson
(7 in 54:01) and Sarah Crouch (9 in 54:15) also bettered
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the old mark. Alan Kiprono, who ran away from the field
and broke the event record in 2012, returned as the favorite
in the men’s division. However, fellow Kenyan Daniel Salel
would not shake loose as the twosome traded surges over
the closing miles. Cresting the incline at 15 and Indepen-
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dence, Kiprono appeared to have victory in hand. However
one final burst right at the finish tape brought Salel across
the line first, according to the judges who viewed the near
photo finish. Salel clocked 46:06, with Kiprono posting
46:07. There were some heads turned in the 5K Run-Walk
when 12-year-old Nathan Davis of Frederick, MD was the
overall winner in 17:22. A cool spring kept the cherry blos-
soms just short of their peak on a near perfect day for run-
ning with temperatures in the 50s. The sponsoring Credit
Union Miracle Day added another $483,000 in donations to
Children’s Miracle Network, bringing the total funds raised
since becoming the title sponsor of the race to over $6 mil-
lion dollars. Just over 17,500 runners finished the race.
2013 and 2014 USA 10 Mile Women’s Champion Janet
Bawcom
2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Media Guide 61