(5-8-06) From Press Release - Okari Outpaces Kiama to Win 30th Bloomsday Run, Ochichi Survives Rally by Hladyr Over the Final Mile
Spokane, WA - Kenyans Gilbert Okari and Isabella Ochichi lived up to their billing as pre-race favorites, as the two withstood challenges from a strong field of contenders to win their respective divisions in the 30th running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run.
On a chilly, overcast morning, Okari and his training partner Charles Kiama broke away from the pack after the first uphill following Latah Creek, then ran stride for stride through the next two miles of the rolling Bloomsday course. Heading up the infamous Doomsday Hill, though, Okari broke away, emerging with a solid lead by the top. Kiama held on gamely over the final 2-1/2 miles of the 12-kilometer course (7.46 miles), but Okari nevertheless lengthened his lead, racing to the line in 34:14, over 30 seconds ahead of Kiama. Those two were followed by Ernest Meli Kimeli and Julius Kibet, as Kenyans captured the top eight places.
"It was challenging and the hill was tough," Okari said later. "I know [Kiama] well, and he is a strong runner."
In the women's race Ochichi, the 2004 Olympic 5000 meter silver medalist, led the race with a first mile of 4:41, then moved steadily away from the pack. It looked like it might be a runaway, but Ochichi was in for a surprise. Farther back Ukrainian Tetyana Hladyr and Australian Benita Johnson were running stride for stride in pursuit. As those two climbed Doomsday Hill Hladyr broke away, and she began to close steadily on the leader. With less than a mile to go Hladyr finally closed the gap, but Ochichi suddenly responded, unleashing a powerful kick on the final downhill to post a 38:38 victory, two seconds ahead of Hladyr.
"It if was warm I would have been faster, but being cold it was tough," said Ochichi later, then added a nod of thanks to the crowd for spurring her to victory. "When you are running and they say 'Go Isabella, you look good' and then I think I look good, I'm out of here."
In the Men's Masters competition Sean Wade of Houston, Texas, took top honors with a time of 37:45, followed by Alan Newton of Boise, ID. Women's Masters winner Sylvia Mosqueda, 40, of Los Angeles posted a time of 41:37, good enough for 11th overall. Top Washington finishers were Uli Steidl from Shoreline, WA with a time of 37:55 and Janet Collar from Spokane, WA with time of 44:08.
Over 40,000 runners, joggers and walkers finished the 30th running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run, which has now recorded close to 1.2 million finishers. Full results of the event are posted at www.bloomsdayrun.org
Next year's Bloomsday is Sunday, May 6, 2007.
