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May-30-2007
Boston & NYC Marathon Champions to Clash at Mini 10-K
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
The reigning women's champions of the Boston and ING New York City Marathons will clash at the NYRR New York Mini 10-K on Saturday, June 9, organizers announced here today.
Lidiya Grigoryeva, who notched her first Boston Marathon victory last April in the midst of a driving rain, will race again against two-time defending ING New York City Marathon champion, Jelena Prokopcuka, who finished second to Grigoryeva in Boston.
"Jelena and Lidiya are unusual in that they are both strong marathon runners with plenty of leg speed," remarked Mary Wittenberg, the president and CEO of New York Road Runners in a press release. "Because the hills of Central Park favor stronger runners, this course is ideally suited for them. Look for their marathon strength to help them take the sting out of Lornah's speed."
Lornah, of course, would be Lornah Kiplagat, the two-time defending Mini champion who is looking for her fourth Mini victory. Previously announced by the New York Road Runners, Kiplagat is the reigning IAAF World Cross Country and Road Running champion. Two other world champions, Benita Johnson (World Cross, 2004) and Catherine Ndereba (Marathon, 2003) had also been previously announced.
Grigoryeva, 33, had intended to do the "Hudson River Double," competing this Saturday at the Freihofer's Run for Women in Albany, N.Y., then following up with the Mini 10-K a week later in Manhattan 150 miles to the south.
Unfortunately, her five year-old daughter got sick and Grigoryeva decided to stay home with her in Russia for another week. This will be Grigoryeva's first appearance at the Mini.
Prokopcuka, 30, is the World Marathon Majors points leader for the 2007 -
2008 season with 55 points. After her second place finish at Boston the Latvian star rebounded quickly and has chalked up several strong performances on the roads. She won the BUPA Great Edinburgh Run 10-K on May
6 over Britain's Jo Pavey, 32:53 to 32:57. Most recently she was fourth at the BUPA Great Manchester Run 10-K in 31:55. She has twice finished second at the Mini, in 2005 and 2006.
"Jelena and Lidiya provide an interesting subtext to the overall race for the title," Wittenberg added. "Jelena has a score to settle with Lidiya after Boston, and now she has a chance to do it on her own turf in New York."
The Mini, the original all-women's road race founded by the New York Road Runners in 1972, will also host a large group of Japanese athletes from two different teams. The Second Wind A.C. is sending Yuri Kano, who will be making her third appearance at the Mini; two-time Olympian Megumi Oshima (née Tanaka); and Kiyoko Shimahara, the 2006 Asian Games Marathon silver medalist. The Noritz team is sending four athletes led by Mari Ozaki, who was twice second at the Osaka Int'l Ladies Marathon.
Previous Mini champions include Deena Kastor, Paula Radcliffe, Tegla Loroupe (five titles), Delillah Asiago (two titles), Liz McColgan, Ingrid Kristiansen, and Grete Waitz (five titles). A $30,000 prize money purse is on the line, with the winner receiving $10,000.
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