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Jun-7-2008
Dutchwoman Kibet Is First at 37th Mini 10-K
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
In hot and sticky conditions, the Netherlands' Hilda Kibet won the 37th edition of the NYRR New York Mini 10-K, adding her name to the list of stars who have won what is the oldest and most famous all-women's road race in the world.
Kibet, who just qualified for the Dutch 10,000m team for the Beijing Olympics at a race in Utrecht last Saturday, was in a group of four women through the half-way mark on the winding and hilly course in Central Park (16:12). Kenya's Everlyne Lagat was the first to fall back from this group, then a little injection of pace in the seventh kilometer put USA marathon record holder Deena Kastor a few steps behind. Kibet was then left to battle with Mexico's Madai Perez for the last two kilometers. With 800m to go Kibet pushed one more time, and it was enough to secure her second New York City road racing victory in her last two starts (she won the NYC Half-Marathon presented by NIKE last August).
Kibet's finish time was modest by Mini standards --32:42 to Perez's 32:49-- but was a very good performance given the heat and humidity (the temperature was pushing 80°F at the finish line accompanied by 80% humidity). Kastor held on for third in 33:14 followed by her USA Olympic Marathon teammate Magdalena Lewy Boulet in 33:29, and Lagat in 33:38.
Kibet earned $10,000 in prize money. Her cousin, Lornah Kiplagat, has won the race four times. Kiplagat was unable to attend the race because she had lost too much training due to an illness.
The Mini was founded in 1972 by the New York Road Runners and attracted 78 entrants. Nonetheless, it was a breakthrough event for women's distance running. At the time, women could only run as far as 800m on the track; it was thought that long distance running would hurt them and should be avoided. Since then, some of the greatest stars in the sport have won the Mini, including Tegla Loroupe, Paula Radcliffe, Liz McColgan and Grete Waitz. Today's race had over 5000 entrants and 4104 finishers, according to the New York Road Runners.
Top Results:
1. Hilda Kibet, Netherlands, 32:43
2. Madai Perez, Mexico, 32:49
3. Deena Kastor, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 33:14
4. Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Oakland, Calif., 33:29 5. Everlyne Lagat, Kenya, 33:38
6. Blake Russell, Pacific Grove, Calif., 33:40
7. Aziza Aliyu, Ethiopia, 33:56
8. Alina Alekseyeva, Russia, 34:05
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