Boston 10K – The Inaugural B.A.A. 10K – June 26, 2011 – Ten Fast Facts, Race Results – Inaugural B.A.A. 10K – Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel Reign Supreme

The inaugural B.A.A. 10K was won by Geoffrey Mutai in 27:19, marking his second victory in  Boston since April when he won the Boston Marathon in a world best time of 2:03:02. The 29- year-old seperated from the field after half-way, dropping a 4:18 mile to leave Gebre  Gebremariam and Sam Chelanga behind. Gebremariam wound up second in 28:11, while Moses Mosop finished third in 28:29. Chelanga, running in his professional debut, finished fourth with a  time of 28:31.

 Geoffrey Mutai's time of 27:19 wasn't only good enough to earn the win; it was fast enough to  set a number of records. His time is a pending North, Central America & The Caribbean Area  Record, according to the IAAF's website. Mutai's time betters Mark Nenow's previous record of  27:23 set in 1984 in New Orleans. Mutai also ran the fastest 10K in Massachusetts history,  besting Johnny Gregorek's 28:15, set in 1985. Mutai may have been inspired for such a performance after finding out last night that his wife gave birth to their second child, a yet-to-be-named baby girl. As is Kenyan tradition, Mutai and his wife will decide on a name for their child in the coming days, once he returns home.

The women's race also saw a Boston Marathon champion come out on top. Caroline Kilel of Kenya broke from New Zealand's Kim Smith early on and crossed the tape in 31:58. After the race, Kilel said she loves Boston, as well as the race course.
 
In it's first year, the B.A.A. 10K had 3,040 finishers. The number of people crossing the start on Charles Street was 3,060, while the number of registrants topped out at 3,656. There were also an estimated 80 children participating in the kids races following the B.A.A. 10K.
 
With the start and finish of the B.A.A. 10K in between Boston Common and the Public Garden, the race featured a picturesque beginning and end. To show their appreciation and continued support, the Boston Athletic Association donated $6,000 to the Friends of the Public Garden.
 
The Boston Athletic Association's own Tim Ritchie and Heather Cappello finished as the top  Americans. Ritchie, a former standout at Boston College, placed tenth in 30:26. Cappello finished fourth in 33:32, earning $1,000. Cappello also ran in college, competing for the Providence College Friars.
 
A number of former champions were on hand for the inaugural B.A.A. 10K. Firing the gun at the beginning of the race was Bobbi Gibb, the first woman ever to complete the Boston Marathon. Bill Rodgers, a four-time Boston Marathon winner, and Joan Benoit Samuelson, the gold medalist in the first women's Olympic Marathon, ran the 6.2 mile course as well. Watching the race was Geoff Smith, a two-time winner in Boston.
 
The inaugural B.A.A. 10K is now one of five road races in which the Boston Athletic Association  holds over the course of a year. Among the distances run are one mile, 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and Boston Marathon. As Bill Rodgers said following the race today, "the B.A.A. 10K brings another great event into the B.A.A.'s schedule."
 
Fourth place finisher Sam Chelanga ran an amazing race in his debut as a professional. Mixing it up with Geoffrey Mutai and Gebre Gebremariam in the beginning, the recent Liberty graduate earned valuable experience competing on the roads. But what the 26-year-old was really excited about was competing in Boston. "It's something you read and dream about," he said. "I saw the CITGO sign, and I'm like 'Wow!' this is a dream.  It's like I'm doing the Boston Marathon. I know that one day I am going to do the Boston Marathon, and I am going to do awesome. It's just exciting."
 
Providence College graduates did very well at the B.A.A. 10K on the women's side. In the  competition, four former Friars placed in the top ten. Led by Kim Smith, second in 32:06, Heather Cappello finished fourth in 33:32, Katie DiCamillo placed sixth in 34:26, and Mary Kate Champagne rounded out the top ten in 36:38.

B.A.A. 10K – OFFICIAL TOP TEN FINISHERS

MEN:
Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) – 27:19
Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) – 28:11
Moses Mosop (KEN) – 28:29
Samuel Chelanga (KEN) – 28:31
Samuel Ndereba (KEN) – 29:01
Shawn Forrest (AUS) – 29:10
Simon Ndirangu (KEN) – 29:30
Joseph Chirlee (KEN) – 29:37
Elkanah Kibet (KEN) – 30:13
Timothy Ritchie (USA) – 30:26

WOMEN:
Caroline Kilel (KEN) – 31:58
Kim Smith (NZL) – 32:06
Misiker Demissie (ETH) – 33:08
Heather Cappello (USA) – 33:32
Benita Willis (USA) – 34:11
Katie Dicamillo (USA) – 34:26
Jennifer Campbell (USA) – 35:42
Caroline Bjune (USA) – 36:08
Trina Painter (USA) – 36:13
Mary Kate Champagne (USA) – 36:38

WHEELCHAIR:
MEN: Tony Nogueira (USA) – 24:16
WOMEN: Bridgette Wise (USA) – 44:19

TOP TEN RESULTS
B.A.A. 10k
June 26, 2011 10 Kilometers (USATF Certified #MA11004RN) Boston, MA
Timing By: Granite State Race Services Racetime@gsrs.com
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TOP TEN MEN OVERALL
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Place Div Time Name Age Race# City/state
===== === ======= ======================== === ===== =======================
1 1 27:19# Geoffrey Mutai 29 1 Kenya
2 2 28:11# Gebregziabher Gebremaria 26 3 Ethiopia
3 3 28:29# Moses Mosop 25 2 Kenya
4 4 28:31# Samuel Chelanga 26 12 Lynchburg, Va(ken)
5 1 29:01# Samuel Ndereba 34 5 Kenya
6 5 29:10# Shawn Forrest 27 7 Greensboro, Nc (aus)
7 6 29:30# Simon Ndirangu 25 4 Kenya
8 2 29:37# Joseph Chirlee 31 9 Colorado Springs CO
9 7 30:13 Elkanah Kibet 25 8 Auburn, Al (ken)
10 1 30:26 Timothy Ritchie 23 15 Brighton MA
# Under USATF OPEN guideline

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TOP TEN WOMEN OVERALL
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Place Div Time Name Age Race# City/state
===== === ======= ======================== === ===== =======================
1 1 31:58# Caroline Kilel 30 31 Kenya
2 1 32:06# Kim Smith 29 32 Providence, Ri (nzl)
3 1 33:08# Misiker Demissie 24 34 Ethiopia
4 2 33:32# Heather Cappello 31 41 Arlington MA
5 3 34:11 Benita Willis 32 35 Boulder CO
6 2 34:26 Katie Dicamillo 24 45 Providence RI
7 2 35:42 Jennifer Campbell 28 42 Norfolk MA
8 1 36:08* Caroline Bjune 37 1632 Andover MA
9 1 36:13* Trina Painter 45 38 Flagstaff AZ
10 3 36:38 Mary Kate Champagne 21 3117 Plattsburgh NY
# Under USATF OPEN guideline
* Under USATF Age-Group guideline