Defending Champion Kiplagat and Five Other Olympians Lead Field at NYRR New York Mini 10K – $30,000 prize purse; $5000 and $25,000 course and world record bonuses

NEW YORK – (June 7, 2007) – Another top international women’s field – led by three-time and defending race champion Lornah Kiplagat of The Netherlands – is expected for the NYRR New York Mini 10K in Central Park on Saturday morning, June 9. Kiplagat’s likely challengers should be two-time ING New York City Marathon champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, 2004 World Cross Country champion Benita Johnson of Australia, 2007 Boston Marathon champion Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia, national 10,000m record holder Kim Smith of New Zealand and Mari Ozaki of Japan.

The 36th edition, the original and oldest women-only road race in the world, features six Olympians and two world champions and overall, the professional field boasts four who have broken 31 minutes for 10,000 meters on the track and another five who have run sub-32 minutes.

The race offers a $30,000 prize purse, with $10,000 for the winner. A bonus of $5000 will be awarded to the first runner who finishes under the event record of 30:29, set by Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco in 2002, also the women-only world record. In addition, a new 10K world record will be worth a $25,000 bonus. Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain holds the current WR of 30:21 set in 2003.

The weather forecast for Saturday’s race is partly cloudy with morning temperatures in the 60-70s and NNW winds 10-20 miles per hour.

Founded by the New York Road Runners in 1972, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the first sponsor to run a more manageable six-mile „mini“ marathon – named for the miniskirt, which was then the height of fashion – rather than a full marathon.

For more information, visit: NYRR.org

Below is the seeded field:

Bib# / Athlete / CTZ / affiliation / 10,000m personal best times (R = road time)
1 Lornah Kiplagat, NED, adidas, 30:12.53 (World Champs, 2003)
2 Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT, Nike, 30:38.78 (Euro Champs, 2006)
3 Benita Johnson, AUS, Nike, 30:37.68 (St. Denis, 2003)
4 Lidiya Grigoryeva, RUS, Nike, 30:32.72 (Euro Champs, 2006)
5 Kim Smith, NZL, Reebok, 31:20.63 (Stanford, 2007)
6 Mari Ozaki, JPN, Noritz, 31:34.15 (Kobe, 2005)
7 Megumi Oshima, JPN, Second Wind AC, 31:34.01 (Tottori, 2004)
8 Mara Yamauchi, GBR, ASICS, 31:49.40 (Commonwealth Games, 2006)
9 Yuri Kano, JPN, Second Wind AC, 31:53.07 (Niigata, 2004)
10 Kiyoko Shimahara, JPN, Second Wind AC, 32:54.03 (Niigata, 2004)
11 Hilda Kibet, KEN, adidas, 34:12.20 (Utrecht, 2003)
12 Rehima Kedir, ETH, 32:02R (Mobile, 2007)
14 Silvia Skvortsova, RUS, Nike, 32:21.89 (Tula 2004)
15 Kaori Oyama, JPN, Nortiz, 32:32.42 (Fukagawa, 2005)
16 Haruko Okamoto, JPN, Nortiz, 31:50.39 (Tokyo, 2001)
17 Akemi Ozaki, JPN, Second Wind AC, 32:51.80 (Kobe, 2003)
18 Nina Rillstone, NZL, adidas, 32:57.37 (Stanford, 2004)
19 Iulia Gromova, RUS, TBD, 34:43.20 (St. Petersburg, 1997)
20 Alemtsehay Misganaw, ETH, Westchester TC, 32:58R (Minneapolis, 2007)
21 Atalelech Ketema, ETH, Westchester TC, 33:58.7 (Addis Ababa, 2002)

Source/Courtesy: Running USA – RunningUSA.org

Ryan Lamppa,
Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@RunningUSA.org |
www.RunningUSA.org