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New champion crowned in the professional elite men's race - American Jen Rhines takes silver in her first race at the Carlsbad 5000
CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 1, 2007) - In her fifth appearance at the Carlsbad 5000, 23-year-old Meseret Defar of Ethiopia became the first woman to successfully defend her title in the race that has seen 16 world records broken in its 22-year history. She won in a time of 15 minutes, one second over the five-kilometer course, falling short in her attempt at also breaking the world record for the second year in a row. In the men's race, a new champion was crowned. In his first race on American soil, Kenyan Simon Ndirangu, 26, won in a time of 13:28.
In 2006, Defar broke the world record at Carlsbad, shattering the previous record by five seconds when she ran 14:46. She had hoped to run 14:40 this year.
"I felt good, I felt strong," Defar said of her performance Sunday. "Sometimes, it's just like this."
According to the men's winner, racing conditions were "perfect."
"I liked the course," said Ndirangu. "After mile two, I knew I would win the race."
American Jen Rhines, 32, finished second (15:21), in front of Ethiopian Aheza Kiros, who was third in 15:25.
"The course lived up to everything I'd heard," Rhines said of her debut at the Carlsbad 5000. "I wanted to go out fast in the first mile and keep Meseret as close as possible."
Henry Rono, 55, marked his return to racing as he placed second in his age division (55-59) in a time of 17:48.
"This was a very uplifting experience," Rono said as the spoke with reporters at the finish line and received congratulations from fellow racers. "I let my body lead me. It is good to be back."
A husband and wife team, Dennis and Michelle Simonaitis, from Draper, Utah claimed the top spots in both the men's and women's masters races, finishing in 14:55 and 17:03 respectively.
Edwin Figueroa, 35, of Los Angeles won the men's wheelchair race in a time of 12:47.
22nd Annual Carlsbad 5000 Results, April 1, 2007
Place, Name, Age, Location, Time, Prize Money
Top 10 Women's Professional Elite Results
1) Meseret Defar, 23, Ethiopia, 15:01, $5,000
2) Jen Rhines, 32, USA/CA, 15:21, $3,500
3) Aheza Kiros, 25, Ethiopia, 15:25, $2,000
4) Malindi Elmore, 27, Canada, 15:40, $1,000
5) Kate O'Neill, 26, USA/CA, 15:52, $800
6) Sara Hall, 24, USA/CA, 15:52, $700
7) Yimenashu Taye, 27, Ethiopia, 15:58, $500
8) Deidre Byrne, 24, Ireland, 16:13, $400
9) Meskerem Legesse, 20, Ethiopia, 16:20, $300
10) Christin Wurth, 25, USA/AR, 16:30, $200
Top 10 Men's Professional Elite Results
1) Simon Ndirangu, 26, Kenya, 13:28, $5,000
2) Juan Luis Barrios, 23, Mexico, 13:32, $3,500
3) David Galvan, 33, Mexico, 13:42, $2,000
4) Boaz Cheboiywo, 29, Mexico, 13:55, $1,000
5) Nicodemus Malakwen, 25, Kenya, 14:06, $800
6) Solomon Kandie, 28, Kenya, 14:16, $700
7) Robert Cheseret, 23, Kenya, 14:17, $500
8) Samuel Kogei, 21, Kenya, 14:20, $400
9) Dmitry Safronov, 25, Russia, 14:21, $300
10) Kris Houghton, 25, USA/NM, 14:35, $200
Men's Masters (Age 40 and over)
1) Dennis Simonaitis, 44, Draper, UT, 14:55, $1,000
2) Alan Newton, 44, Boise, ID, 15:07, $500
3) Peter Magill, 45, Pasadena, CA, 15:12, $200
Women's Masters (Age 40 and over)
1) Michelle Simonaitis, 40, Draper, UT, 17:03, $1,000
2) Patty Murray, 41, Boulder, CO, 17:05, $500
3) Midori Sperandeo, 40, Laguna Niguel, CA, 17:21, $200
Men's Wheelchair
1) Edwin Figueroa, 35, Los Angeles, 12:47, $700
2) Ray Stewart, 53, Downey, CA, 12:48, $400
3) Geoffren Erickson, 56, Wilmington, CA, 13:39, $300
About Elite Racing
Elite Racing, Inc. is a sports marketing and management company that specializes in producing world-class road racing events for runners and walkers throughout the United States. Its signature musical marathon series began in 1998 with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, Calif., which will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sun., June 3, 2007. Over the past nine years, the company has grown to manage a total of six marathons and half marathons including the Country Music Marathon and ˝ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, the Philadelphia Distance Run and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, Calif. Each event features a live band on stage with complete sound systems and cheerleaders at every mile along the course. Events attract between 11,000 and 35,000 participants.
In addition, Elite Racing also produces the Carlsbad 5000. Known as the "world's fastest 5k," the Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world best times at the 3.1-mile distance and welcomes over 10,000 runners and walkers to the streets of Carlsbad, Calif. annually.
For more information about Elite Racing's events visit www.eliteracing.com
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