Posted: August 9, 2007

Athletics (RWire): American McCarthy Surprises with 4th at World 24 Hour Run Championship

Sekiya, Kalinina World Champions; Japan, Russia win team titles By Dan Brannen Unheralded American Phil McCarthy of New York City, a pianist who works in the music publishing industry, was the big surprise of the U.S. team's venture to the 6th annual 24 Hour Run World Championship, held July 28-29 in Drummondville, Canada. McCarthy, a journeyman ultrarunner of only a few years, had already pulled off a surprising 3rd place at the Ultracentric National 24 Hour Run Championship in Grapevine, Texas last November to make the national team. But his performance (just under 140 miles) was modest on an international scale, and didn't even put him on the global radar screen. At the World title event, national champ Alex Swenson led the Americans early on in extremely humid conditions with daytime high temperatures in the 80s Fahrenheit. After many of the international stars faltered or retired in the oppressive conditions, Swenson moved into the top 10, with McCarthy shadowing him. During the long, muggy night (after a 2:00pm Saturday start), McCarthy moved past Swenson and then gradually into the top 5, eventually creeping into 4th place in the final hours. Swenson, also done in by the humidity, was forced to retire just prior to the 20 hour mark. Scott Eppelman of Coppell, Texas, after a much more cautious start, gradually made his way from 60th place to 17th. Even with Swenson relegated to the sidelines for the final 4 hours, McCarthy's shocker at the front (154.48 miles), and Eppelman's relentless assault from behind, kept the American men in 3rd place in the national team standings until the final 15 minutes, when the Germans, with three men still moving, jumped past them. The men's gold medal was won by Ryoichi Sekiya of Japan (163.76 miles). The Japanese and French men's teams finished first and second. Russian Lyudmilla Kalinina, who covered 147.17 miles to win women's world title, led the Russian women to a team rout over Japan and France. The American women, fronted by national champ Carolyn Smith (14th), placed 5th in the team competition. Rebecca Johnson and Deb Horn completed the U.S. scoring. 6th World 24 Hour Run Championship -Drummondville, Canada, Sat-Sun, July 28-29, 2007 MEN 1) Ryoichi Sekiya, Japan, 263.562K / 163.76 miles 2) Mohamed Magroun, France, 257.018K / 159.70 miles 3) Masayuki Otaki, Japan, 253.814K / 157.71 miles 4) Phil McCarthy, USA, 248.613K / 154.48 miles 5) Fabien Hoblea, France, 248.505K / 154.41 miles Other U.S.: 17) Scott Eppelman, USA, 220.910K / 137.26 miles 37) Alex Swenson, USA, 199.801K / 124.15 miles MEN'S TEAMS 1) Japan, 761.842K / 473.38 miles 2) France, 742.206K / 461.18 miles 3) Germany, 673.092K / 418.23 miles 4) USA, 669.324K / 415.89 miles 5) Spain, 651.464K / 404.80 miles WOMEN 1) Lyudmilla Kalinina, Russia, 236.848K / 147.17 miles 2) Brigitte Bec, France, 233.137K / 144.86 miles 3) Galina Eremina, Russia, 230.288K / 143.09 miles 4) Yasuke Kanchira, Japan, 221.383K / 137.56 miles 5) Monique Muhlen, Luxembourg, 217.776K / 135.31 miles U.S. 14) Carolyn Smith, USA, 195.720K / 121.61 miles 18) Rebecca Johnson, USA, 191.406K / 118.93 miles 22) Deb Horn, USA, 184.909K / 114.89 miles WOMEN'S TEAMS 1) Russia, 671.329K / 417.14 miles 2) Japan, 641.202K / 398.42 miles 3) France, 614.488K / 381.82 miles 4) Germany, 591.503K / 367.54 miles 5) USA, 572.035K / 355.44 miles Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest