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By: Steve Brooks
INDIANAPOLIS (May 3, 2008) – It couldn’t have gotten any closer in the men’s race during the 2008 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Kenyans Lamech Mokono and Valentine Orare were neck-in-neck at the finish of the 13.1-mile race – so neck-in-neck that race officials had to review the videotape and still photographs before determining a clear-cut winner. It was decided that both men were declared winners and would each get a full first-place prize purse of $3,500. The pair ran the course in 1:02.53., while Kenyan native Reuben Chebii took third.
It was a day of firsts. In addition to being the only first-place tie since the race’s inception in 1977, it was the first Mini-Marathon for both Mokono – who lives in Santa Fe, N.M. – and the 25-year-old Orare, who resides in West Chester, Pa. Both stretched to cross the finish line, and while Orare celebrated what he thought was a win, Mokono waited to hear the results.
“When I run, my goal is just to finish the race as best as I can and see what happens,” said Mokono, 27. “I was just waiting for the people to tell me if I’d won or not. My goal was just to run the race with a good time. I wasn’t going to ask people if I won or complain about anything. I was just happy to have finished like I did.”
Mokono felt like an underdog entering the race but said he was ready for the competition. “I knew that the winners from 2004 (Reuben Chebii), 2005 (Wesley Ochoro) and 2007 (Joseph Chirlee) were here,” he said. “I know they are strong guys. But they didn’t know what I could do in this race.”
Conditions were ideal, according to many race participants. Temperatures hovered in the mid- to high-50s, and while the humidity was more than 80 percent, runners never considered it a factor. “It was almost perfect out today,” Mokono said. “It wasn’t too hot, and the (humidity) wasn’t too bad. It was a good day to run.”
In the women’s race, defending champ Janet Cherobon made it two wins in a row, taking the championship in 1:14.11. The 29-year-old from Lawrenceville, Ga. – an eight-time NCAA Division II All-American while running at Harding University in Arkansas – said being the defending champ had its drawbacks. “It does put a lot (of pressure) on you,” she said. “You just try to concentrate and run the race. I just wanted to go out there, run my race and see what everyone else had.”
Cherobon – who won collegiate national championships in the 5,000-meter outdoor, the 5,000-meter outdoor and 10,000-meter outdoor -- felt good about her day. “I think I ran a pretty good race,” she said. “It was a little bit windy on the course at first, but it was better after that.” Repeating was better than winning for the first time. “This is better, so much better,” she said. “Last year I wasn’t in as good of shape. This year I was much more prepared.” Kenyan native Carolyne Kiptoo finished second, nearly a minute behind Cherobon in her first Mini-Marathon.
Tony Iniguez became a three-time champ in the wheelchair division, finishing in just over 47 minutes in blistering the rest of the field. The Bolingbrook, Ill., resident and high-school visual arts, drawing and painting teacher, Iniguez had to take a different approach this year as the clear front-runner in the race. “Last year I had the advantage of having two other guys around me. We could draft off each other,” he said. “I didn’t have to pace myself. This year I tried to keep up with the pace car and the cyclist. If they’d get ahead of me, I’d try to catch them. Those are the little games you play with yourself to keep your speed up.”
Winning won’t become old hat for Iniguez, who received a $1,000 check from the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program for his effort. “For me, I just love to compete and do the best I can,” he said. “There’s no feeling like crossing that finish line and hearing the crowd cheer for you. I don’t think that will ever get old.”
Over the past 50 years, the 500 Festival, a not-for-profit organization, has grown to become one of the nation’s largest festivals. The mission of the 500 Festival is to produce events and programs that celebrate the success of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Indiana and their guests.
Annually, the 500 Festival presents nearly 50 events and programs, touching over 500,000 lives. Produced largely by volunteers, these events and programs enhance the image of our city and state by showcasing our cultural, educational and social benefits to the world. Whether they are athletes running the Mini, fourth grade students participating in the Education Program, families enjoying the state’s largest festival for kids or spectators being dazzled by one of the nation’s premier parades, they are there, celebrating the legacy of 50 years of community spirit.
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