BOSTON - Molly Huddle (Providence, R.I.) unleashed a powerful kick to
win the open race and the USA Women's 10 km Championship Monday at the
Tufts Health Plan 10 K for Women in Boston. Huddle edged out Aziza Aliyu
of Ethiopia by less than one second, running 32:52 to win her first U.S.
road crown and the Title as well.
More than 7,000 women took to the streets of Boston for the 32nd edition
of the traditional Columbus Day event, which hosted the championship for
the 14th time.
Passing the first mile in 5:15, Huddle was positioned in the front of a
pack that included her Providence-based training partner Amy Rudolph,
2008 USA 5 km runner-up Renee Metivier-Baille (Flagstaff, Ariz.),
Rebecca Donaghue (State College, Pa.), and 2008 Olympic steeplechaser
Lindsey Anderson (Ogden, Utah).
Running along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, near the 2-mile mark, Rudolph
began to edge to the front of the pack, and just before a turn-around
approaching 4 miles, she had opened a 10 meter gap on Huddle, Aliyu and
Tebya Naser (ETH).
As Rudolph continued to press the pace, the chase pack began to cut into
her lead and at four miles had reeled her back in. After four miles,
crossing the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge back into Boston, Huddle had
moved to the lead but was followed closely by Aliyu, Naser and Rudolph.
Going into the final mile, the pack stayed in tight formation but Naser
and Rudolph began to fall off the pace as Huddle and Aliyu began the
race to the finish. Making the final turn onto Charles Street, the pair
began to kick to the finish with Huddle finally gaining the advantage in
the final 100 meters. Naser eventually pulled away from Rudolph to take
third overall in 32:55.
Rudolph's fourth-place finish in 33:05 also earned her second in the
championship division as Baillie claimed third over Donaghue in 33:13 to
33:14. Anderson rounded out the top-five Americans in 33:34.
The championship also concluded the 2008 edition of the women's USA
Running Circuit (USARC) which saw 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena
Kastor (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) capture her second consecutive circuit
title 45 points. Katie McGregor (St. Louis Park, Minn.) finished second
in the standings with 36 points and Huddle's 10 km victory moved her
into third with 32 points.
The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA
Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S.
distance runners.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first,
12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final
$12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three
men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA
Marathon Championships will be doubled.
The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and
promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its
races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.
For more information on the 2008 USARC visit USATF.org.
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