Jessica Smith claims AT&T Dash for the Cash to lead race record field of 30,800 plus
By Jackie Holt, Sports Backers
RICHMOND, Va. - (March 27, 2010) - After finishing runner-up at the 2009 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K, Alene Reta came back and captured the men's title this year in 28 minutes, 26 seconds, a seven second improvement from 2009. The 27-year-old Ethiopian finished nearly a minute ahead of countryman Kumsa Adunga (29:18) and Great Britain's Andrew Lemoncello (29:19) to take home the $2000 top prize on Saturday morning.
Megan Wright, of Edmonton, Canada, was the top female in 33:06. This was her first time running the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K, but said she is likely to return next year. Wright edged out a couple of Virginians, Herndon's Samia Akbar (33:19) and Williamsburg's Kathy Newberry (33:31) to clinch the title.
"We were all quite together for a while," said Wright. "I pulled away with less than two miles to go."
Although Reta and Wright finished atop the standings, leading the pack was AT&T Dash for the Cash contestant Jessica Smith, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Richmond. Smith was selected at random from more than 35,000 people registered for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K on March 1, and was given a 2.6 mile head start based on her past race results. She took home the $2500 prize after beating out the professional runners to the finish line by almost two-and-a-half minutes. This is the third year in a row that the AT&T Dash for the Cash contestant claimed the prize. Smith said that she will be donating $500 to the Massey Cancer Center.
With a race record registration of 37,365 entries for the 11th edition plus a record finishers tally of more than 30,800, the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K, the country's 4th largest 10K, continues its rapid growth. The morning began with another registration record of 2,016 children ages 5-12 participating in the First Market Mile Kids Run presented by MARTIN'S Food Markets.
"It's amazing that we continue to see growth in so many components of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K," said Sports Backers executive director Jon Lugbill. "It just goes to show that the community truly embraces this event."
Twenty-nine bands performed along the 6.2-mile course, providing entertainment to all in attendance. Nineteen spirit groups rallied participants with cheers and encouragement through Hirschler Fleischer's spirit contest. More than 90 groups and individuals ran in costume for the Richmond Times-Dispatch Dress Up & Run contest.
The 2011 Monument Avenue 10K will take place on Saturday, April 2 with registration scheduled to open on December 1, 2010.
11th Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K
Richmond, VA, Saturday, March 27, 2010
MEN
1) Alene Reta (ETH), 28:26, $2000
2) Kumsa Adunga (ETH), 29:18, $1000
3) Andrew Lemoncello (GBR), 29:19, $800
4) Henry Kipsang (KEN), 29:56, $600
5) Abiyot Endale (ETH), 30:38, $400
6) Jon Molz (USA / VA), 30:51, $200
7) Brian Fuller (USA / PA), 30:57, $100
WOMEN
1) Megan Wright (CAN), 33:06, $2000
2) Samia Akbar (USA / VA), 33:19, $1000
3) Kathy Newberry (USA / VA), 33:31, $800
4) Evelyn Lagat (KEN), 34:55, $600
5) Brett Ely (USA / MA), 36:00, $400
6) Maria Busienei (KEN), 36:02, $200
7) Mary Bertram (USA / VA), 36:22, $100
Full results at: SportBackers.org.
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