Runnersweb.com Athletics: This Week in Running for Week Ending October 9th

From The Analytical Distance Runner, the newsletter for the Association of Road Racing Statisticians with a focus on races, 3000m and longer, including road, track, and cross-country events. The ARRS has a website at ARRS.net.

From Ken Young - kenyoung@wildblue.net

10 Years Ago- Zersenay Tadese (ERI) won the IAAF World Road Running Championships (HUN) 20K with a world record 56:01. Robert Kipchumba Kipkorir (KEN) got the silver medal at 56:41 and the bronze medal went to Wilson Kebenei Kiprotich (KEN) at 57:15. Lornah Kiplagat (NED) won the women's gold medal by two seconds over Constantina Dita (ROM), 1:03:21 to 1:03:23. Kiplagat's mark was also a world record. Rita Cheptoo Sitienei (KEN) got the bronze medal at 1:03:47. This one time experiment by the IAAF not only produced two still-standing world records, it also produced 20 still-standing national records (ten men and ten women). Why doesn't the IAAF try a 25K world road championships for a change instead of just another (boring) half marathon?

20 Years Ago- Tumo Turbo (ETH) edged Grzegorz Gajdus (POL) by one second to win the Eindhoven (NED) Marathon, 2:11:26 to 2:11:27. Vladimir Kotov (BLR) was 3rd at 2:12:33. Kotov has the longest span of time from first to last sub-2:12 marathons, more than 14 years. Simona Staicu (ROM) won the women's race handily with a 2:37:47. Mieke Pullen (NED) was next at 2:43:02 and Agnes Hijman (NED) was 3rd at 2:48:32.

30 Years Ago- Bill Donakowski (MI/USA) won the 24th edition of the Twin Cities (MN/USA) over Don Janicki (USA), 2:10:42 to 2:11:59 and collected the USA title. David Gordon (WA/USA) was 3rd at 2:12:09. Kim Jones (CO/USA) won the USA women's USA title, winning the race by more than two minutes over Nancy Ditz (CA/USA), 2:32:31 to 2:34:51. Connie Prince (IA/USA) was 3rd at 2:35:27.

40 Years Ago- The Schwarzwald (GER) Marathon was the largest marathon in the world for 1976 with 1997 finishers. Peter Reiher (GER) won the men's race with a 2:24:58 while Liane Winter (GER) ran 3:10:33.8 to win the women's race.

50 Years Ago- Ed Winrow (NY/USA) won the National Senior (USA open) AAU Championships (NJ/USA) 25K with a 1:19:13.2. Ralph Buschmann (CAN) was 2nd at 1:21:43.0 and Herb Lorenz (PA/USA) was 3rd at 1:24:47. Other notables included Browning Ross (NJ/USA) in 11th (1:30:46) and Hal Higdon (IN/USA) in 12th (1:32:39).

60 Years Ago- Allan Lawrence (AUS) won a 5000m in Melbourne AUS over Albert Thomas (AUS), 14:03.6 to 14:04.6. David Power (AUS) was 3rd at 14:05.6.

70 Years Ago- Gaston Reiff (BEL) ran 8:08.8 to win a 3000m in Brussels BEL.

80 Years Ago- Ellison Brown (USA) won the 12th edition of the Port Chester National (NY/USA) Marathon over Pat Dengis (MD/USA), 2:36:56.7 to 2:37:31. Mel Porter (NY/USA) was 3rd at 2:42:34.

90 Years Ago- Willie Steytler (RSA) won the South African marathon title over Harry Phillips (RSA), 2:48:12 to 2:55:29.