USA: Kipkosgei, Hashimoto Champions at Steamboat

Hot Times in Peoria: Kipkosgei, Hashimoto Champions at Steamboat By Jim Estes

PEORIA, Ill. - (June 12, 2004) - For 31 years the city of Peoria has hosted some of the best road racers in the world including Khalid Khannouchi, Arturo Barrios, Steve Jones, Colleen De Reuck and Delillah Asiago, just to name a few. With numerous world and national records calling the Steamboat Classic home, it is no surprise that, when Elite Athlete Coordinator, Glenn Latimer sets his mind to bringing the sport's best to Peoria, there will be quite a show.

The 31st edition didn't disappoint, with Luke Kipkosgei essentially dominating the race from the onset, which included a 4:12 opening mile, easily putting the Kenyan in a position to challenge Josphat Machuka's world record of 17:24. However, a series of low 4:30 miles soon put that notion to rest as Kipkosgei hit the tape - untested and unchallenged - in 17:36. Countrymen Luke Metto and
Shadrack Kosgei (the defending champion) finished second and third respectively in 17:42 and 17:44.

"I tried to push hard, but I could not do it", Kipkosgei told the Peoria Journal Star's Gary Childs.

On the women's side, a trio that included Japanese star and 2003 Berlin Marathon champion Yashuko Hashimoto, 2003 Steamboat champion Constantina Tomescu-Dita and 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials 4th place finisher Blake Russell hit the first mile in 5:00, but quickly slowed during the second mile with a 5:13. Shortly before three miles, Russell made her push to the front which would result in Tomescu-Dita's exit from the lead pack, but Hashimoto remained close and would move past Russell as the pair negotiated the Spaulding Mall and at the finish, Hashimoto had five seconds on Russell, stopping the clock in 20:40, while Tomescu-Dita made it home in 20:58 for a distant third.

After the race, Russell recalled, "I felt better than I expected, so I tried to make a little bit of a move, but the turnover wasn't quite there".

31st Steamboat Classic 4 Mile
Peoria, IL, Saturday, June 12, 2004

MEN
1. Luke Kipkosgei, 28, KEN 17:36 $4000
2. Luke Metto, 26, KEN 17:42 $2500
3. Shadrack Kosgei, 20, KEN 17:44 $2000
4. Joseph Koskei, 20, KEN 17:49 $1500
5. Silverus Kimeli, 24, KEN 18:29 $1000
6. John Henwood, 31, NZL 18:33 $500
7. Tobias Hiskia, 26, NAM 18:33 $500
8. Jason Lehmkuhle, 26, MN 18:36 $250
9. Mark Menefee, 25, MI 18:53 $250
10. Shadrack Kimeli, 27, KEN 18:59 $250
11. Trent Briney, 25, MI 18:59

WOMEN
1. Yasuko Hashimoto, 28, JPN 20:40 $4000
2. Blake Russell, 28, MA 20:45 $2500
3. Constantina Tomescu-Dita, 34, ROM 20:58 $2000
4. Zivile Balciunaite, 25, LIT 21:19 $1500
5. Denisa Costescu, 28, ROM 21:28 $1000
6. Melissa White, 23, MI 21:40 $500
7. Fumi Murata, 29, JPN 22:17 $500
8. Jenny Spangler, 40, IL 22:31 $250
9. Bonita Paul, 23, RSA 22:32 $250
10. Elsa Monterroso, 32, GUA 22:35 $250

Full results can be found at: www.steamboatclassic.org

source Running USA wire