• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

1986 JACKSONVILLE RIVER RUN 15,000 Hosted by: Jacksonville Track Club GATE COMPANIES BARNETT BANK OF JACKSONVILLE Ronzoni THE PREMIUM PASTA ~OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY COMPANY COVER PHOTO: 1985 River Run Marathon Foto River Run 15,000 Race Committee Race Director ...... .... Doug Alred Timing ................... Tony Steve Committee Chairman .. John Tenbroeck Robert Shollar Expo & Packet Pickup. .. Jane Ryan Banners. .. Mark Howard Water Stations ......... Clay McLeod Trinks Windfield Course Setup ............ Mike Davis Traffic Cones ....... Ruth Hazelhurst Radio Communications ..... AI Elmore T-shirt Distribution ...... Page Acosta Medical Director ...... Jay Ettleburg Finish ................. Tom Skordas Awards Distribution .... Ralph Mancus Runner Special Thanks To ....... Boy Scouts Accommodations ...... Bob Pogachnik and Stanton High School Computer Input ...... Wayne McLeod RIVER RUN 15,000 Change can sometimes be the lifeblood of any ongoing they were all thinking aboutthe climb up the Hart Bridge just .~ event. To remain the same can lead to a staleness that will before the eight mile mark. The 1/2 mile climb would be very . erode the glamour ofthe event. River Run 15,000 has always demanding on their strength reserves and they knew that been a race that is willing to make changes to improve. In the last mile was all downhill. The best strategy was to just 1984 the start and finish of the race was moved to the Gator sit in the pack and wait. Bowl. This moved the big green giant, the Hart Bridge, to the last two miles of the race instead of in the middle of the course. The result was a faster track. This year, new course The pack now down to ten runners passed 10K in 28:45. Bill changes were made. The long stretch down Atlantic Blvd. Reifsnyder, Mark Curp, Ondieki and Ashley Johnson had was cut out and a shady stretch in the neighborhoods was succumbed to the quickening pace. The Mexicans were added. The result; a more enjoyable course, but still very now commanding the lead. Martin Pitayoand Mauricio Gon­ fast. zales pushed hard and at seven miles Sam Ngatia fell off the pace then a half mile further Virgin faded. Eight runners made it to the base of the Hart Bridge together. At this point Another 1984 change has also made a big difference in the Barrios took the lead. He blasted up the Bridge into the wind. race. River Run became a prize money event and joined the Only Bickford could stay with him. By the top of the bridge ARRA circuit. As a result elite runners from all overthe world Barrios and Bickford had put one hundred yards on the rest converge on Jacksonville, Florida the second Saturday in of the field. The wind was so strong at the top that the March. Last year, River run featured Joan Benoit Samuel­ runners were actually being moved from side to side. The son, Lynn Jennings, Betty Springs and a dozen other top trip off the bridge is a quick one. One mile straight down to ranked female runners, making River Run probably the best Duval Street and the finish. Barrios wasted no time atthe top. women's race of the year. This year it was the men's side He took advantage ofthe mental letdown of reaching the top that was stacked. The race featured Aurthorio Barrios, a of the hill and left Bickford to face the wind by himself. Mexican who had set the World 10K road record the week Barrios crossed the finish in 43:18. Not the fastest time on before in ~hoenix: Bruce Bickford, an undefeated road racer the course by far. But, a very respectable showing consider­ who was a member of the U.S. World Cross-Country team; ing the wind. His efforts netted him $6,000. Bickford came Mark Curp, the world record-holder in the half-marathon; home second in 43:31 and collected $5,000. In all, 19 Rodolpho Gomez, 2:09 marathoner; Zak Barie, former runners broke 45:00 making this the fastest River Run in world-record holder at 10K; Craig Virgin, two time World history for the men. Cross Country champion, and a host of others. For the women, Grete Waitz was making her first appearance at River Run and was the hands down favorite. Meanwhile, Grete Waitz racing for the first time since being injured in a fall in Bermuda, was coasting to victory in 48:53. Her time broke the women's course record by 32 seconds, and she collected $6,000 for her victory. Kellie Cathey raced Raceday dawned clear, cool and windy. 6,700 runners lined home in 50:40 to take the second place prize of $5,000. up on the dual starting lines on each side of the Gator Bowl. Antonio Villanueva and Maddy Hamerling easily won the '>. The faster men on one line and the women and"slower men masters divisions. Villanueva's time of 46:17 was a course on the other. The two starting groups merged at 1.3 miles record and a world age record that will probably stand for a ... , into the race on the Main Street Bridge. The short climb up long time. 'jiItj.. the b~idge did not seperate the men. At two miles, it was still . as thick as bees. The twenty-man lead group received a -I . _ 9:13 split and continued to hammer their way into much The day concluded with the-awards ceremony at Metropoli­ - narrower streets of San Marco. Between 3 and 4 miles a tan Park as part ofthe River Fest Celebration, featuring Gary small group of Kenyan runners tried to take the race. Sam Lewis and The Playboys, Freddie Cannon, The Classics Four Ngatia, second last year, moved to the front of the pack and and The Boxtops. This was a fitting end to a complete he wt'!s soon joined by Zak Barie, Paul Rugut and Yobes . running weekend that had included a Carbo-loading Ondieki. The Kenyan Quartet took the lead pack through dinner, a.two day Runner's Expo, a clinic with Bill Rodgers -:;''';0, four miles in 18:17. The pack now consisted of 14 runners. and Grete Waitz, the River Fest Ce[ebration and a post race At this point the familiar yellow colors of Craig Virgin moved party. Mark March 14th on your calander for 1987. It will be " -- into the lead. His surge dropped no one and he moved back the tenth annivers!iry of River Run, If there are any changes, into the pack. The entire pack of runners seemed contentto I am sure they will be for the better, plus just a lot of celebrat­ just stay together and wait for the others to drop off. Maybe ing a decade of running. See you next year. Doug Alred Race Director 1 - - -~----- ---- -- --- - - -- ------- h~''''_ .... ~_, < ~ FOR THE RECORD Congratulations to Grete Waitz for her new course record. of runners cancelled their subscription of the paper, stat­ Her time of 48:53 lowers the course record by 32 seconds. ing that, "if they wanted trash reporting they would rather read the National Enquirer." The Mexican runners broke up the three year Kenyan domi­ nation of River Run by placing three runners in the top 5. The tenth edition of River Run 15,000 will be held on March Two of which arrived unannounced until they got to the 14, 1987. This is our date. The second weekend in March ... airport. Maybe Azalea Trail 10K will find a permanent date and qul jumping around and end up creating conflicts like they did 5,110 runners finished the 15K this year. That's an increase this year. .of over 300 runners from last year. Maybe all those people predicting that the running boom is over had better take If you find that you should have received an award, and another look. didn't get it please give us a call at (904) 739-1917 and we will get it to you. 950 runners took part in the Little River Run. Jay Scofield and Shelia Cowie were the first male and female finishers. We hope you enjoyed the new course this year. The Their times were 9:56 and 11:47 respectively. Sounds fast. changes only added three more turns than last year. I think Think aboutthis; a pack of 24 men wentthrough the two mile the additional shade and scenery were well worth it. mark of River Run at 9:13. The water stations were the best in River Run history. A very special thanks to our Sponsors, Barnett Bank, Gate Awards were given to the top three stations. They were: 1, Companies, Ronzoni, Office Equipment and Supply Com­ Southern Bell and Gulf Life Insurance Co.; 2, Baptist Medical pany and Syfo Purified Water. Their contributions, finan­ Center; 3, American Transtech. Thanks to all of you who cially as well as people power and services, made it all took the time to give such valuable support to the race. possible. Other water stations were manned by PruCare, Florida Jr. College, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Wolfson JSA's and For the out-of-town runners who read the Greg Larson Ivey's. article in the Florida Times Union the day after River Run, the newspaper was flooded with letters from angry runners Seems like it's getting harder and harder to win one of the during the following week. The following Sunday sports elusive top ten percent awards. You had to break 60:00 to section featured a full page of the letters plus a response get the award this year. That's about a minute and a half from the sports editor.· It's sad to think that a newspaper faster than last year.

Load more

  34

Copy Link