Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run April 7, 2019 Official Program 47th Running Photo: Dan Kolansky Seasoned marathoner John Piggott (#385) Williamsburg, VA, runs through a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Defending Champions Yimer and Diriba Look to Repeat at 47th Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile by Jake Klim s luck would have it, the National time bonuses of $1,000 and $750, respectively, set here in 2008. Kastor will speak and sign ran a personal best of 46:36 here two years Park Service has forecasted the will also be awarded to the top two men who autographs at the Health and Fitness Expo on ago, is eyeing Meyers’ U.S. record of 46:13. Aexpected cherry blossom peak break 46:00 and the top two women who break Friday and Saturday before going out to chase “In 2017 I came close to running an bloom to occur during the first week of 52:00. records on Sunday. American record,” said Kebenei, “and I April, which will be icing on the cake for The race will also offer a $10,000 bonus for the Returning to the streets of the nation’s capital think for 2019, I will be going for it officially. the 15,000 runners competing in the 47th first American man to break Greg Meyer’s U.S. is the 2018 champion Jemal Yimer, from I am looking forward not only to winning edition of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom record of 46:13, set at Cherry Blossom in 1983, Ethiopian. On paper Yimer is clearly the man (the race), but (also) breaking the national Ten Miler on April 7. If all goes according to and for the first American woman to break Janet to beat: not only is he the defending champion, record.” Mother Nature’s plan, runners, walkers, and Bawcom’s single-sex U.S record of 52:12, set but in October, the twenty-three-year-old ran a Martin Hehir, Philadelphia, PA, who is spectators alike will be able to experience here in 2014. blistering 58:33 for the half marathon, which ties balancing his training with medical school the full splendor of Washington D.C.’s iconic Building upon a long tradition of cooperation for the third fastest time ever recorded for that at Thomas Jefferson University, placed trees under an umbrella of pink and white. and mutual support between the Credit Union distance. third at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom “Peak bloom” is defined as the time Cherry Blossom and the Road Runners Club Also coming back to Washington is the 2018 in 2016 and has run 46:49 for the 10-mile when 70% of the Yoshino cherry tree of America (RRCA), the race will also award runner up Aweke Ayalew, from Bahrain, who distance. blossoms that surround the capital’s Tidal $1,500, $1,000 and $500 to the top-three men finished just five seconds behind the victorious “Cherry Blossom will likely be the final Basin are open. Naturally, this varies and women alumni of the RRCA Road Scholars Yimer last year. Ayalew has nearly broken one race of my season before starting med from year to year depending on weather grant recipients or athletes who have attended hour for the half marathon and likely boasts the school clinical rotations,” explained Hehir. conditions, so it is an added bonus the RRCA’s RunPro Camp for emerging post- fastest legs of anyone in the race, having run “Training has been great and I’ll have when the peak bloom occurs during the collegiate runners. 13:05 for 5,000-meters. nothing to lose so the main goal is to run “Runner’s Rite of Spring.” “We get an early glimpse of American road The lead peloton will likely include Kenyan the race with the lead pack, however it plays “Although the cherry blossoms can be running stars of the future as many outstanding Josphat Tanui, who has broken one hour for the out, and make my bid for the win in the fickle, the forecast for peak or near peak recent college graduates are planning to race half marathon. closing miles.” blooms looks favorable,” noted Event for a special purse for RRCA Road Scholars Stephen Sambu, also from Kenya, will likely Kiya Dandena, Flagstaff, AZ, races for Director Phil Stewart. “However, one thing and RunPro Camp graduates,” said Stewart. be in that lead pack. He won the Credit Union HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite that is far more certain is there are some “This year elite athlete coordinator Bill Orr has Cherry Blossom in 2014 and 2015, running and has also broken 47 minutes for 10 miles, outstanding elite athletes who are primed assembled a top-notch group of elite athletes so 45:29 here in 2014, the second fastest time in the running 46:58. to race for a prize purse that could top there is a potential we will see records broken, history of the race. Abbabiya Simbassa, Colorado Springs, $100,000 including bonuses.” especially among the Americans who will be Other elite men to watch include Kenyan CO, and ZAP Fitness’ Mathew McClictock, In this year’s contest, a total of $40,000 pushed by the top international stars.” compatriots Ambrose Bore who has run 1:01:03 Blowing Rock, NC, both return after in prize money will be bestowed in equal One record that is in serious jeopardy this for 13.1 miles and cross-country specialist placing eighth (47:04) and tenth (47:10), amounts to the top 10 men and women. year is the Women’s Masters Course Record, Alfred Barkach. respectively, in 2018. There is also $25,000 earmarked for thanks to the presence of Olympic bronze A sprint at the end could play into the hands Clint McKelvey, Arlington, VA, and American Development Prize Money, medalist and American Marathon recordholder of Yeneblo Biyazen, from Ethiopian, who blazed Jeffrey Stein Washington, D.C, ran 50:14 which, likewise, will be awarded equally to Deena Kastor. The current women’s masters 13:13 for 5,000-meters last spring. and 50:19 last year, respectively, and are the the top 10 U.S. men and women. “Double course record of 53:51 was set by Britain’s Stanley Kebenei, Colorado Springs, CO, is top returning local runners. They will be dipping” is permitted, so anyone finishing Priscilla Welch back in 1987. Should Kastor the top American entered in this year’s action. among the D.C.-area elites vying for a trip in the top 10 overall and in the top 10 elect to line up in the Women’s Advance Start, The former University of Arkansas star won the to the PRRO Championship at the 2020 among U.S. runners may collect both the she would be chasing after Colleen DeReuck’s race outright in 2017, only the second American Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY in July 2020, open and U.S. prize money. In addition, single-sex American Masters Record of 57:17 to accomplish that feat in 27 years. Kebenei, who Championships continued on page 2 1 Official 2019 credit union Cherry Blossom Program Race Information am carrying the momentum of winning the 2018 USATF Road Racing Series and feel confident Our Bullet Points - 10 Event Director’s Greeting I can push myself and keep the pace honest for Miles, 10 Things to the entire 10 miles.” Remember always look for a fitting metaphor for recent memory, so try and soak up some Other top Americans include Erin Clark and Grayson Murphy, who both hail from Flagstaff, each year’s race and this year’s is “Under of that talent as you see them glide by on If you prefer not to read anything else in this I AZ, and race for HOKA ONE ONE Northern Construction.” We are surrounded by it — the out-and-back portions of the course pre-race newspaper, here are the key things to Arizona Elite. Meghan Peyton, St.Paul, MN and you will pass by the three-year rehabilitation seemingly without effort at 4:30 pace for the remember. of Memorial Bridge at the one mile mark men and 5:10 pace for the women. Katy Jermann, Burnsville, MN both run for and, will circle behind the Kennedy We are extremely grateful to Credit Union Team USA Minnesota and have personal bests 1. Download the app. Download the app. It Center on a road called the Potomac River Miracle Day and the Credit Union business of 54:42 and 54:59, respectively. is your gateway to lots of race information Freeway due to construction on Rock partners who are now well into their second Bethany Sachtleben, Fairfax, VA, who pre, during and post-race including your Creek Parkway. Our final surprise came in decade as the title sponsor. Through the placed eighth last year, is the top returning local time and place. The app is available for early March when the area with our Finish enthusiasm of Credit Union Miracle Day woman. She has announced her arrival as a both iOS and Android devices. It can be Line Medical Tent, Elite Athlete Tent and Chair Theresa Mann, President/CEO of the truly U.S. elite woman over the last six months downloaded from the iTunes App Store or Doping Control Tents was bulldozed to put Maryland & DC Credit Union Association with a 2:31:20 marathon in December and Google Play by searching for ‘CUCB’ or in some new underground pipes just three John Bratsakis, and all of the participating with a runner-up finish at the USATF National ‘Credit Union Cherry Blossom.’ weeks before race day.