Hilda Kibet Represents the Women at NYRR Mini 10K
Talented field of athletes makes this race a success
New York, June 7, 2008—The 37th running of the NYRR New York Mini 10K capped a week-long celebration of New York Road Runners’ 50th anniversary. Warmed up by a week of festivities included races, media events, and runs to work, the runners—all women—were ready to make it another historic year for this race that’s been on the NYRR calendar since 1972.
More than 4,100 met at the starting line on Central Park West and 61st Street on a humid 70-degree morning. The quality of the field made the excitement palpable as the 2008 U.S. Olympic marathon team lined up with other world-class contenders and local runners. Running legends Kathrine Switzer and Nina Kuscsik greeted the crowd with words of inspiration, NYRR Foundation kids escorted the professional athletes to the line, and the starting horn sent everyone on their way.
The front runners, led by American marathon record-holder Deena Kastor, were clear of the rest of the field by 85th Street. Kastor clocked 5:09 for the first mile, and the spectators cheered loudly for the American favorite. But the pack, including Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands, Madaí Pérez of Mexico, Everlyne Lagat of Kenya, and Aziza Aliyu of Ethiopia, was right on Kastor’s heels. The leaders rounded the turn into Central Park at 90th Street, dropped Aliyu, and reached mile two in 10:20 despite the heat. Pérez moved up to challenge Kastor, while Kibet held steady behind them and Lagat followed.
By the 5K mark, reached in 16:12, Lagat was fading. Kastor, Pérez, and Kibet continued to battle through the uphill fourth mile. Soon thereafter, Pérez made a move to take the lead and Kibet matched her, and Kastor fell behind.
With less than a mile to go, Kibet stepped it up and took the lead for the first time in the race, with Pérez off her left shoulder. Rounding the bend towards the 800-meters-to-go mark, Kibet lengthened her lead by a stride. She kept up her pace and somehow made it look easy to break the tape in 32:43. Pérez was a close second in 32:49, and Kastor finished third in 33:14.
Kastor’s compatriot Magdalena Lewy-Boulet ran a strong second half, catching the chase pack with a mile left in the race and moving into fourth place with just 400 meters to go. She held that position and crossed the finish line in 33:29. Lagat, the sister of middle-distance superstar Bernard Lagat, was fifth in 33:38, and Blake Russell of the United States was sixth in 33:40.
Kastor, Lewy-Boulet, and Russell will represent the United States in the women’s marathon at the Olympic Games in Beijing on August 17. The three runners, all training hard for a race that’s more than four times the Mini’s 10K distance, chose to run here today to celebrate NYRR and women’s running. “It’s great to be a part of this event that’s meant so much to women,” said Kastor, one of the greatest American distance runners of all time. “I normally wouldn’t be racing at this time in my training, but the 50th [anniversary of NYRR] is pretty special, so I wanted to honor NYRR by coming here.” She called the race “nothing less than fantastic” and said she was happy with her performance.
Kibet’s victory came just one week after qualifying to represent the Netherlands at the Olympic 10,000 meters with a 30:58.48 personal best. “Today was a tough race for me,” she said. “This is always a very competitive race and it makes me strong as an athlete.”
“These women can now leave here stronger, fitter, and better after this race,” said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. And she was talking about not just the leaders, but all of the women who finished the 37th running of the NYRR New York Mini 10K.
