29 March, 2006

CONTACTS: (Please do not publish these numbers. THE NUMBER FOR PUBLICATION IS THE RACE HOTLINE AT 301-320-3350):

Frank McNally
Media Coordinator
703-801-2566 (cell); 703 572-4040 (d); 540-338-5648 (e)

Phil Stewart
Event Director
301-320-6865 (d); 301-802-2194 (cell)

Contact Frank McNally for race-day media credentials. Space on media trucks (one for the men’s race and one for the women’s race) is limited, so call to ensure seating. TV crews should call in advance to secure positioning for trucks on race morning.

Gilbert Okari, Reuben Chebii Square Off in Men’s Race; Lidia Simon Takes on Past Winners Luminita Talpos and Olga Romanova in First-Ever Elite Women’s Advance Start Competition

10,000 Runner Event Costs Washington, DC Taxpayers Nothing

WASHINGTON, DC – Last year Gilbert Okari, the favorite in the 2006 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run® on Sunday, April 2 in West Potomac Park, was a bit of a late starter. During the spring he lost to John Korir at three major spring races, the World’s Best 10k in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, and the Lilac Bloomsday 12k in Spokane, WA. Over the summer, Okari hit his stride with nearly weekly trips to the winner’s circle as he strung together wins at the Peachtree Road Race 10k in Atlanta, the Utica Boilermaker 15k in Utica, NY, the Quad-City Times Bix 7 mile in Davenport, IA, the Beach to Beacon 10k in Cape Elizabeth, ME and the Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, MA (beating Korir in the last three of these outings). However, at year-end he ended up just fractions of a percent behind Korir in Running Times Magazine’s “Road Racer of the Year” rankings. He appears to be getting an earlier start in 2006 as he bested Korir at the World’s Best 10k (placing 2nd in 28:04 to Korir’s 8th in 28:44). Korir is not defending his title here as he prepares for his marathon debut at the Boston Marathon, but Okari looks poised to start his roll a bit earlier this year with an eye toward the top spot in the 2006 rankings. Reuben Chebii is the man considered most likely to derail the “Okari Express”. Chebii placed second in 46:58 here last year to Okari’s third in 47:16 in near gale force winds. A third Kenyan, Samuel Ndereba, fresh off a win last weekend at the Azalea Trail 10k in Mobile, AL (28:35) and with a second place finish here (48:14) in 2004, could be in the mix.

For a third year, a talented squad of three Japanese runners, traveling here from the Feb., 11th Himeji Castle 10 mile in Himeji, Japan, the “sister” race of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom, will take aim at breaking the Kenyan juggernaut in the winner’s circle. Michitaka Hosokawa, who placed 2nd at Himeji in 47:11, Kazuo Ietani, 3rd at Himeji in 47:11, and Shin-ichi Watanabe, 6th at Himeji in 47:19, could offer serious challenges. Last year, Ietani set a fast pace in the early miles before fading to 11th in 48:19.

The top Americans in the men’s field are Matt Downin of Norwood, NJ and Chris Graff of Palo Alto, CA. The top American male will be invited to compete in the 2007 Himeji Castle 10 mile.

In the women’s race Luminita Talpos of Romania, the 2002 champion, and Olga Romanova of Russia, the 2003 champion, will take on 2000 Olympic marathon silver medalist Lidia Simon, who is making her first appearance here. Alevtina Ivanova of Russia, 3rd last year in 53:17 and 1st last weekend at the Uptown 8k in Dallas, TX in 25:16, also could be a factor. Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia is a bit of a wild card as she is racing on just two week’s rest after winning the Los Angeles Marathon in a fast time of 2:25:10.

Whoever wins the women’s race will establish a world record as the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile is the first 10-miler on a loop course to utilize an advance start for the elite women’s race. Approximately 25 women will begin at 7:50 a.m. – 10 minutes before the men – guaranteeing that the first runner to reach the tape will be female and will set the world record. If the first American woman finishes ahead of the first overall man, she will establish an American 10 mile record as well. Top Americans in the field include three Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholars Kristin Price, Turena Johnson Lane (6th here last year in 55:37), and Lucinda Hull. Heather Hanscom, the 2003 Marine Corps Marathon champion (2:37:59) and formerly from Alexandria, VA now training in Palo Alto, CA, is also entered. The top American female will receive an expenses-paid trip to a race in Japan.

The elite runners will compete for a total purse of $31,500, the event’s largest ever, with $6,000 going to the top male and top female finisher. The event is the only world-class running event in Washington and is part of the Professional Road Running Organization circuit.

The top local runners in the men’s field include the Wilson Komen of Washington, DC, Patrick MacAdie of Washington, DC, Edmund Burke of Burtonsville, MD and Michael Wardian of Arlington, VA, winner of last weekend’s National Marathon. The leading local women include the last two Marine Corps Marathon winners Susannah Kvasnicka (2005) of Great Falls, VA and Mary Kate Bailey (2004) of Arlington, VA, along with Alisa Harvey, the longtime area masters runner from Manassas, VA who set U.S. masters records for 800-meters and 1500-meters in 2005. The top local male and female finishers will receive expenses-paid trips to the PRRO Race of Champions at the 2006 Peachtree Road Race.

The event, which filled its 10,000-runner field in a matter of days last December, draws runners of all abilities to participate in what is known as “The Runner’s Rite of Spring” in the Nation’s Capital. Two members of Congress, Sen. Max Baucus and Rep. Jim Marshall, lead the nation’s lawmakers taking part. The popular, flat-and-fast course starts and finishes in West Potomac Park in sight of the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin, features and an out-and-back crossing of Memorial Bridge, and an out-and-back leg along Rock Creek Pkwy. Metro opens an hour early at 6 a.m. to facilitate getting to the course. The event, which costs the Washington, DC taxpayers nothing and has minimal impact on the city’s neighborhoods, is conducting an economic impact study through George Washington Univ. to measure its impact on the Washington, DC economy.

This year’s charity recipient is the Children’s Miracle Network, which will receive a donation of over $500,000. This will bring the total charitable contributions to over $1.5 million dollars since the Credit Union Miracle Day Committee became the title sponsor in 2002. The event also funds two $5,000 grants for developing U.S. distance runners as part of the Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholar program.

The Credit Union Miracle Day Committee is a partnership of Credit Unions and affiliated organizations. More than 500 Credit Union members have volunteered and over 4,500 entrants are Credit Union members.

Supporting sponsors include Gatorade, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Metro Run & Walk.

Entries for the 10-mile and the 5K Run Walk are closed. Spectators are encouraged to view the event in the vicinity of West Potomac Park near 23rd and Independence Ave., SW. Kids 12-and-under can participate in a 1K Kids Run which is still open. Parents can register their children in West Potomac Park at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday. The run starts at 8:10 a.m. There is no entry fee.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is part of the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 25 to April 9. The race will be televised on local ABC affiliate WJLA Channel 7 in a half-hour special from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 8th and in a half-hour show on the Outdoor Life Network.

For additional information visit www.cherryblossom.org, send an e-mail to race_director@cherryblossom.org, or contact the race hotline at 301-320-3350.