1 April 2007

CONTACTS: (Please do not publish these numbers.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

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

Brian McNally
Media Coordinator
301-385-9009 (cell)

Phil Stewart
Event Director
301-320-68650

Teyba Erkesso Sets Women’s World Record at Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile; Fellow Ethiopian Tadesse Tola Takes the Men’s Title

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Another year, another world record set at the 2007 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in West Potomac Park on Sunday.

This time it was Teyba Erkesso, a 24-year old Ethiopian who blistered a strong international field in a time of 51 minutes, 44 seconds. She led for virtually the entire final six miles and finished 1 minute, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Tatyana Petrova of Russia (52:58), who trains locally in Germantown, Md.

For the second year in a row, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run had a 10-minute advance start time for the event’s female competitors. This qualifies the event as a women’s-only competition. Erkesso shattered the world record for a 10-mile closed loop course set here last year by Lidiya Grigoryeva (Russia) in 52:11.

Meanwhile, the men’s race saw young Ethiopian Tadesse Tola, just 19 years old, out-kick a strong group of veteran runners during the final mile to win the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run for the first time.

Tola finished in 46:01, breaking away from a group that included three-time champion John Korir, who had won this event in 2001, 2003 and 2005, but finished third this time (46:11). John Yuda (Tanzania) tried to stay with Tola down the stretch, but fell just shy at 46:04 and settled for second place. Korir was hoping to join the legendary Bill Rodgers (1978-1981) as the event’s only four-time winner.

Erkesso earned $6,750 for her victory, after adding a $750 bonus to the $6,000 prize money for breaking 52 minutes. Tola missed the men’s bonus money by one second, earning $6,000 for the win.

Runners competed for the largest purse in event history - $32,000 in prize money with an additional $3,000 in bonus money available. 
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run serves as the Road Runners Club of America’s National 10 Mile Championship. Both Erkesso and Tola earned top Road Runners Club of America honors for their Open Male and Open Female championships. Paul Thompson (51:36) of New York, NY was the winner in the Masters Male category, while Martha Merz (1:01:03) of Annandale, VA placed first among among Masters Females. For men and women over 50, Chuck Moeser (58:13) of Sterling, VA and Sharon Vos (1:06:53) of Riverside, CT won in the Grand Masters category.

Kenyans Nicholas Kamakya (46:12) and Samuel Ndereba (46:46), a two-time runner-up at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, finished fourth and fifth respectively in the men’s race. Both runners stayed with the top three through Mile Eight before dropping back. Four Ethiopians finished in the Top 10, including sixth-place Teferin Bacha (47:33), seventh-place Demesse Tefera (47:35), and ninth-place Virefu Birhhnu (48:38).

The top American and top local finisher was Stephen Meinelt (48:45), a 2006 Georgetown University graduate and Washington, D.C. area resident who placed 11th overall. He is now invited to compete at the 2007 Himeji Castle 10 Mile Race in Himeji, Japan, “sister” race to the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. 
For the women, Kathy Butler (53:26) of the United Kingdom was third, and Kenyan Magdalene Makunzi (53:45) was fourth. Victoria Jackson (56:46) of Lake Forest, IL was the top American at 12th place. Baltimore resident Julie Culley (57:18) was the first local runner to finish at 13th. She was just ahead of Washington, D.C.’s Kerry Meagher (58:14), who took 15th.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile celebrated its 35th anniversary. This year’s charity recipient is again the Children’s Miracle Network, which will receive a record donation of $850,000. Locally, a share of those funds will go to Washington, D.C.’s own Children’s Hospital. That brings the total charitable contributions to over 2.5 million dollars since the Credit Union Miracle Day Committee became the title sponsor in 2002. 

The title sponsoring Credit Union Miracle Day Committee is a partnership of Credit Unions and affiliated organizations. More than 600 Credit Union members have volunteered and over 4,500 entrants are Credit Union members. Supporting sponsors included Gatorade, Gryphon Technologies, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Metro Run & Walk. More than 10,000 runners participated in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, which is part of the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival that runs from March 31 to April 15. It is part of the Professional Road Running Organization circuit and is the only world-class running event in the Washington, D.C. The race can be seen locally on ABC affiliate WJLA Channel 7 in a half-hour special at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 7th.