Hyde Park Blast
SATURDAY JUNE 25, 2011
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news/press release

Haron Lagat & Hellen Jemutai Finish First at Old Spice Elite & Team Challenge at Hyde Park Blast

Blast Fields Largest Elite Race in 8 Years

(Cincinnati, OH) June 27, 2009 – Almost 5,000 participants came together in the fight against cancer as they took part in the Eighth Annual Hyde Park Blast.  The event included Ohio’s 4-Mile RRCA Championship, a challenging course that has been recognized as one of the area’s best and most scenic residential courses.  The elite runners and teams started at 9:15 a.m.   

More than 40 elite runners, the deepest field in the history of the Blast, competed in the men’s field, including Wesley Korir, the 2009 L.A. marathon winner.  At mile one there was a tight pack of 20 at 4:43, by the time the runners reached mile 2 at 9:32 there were 10 runners in the lead.  At mile 3 the top four finishers were competing for the lead at 14:15.  Haron Lagat and Jacob Korir broke away from the pack on Handashyde hill and were step for step in the lead.  About 400 meters from the finish, Korir took the lead but Lagat overtook him 100 meters from the finish and outkicked him for the win with a nice high 5 to the finish banner.

“The Blast is a great race with a good, tough course,” said Haron Lagat, the first place finisher in 18:49.  He added, “I love all the fans at the finish and the organizers do a great job making sure the competition is good.  Cincinnati is a great town.” 

“I had a good start but it’s a challenging course and my first race since the L.A. marathon,” said Wesley Korir.  “Handashyde hill put me to the test.  This was a good race to get my training started again.”

The women’s race, with seventeen in the field, was tight with fast times for the women on the hilly, challenging course. Hellen Jemutai, from Kenya, finished first in 22:35.  Becky Michael and Nicole Fisher, both from Ohio, finished second and third respectively.  “The Hyde Park Blast is a tough 4-mile race and I really enjoyed it,” said Jemutai after her first Blast race. Leigh Daniel, from Ashland, Ohio, came in fourth at 23:31.  “The Blast is always on our schedule,” said Daniel, who is a finalist with fiance, Nick Cordes, in the NBC Today Show Throws a Wedding contest. “The atmosphere at the Hyde Park Blast is great and there’s good competition.” This is Daniel’s fourth year at the Blast. 

The Blast awarded overall elite prizes and a new travel award from Superclubs.  This was the second year the Blast featured a new elite team challenge presented by Old Spice to encourage more participation from regional and national teams. 

Men’s

  1. Haron Lagat (KEN), 18:49, $1,000

  2. Jacob Korir (KEN), 18:50, $750

  3. Julius Kiptoo (KEN), 19:06, $500

  4. Mohamed Trafeh, (MOR) 19:14, $200

  5. Jeffrey Powers, (USA/IN), 19:19, $100, 1st Place U.S., 2,500-5 night stay for two in Jamaica from Superclubs and 1-year gym membership at Urban Active

  6. Matthew Folk (USA/OH), 19:21, 6-month gym membership at Urban Active

  7. Christopher Reis, (USA/OH), 19:25, 3-month gym membership at Urban Active

  8. Abdelazi Atmani, (MOR) 19:32,

  9. Josh Glaab, (USA/CO), 19:45,

  10. John Ealy, (USA/OH), 19:52

Teams – Men

  1. Strands: Julius Kiptoo (19:06), Josh Glaab (19:45), Ryan Woods (19:57); 58:48, $1,500

  2. Lex Go Run.com: Jacob Korir (18:50), John Thompson (20:27), Thadler Schroeder (21:12); 1:00:29, $1,000

  3. Run Ohio: Matt Folk (19:21), John Ealy (19:52), Nick Cordes (21:24); 1:00:37, $500

Women’s

  1. Hellen Jemutai, (KEN), 22:35, $1,000

  2. Becki Michael (USA/OH), 22:55, $750 and $2,500-5 night stay for two in Jamaica from Superclubs and 1 year gym membership at Urban Active

  3. Nicole Fisher (USA/IN), 23:02, $500 and 6-month gym membership at Urban Active

  4. Leigh Daniel (USA/OH), 23:31, $200, 3-month gym membership at Urban Active

  5. Denisa Costescu (USA/MI), 23:38, $100

  6. Lucie Sulewski, (USA/KY), 23:48

  7. Debbie Arzola, (USA/TX), 24:15

  8. Katie Hickey, (USA/KY) 24:33

  9. Amanda Stickel (USA/OH) 24:42

  10. Corey Randall, (USA/OH) 25:19

Teams – Women

  1. Run Ohio: Becki Michael (22:55), Nicole Fisher (23:02), Leigh Daniel (23:31), Debbie Arzola (24:15); 1:09:28, $1,500

  2. Cincy Track Club: Hellen Jemutai (22:35), Denisa Costescu (23:38), Christina Johnston (25:25); 1:11:38, $1,000

  3. Fleet Feet Louisville: Lucie Sulewski (23:48), Katie Hickey (24:33), Erin Swalley (26:20); 1:14:41, $500

  4. Columbus Running Company: Amanda Stickel (24:42), Krista Seibert (25:46), Beth August (25:58); 1:16:26

“The Old Spice Team and Elite Challenge was over the top this year with our largest and quickest filed ever.  The elite race wouldn’t have been possible without Old Spice and we thank them for all their support,” says Chad Sims, event co-founder.  “The Superclubs trips also provided a nice bonus for the top U.S. finishers.  The trips will provide some nice downtime for the winners and we thank them for the nice prizes we’re able to offer our athletes.”

The Eighth Annual Hyde Park Blast also included A Blast for Kids, criterium bike race and a large evening post-race party.

Proceeds from the event will go to the four benefiting charities: Give Back Cincinnati; the Wellness Community; CancerFree Kids and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

More information about The Hyde Park Blast is available online at www.hpblast.com. Photo is courtesy of Joe Simon/CinWeekly.

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