Race to feature world record holders, champions and Olympians
GREEN BAY — Observers at the 33rd annual Bellin Run can expect another tight race as last year’s overall champion John Korir returns to defend his title against John Yuda after eking out a win last year a mere 0.45 seconds ahead of Yuda.
“The finish on Saturday, June 13 should be an especially interesting nail biter,” said race director Randy Van Straten. “Korir, a four-time Bellin Run champion, and Yuda are guaranteed to wage a battle to remember.”
The women’s race could be just as exciting. Last year’s women’s division winner, Millicent Gathoni, 22, returns to fend off new challengers to her crown, after setting a course record (32:51) for her age division last year. Notable challengers this year include 2008 Olympic Marathon champion Constantina Dita, 39, U.S. Olympian Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, 35, and past Bellin Run women’s division champion Joan Samuelson, 51.
“There’ll be plenty of excitement this year,” Van Straten said. “If you’re not running the Bellin, walking it or volunteering, come on down and watch. This year’s spectators are definitely going to witness one of the most exciting races we’ve had.”
The crop of elite participants forms a “who’s who” list of former Bellin winners. Notables include Dan Held, Uta Pippig, Bill Rodgers and Samuelson.
Other elites vying for the winner’s circle include:
· Edward Kimosop (30) – Rift Valley, Kenya
· Brian Sell (31) – Woodbury, PA
· Kyle O’Brien (28) – Danville, IL
· Luke Humphrey (28) – Sidney, MI
· Mike Morgan (29) – Lincoln, NE
Back to defend his Bellin Run title, Korir, 32, of Mulot, Kenya, is the second four-time male champion in Bellin Run history. He won last year’s event with a time of 28:47.
Yuda, 29, of Tanzania will again attempt to earn a first place Bellin Run title. He finished a mere 0.45 seconds off the winning pace in 2008, earning a 2nd place overall finish.
Held, 42, of Waukesha is returning for his 20th Bellin Run. He is a six-time member of the World Track and Field Team and has run competitively worldwide. Held captured the Bellin Run title in 1996. In 2008, he finished third in his age division.
Gathoni, 22, of Kenya handily won the women’s division in 2008 with a time of 32:51, a new age group course record. She’ll return to defend her title this year.
Kimosop, 30, of Rift Valley, Kenya, ran his first Bellin Run last year, placing 4th overall. The rising running star will return this year in hopes of snatching the No. 1 spot.
Sell, 31, of Woodbury, Penn., will participate in his first Bellin Run. He placed 1st during the USA Track and Field 25K championships in 2007. In 2008 he placed 3rd in the U.S. Olympic Marathon time trials and 22nd during the 2008 Olympic Marathon.
O’Brien, 28, of Danville, Ill., returns for his second consecutive Bellin Run. He finished with a time of 31:23, 8th overall in 2008.
Humphrey, 28, of Sidney, Mich., placed 5th in last year’s Bellin Run. He’ll be back this year to improve upon that time and make a run for the top spot.
Mike Morgan, 29, of Lincoln, Neb., will run his first Bellin this year. He’s earned numerous national running distinctions through his 13-year career.
Pippig’s legendary running career has resulted in several major international marathon wins, No. 1 world rankings, world championships and the Olympics. The women’s champion in 1995, she returns for her 13th Bellin Run. At age 42, the Boulder, Colo., resident has become an ambassador for the sport, providing motivation and encouragement to those around her.
Rodgers, 60, of Sherborn, Mass., the race winner in 1978, helped put the Bellin Run on the map as one of the nation’s marquee races. He was a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team and won the Boston Marathon that same year, the second of what would be his four victories in that race. Since breaking the tape at the Bellin Run in 1978, he has claimed two divisional victories.
Another accomplished runner returning to Green Bay is Samuelson, 51, of Freeport, Maine. She was the 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist. Samuelson ran and won her first Bellin Run in 1986, establishing a 13-year record of 31:59. Samuelson went on to win the Bellin Run three more times between 1988 and 1992, and later claiming three divisional titles.
Dita, 39, will run her first Bellin this year. She earned a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics marathon and placed 4th at last year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Lewy-Boulet, 35, placed 2nd during the 2008 Olympic time trials. She was forced to drop out of the 2008 Olympic Marathon due to a nagging injury. She’ll run her first Bellin on June 13.
“The Bellin Run offers a unique opportunity for participants to run alongside some of the world’s most accomplished and storied road racers,” Van Straten said. “These athletes participate in our event year after year. That says a lot about the quality of this event and about the people of Northeast Wisconsin.”
All elite athletes will be available for autographs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, June 12 at the Bellin Run Health Expo. The autograph session will take place at Astor Park.
Online registration for the Bellin Run is underway at www.bellinrun.com. Late online registration June 1-11 is $20. Mail-in registration June 1-June 11 is $23. On race weekend, participants can register after 4 p.m. June 12 through race day for $25 at the Astor Park registration tent. All participants receive a Bellin Run T-shirt.
