NYRR New York Mini 10K Pro Gallery[Pro Story] [All Coverage] |
 The 36th NYRR New York Mini 10K drew a field of 29 professional female athletes from around the world. |
 Three-time champ (2003, 2005-06) Lornah Kiplagat, 33, of the Netherlands, made clear her intention to defend her title when she broke from the pack and was soon leading by a city block. |
 Kiplagat covered the first mile in 4:59—a blistering pace in warm, humid conditions. |
 Top runners including Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia, Australia’s Benita Johnson, Kim Smith of New Zealand, Mara Yamauchi of Great Britain, and Japan’s Yuri Kano made up the chase pack. |
 But none of Kiplagat’s rivals could match her effort, as she cruised to victory in 32:10, high-fiving fans as she approached the finish. |
 Kiplagat held up four fingers of each hand as she broke the tape. Only Grete Waitz and Tegla Loroupe, with five wins each, have had more success at the Mini. |
 Smith, 25, who holds multiple New Zealand records, ran a strong second half to place second in 32:18. |
 Yamauchi, 33, Great Britain’s second-fastest marathoner of all time behind Paula Radcliffe, dug deep in the final mile to nail third place in 32:21. |
 Johnson, 27, fresh off a win at the Friehofer’s Run for Women 5K on June 2, was just behind Yamauchi (also 32:21). |
 Fifth place (32:26) went to Prokopcuka, 30, the two-time defending ING New York City Marathon champion and current leader in the World Marathon Majors rankings. |
 Kiplagat’s cousin Hilda Kibet, 26, of Kenya, grabbed sixth place in 32:36. She is trained as a physical therapist and splits her time between Kenya and the Netherlands. |
 Japan’s Megumi Oshima, 31, a two-time Olympian, finished seventh in 32:56, leading a contingent of about 10 Japanese professional runners in today’s race. |
 Silvia Skvortsova, 32, of Russia, placed eighth in 33:01. She was 11th at the ING New York City Marathon 2006. |
 Yuri Kano, 28, another Japanese runner, was ninth today in 33:03. Her previous Mini finishes include ninth in 2006 and fifth in 2005. |
 Rounding out the top 10, Rehima Kedir, 21, of Ethiopia, ran 33:21. Nine countries were represented by the race’s top 10 finishers. |
 Kiyoko Shimahara, 30, of Japan, was 15th in 33:58. |
 Ann Alyanak, 28, of Ohio, was the top American finisher, running 34:49. She placed ninth at the 2007 Boston Marathon in 2:38:55, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon. |
 NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg and Mini co-founder Kathrine Switzer flank top-three finishers Yamauchi (third), Kiplagat (first), and Smith (second). |
