Kenyans dominate but others fast, too

By Jim Castor
Democrat and Chronicle

Shadrack Kosgei has two firsts, two seconds and a fifth in five races since September.

(October 20, 2002) — GREECE — “Perfect weather,” was how Linda Grossman described the raw day for running at Saturday’s Run For Hospice races in Greece.

“Temperature in the fifties, just a little wind, light rain. Couldn’t be better.”

Easy for her to say. Grossman, who’s director of child care staffing solutions at the Child Care Council, had just cruised to victory in what many would call a water-logged, bonechilling 10-miler out North Greece Road.

Her reward: A Galyan’s gift card to use for her son, Ethan’s, 11th birthday next week.

“Don’t say how much it is,” she said. “I’d like to surprise him.” Hint: Multiply that Andrew Jackson in your wallet by an Alexander Hamilton.

But the best surprise wasn’t Grossman’s fine 1-hour, 2-minute, 51-second effort, or expected Kenyan domination of the day’s main event, the 5K, or even John Tuttle’s continued mastery in a strong masters (40-and-older) field.

Breakthroughs by three of the area’s fastest young women, all good friends, brought smiles and congratulations all around.

Karen Elliot, 26, former hurdles champion and steeplechaser of late, finished sixth and broke 18 minutes for the first time, gaining two points on Gretchen Welch, 27, in their Rochester Runner of the Year Chase.

Welch’s 17:58 finish was three seconds back and another sub-18 -- something she’s been seeking all season.

And Audra Naujokas-Knapp, who’s 33 today, pushed both of them. She was 11 seconds behind Welch, in what she calls her BTPB. “My best time post baby.” Her son, Andrew, was born a year ago in April.

“It was fun to have so many of us so close,” Elliot said. “It went back and forth all the way. We’re competitive, but we support each other. I went by Gretchen at about three miles and she said ‘You can do it, Karen.’ Of course, we never saw the Kenyans.”

Ah, yes. Though the weather slowed times and prevented record-breaking efforts, they were still plenty fast enough to take home more than $2,000 of the $7,800 cash purse.

Just a minute and a half after 18-year-old Shadrack Kosgei had led a 1-5 sweep among his countrymen in the men’s race, two-time women’s defending champion, Jackline Torori swept around the corner of the First Bible Baptist Church with Martha Komu at her side. Both sprinted toward the finish line.

Torori lunged under the timing clock and looked to be the winner. Then someone reversed the order of their barcodes as they walked through the cool-down chute. After brief confusion the error was caught.

“Did you plan to finish together?” Torori was asked. “No, no.”

“How close was it?” The 24-year-old held up both thumbs together.

“I think they closed their eyes and just picked one of us,” Torori joked.

Both blamed the weather on their off pace. Torori’s time was 16:27. Last year she set the course record with a 16:05.

“The climate affected us,” she said. “It was windy coming back the last mile.”

Kosgei called the last two miles “freezing.” Tuttle, 44, who was the top American in sixth at 15:18, put it all in perspective.

“I used to be able to be in the mix with them,” he said. “Now, I admire them from behind. I’ve just metamorphosed into one of the regular guys.”

Run for Hospice 5K
3.1-mile loop course in Greece

781 finishers (484 men, 297 women)

Men: 1. Shadrack Kosgei, Kenya, 14:14, 2. Moses Macharia, Kenya, 14:18, 3. Thomas Omwenga, Kenya, 14:39, 4. Paul Mwangi, Kenya, 14:41, 5. Daniel Kabungei Cheruiyot, Kenya, 14:57, 6. John Tuttle, Douglasville, Ga., 15:18, 7. Scott Bagley, Pittsford, 15:36, 8. Dave Bradshaw, Fairport, 15:39, 9. Dave McCollam, Walworth, 15:43, 10. Mike Platt, Syracuse, 15:45, 11. Derrick Jones, Henrietta, 15:50, 12. Ryan Pauling, Walworth, 15:57, 13. Bob Carroll, Forestville, 16:07, 14. Matt Blodgett, Rochester, 16:14, 15. Gary Griffin, Rochester, 16:18, 16. John McMahon, Buffalo, 16:27, 17. Charlie Andrews, Irondequoit, 16:32, 18. Michel Brochu, Mont-Royal, Quebec, 16:28, 19. Dan Essler, Nunda, 16:43, 20. Winston Guy, Greece, 16:51, 21. Jim Robinson, Rochester, 16:58, 22. Pete Miner, Dansville, 17:02, 23. Dan Rohnke, Irondequoit, 17:02, 24. Tim McMullen, Churchville, 17:09, 25. Thomas Johnson, Brockport, 17:16. Age groups: 9 and younger Christopher Troy, Ithaca, 23:51, 10-14 Matt Leeder, Brockville, Ontario, 17:45, 15-19 Miner, 20-24 Sam Monaco, Akron, Niagara County, 17:29, 25-29 Tom Regan, Rochester, 17:35, 30-34 Art Bohnke, Webster, 18:48, 35-39 McMahon, Masters (40 and older) Tuttle, 40-44 Brochu, 45-49 Essler, 50-54 Paul Persia, Batavia, 18:51, 55-59 Ken Lowe, Rochester, 21:29, 60-64 Carl Grimm, Rochester, 19:55, 65-69 Jerry Looker, Rochester, 21:31, 70-74 Robert Ealy, Webster, 23:54, 75-79 John Burke, Geneseo, 31:56. Wheelchair: Matt Smith, Dansville, 39:02.

Women: 1. Jackline Torori, Kenya, 16:27, 2. Martha Komu, Kenya, 16:28, 3. Lori Hewig, Saratoga Springs, 17:33, 4. Isabelle Ledroit, Mont-Royal, Quebec, 5. Rebecca Heuer, Forestville, 17:53, 6. Karen Elliot, Rochester, 17:55, 7. Gretchen Welch, Rochester, 17:58, 8. Audra Naujkokas-Knapp, Rochester, 18:09, 9. Machelle Cochran, Walworth, 18:09, 10. Susan Munson, Orchard Park, 18:10, 11. Diane Legare, Montreal, 18:25, 12. Beth DeCiantis, Rochester, 18:52, 13. Megan Hyland, Rochester, 19:06, 14. Josie Cancilla, Rochester, 19:13, 15. Carolyn Smith-Hanna 19:20. Age groups: 9 and younger Natasha Way, Ithaca, 24:21, 10-14 Kara Farnsworth, Spencerport, 22:22, 15-19 Danielle Harmon, Le Roy, 20:34, 20-24 Kristin Bortle, Webster, 21:45, 25-29 Shelley Gnall-Sazenski, Rochester, 22:54, 30-34 Kerry Wille, Rochester, 20:13, 35-39 Jennifer Wagner, Walworth, 19:34, Masters (40 and older) Hewig, 40-44 Laura Francz, Webster, 21:47, 45-49 Laurie Kinsella, Greece, 20:14, 50-54 Coreen Steinbach, Pompey, 20:31, 55-59 Carolyn Kriesen, Webster, 23:07, 60-64 Mary Shaver, Rochester, 23:01, 65-69 Pat Scheiber, Rochester, 27:20. Wheelchair: 1. Jessica Jones, Rochester, 32:25.

Ten-miler

Loop course

237 finishers (151 men, 86 women)

Men: 1. Gerald McOmber, Syracuse, 57:38, 2. Duncan Douglas, Honeoye Falls, 57:38, 3. Jason Urckfitz, Brockport, 58:14, 4. Allen Pettee, Rochester, 59:19, 5. Brian Emelson, Rochester, 1:01:02.

Women: 1. Linda Grossman, Rochester, 1:02:51, 2. Melissa Rittenhouse, Walworth, 1:05:49, 3. Robin Lorenzo 1:08:33.

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Copyright 2002 Gannett Rochester Newspapers, Democrat and Chronicle