Saturday’s Run For Hospice 5km and 10 Mile races in Greece cemented themselves as this years most competitive event. An ethnically diverse field of nearly 1,100 (811 finishers in the 5km, 287 in the 10 miler) included Moroccan’s, Kenyans, Ethiopians, Canadians and American’s who took advantage of near perfect conditions (high 40’s and a negligible wind) to inscribe themselves in the races’ record books.

In the previous eight editions of the Run for Hospice 5k, only 14 men had ever broke 15:00. On Saturday, nine men broke that barrier including winner Mohammed Amyn of Morocco who just out leaned Kenyan Jospeph Mwai in a time of 14:09. Amyn’s victory was worth $500 but left him one second short of Moses Macharia’s course record of 14:08 set in 2001. On the women’s side, Atalelech Ketema of Ethiopia tied the course record of 16:05 set by Jackline Torori and led four other women under the 17:00 barrier. Previously, only five women had ever broken 17:00 on the Hospice course.

For the second year, a 10 mile race was held in conjunction with the 5km. RIT grad Kevin Collins battled Moroccan Mohammed Ar-Ar and Kenyan Wilson Komen much of the way before breaking Komen late and surging away form Ar-Ar in the final strides to win in a new course record time of 49:29. Collins race, which capped a 145 mile training week, is indicative of the kind of shape he is currently in and would like to remain in as he prepares for the 2004 US Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, AL on February 7. Charlie Andrews was the masters’ men’s champ in 56:12. Team USA NY’s newest member, Laura Bloedorn, broke Linda Grossman’s course record of 1:02:51 with a fast 59:22 while Beth DeCiantis set a new masters women’s mark with a 1:06:57.