News03 Jun 2006


Johnson wins 5km in New York

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Benita Johnson battles with the rain in the 28th Freihofer's Run for Women 5K (© Jeff Foley)

Australia's Benita Johnson, the 2004 World Cross Country long race champion, won the 28th edition of the 'Freihofer's Run for Women 5K', among others beating pre-race favourite Lornah Kiplagat into third. The 32-year-old Kenyan-born Dutchwoman had taken the long race silver medal at this April’s World Cross Country Championship, in which Johnson had finished fourth.

Hopes of an improvement of Asmae Leghzaoui's 2005 course record (15:18) were dashed by torrential rains that battered New York's Capital District throughout the night and continued unabated until after the race had been completed.

Characteristically, Kiplagat charged immediately to the front of the field of 3144 women, opening a stride lead within the first 400m, and 10 meters within the first half-mile. This is the tactic that she has employed to assemble one of the most impressive distance running résumés in the world today.

But Johnson was in pursuit from the start. The first mile was passed in a swift 4:58. Given the uphill first half-mile, any opening mile split under 5:00 on the Freihofer's course is indicative of some super-aggressive running. Factoring in the watery weather offered additional evidence of precisely how aggressive.

At this stage, this was purely a two-woman race. The chasing pack — including Amy Rudolph (Providence, RI), Dorota Guca (POL), Lineth Chepkirui (KEN), Sally Barsosio (KEN) and course record holder Legzhaoui (MAR) — were 20 metres back and fading. With Kiplagat hammering and Johnson right on her heels, this was solely Holland versus Australia for the $10,000 first prize.

However, Natalya Berkut, 31, from Ukraine, the winner of last year's Boston Athletic Association Half Marathon, charged through the second mile, closing the gap entirely on the leaders, so that, by mile two (10:06), a two-woman race was suddenly three.

With three quarters of a mile remaining, approaching the exit from Washington Park, Kiplagat, surprisingly, began to fall adrift. "The road was too wet," she later stated. "It was slippery. But there are more races." At once she lost 10 metres on Johnson and Berkut and, as the leaders turned on to Madison Avenue and the long stretch towards the finish line, once again this was a two-woman race.

It was only with 200m remaining that the ultimate outcome was decided. "I knew she was faster than me," Berkut conceded. Johnson's sprint was decisive, with the Australian winning in a time of 15:27, with a two second margin over Berkut. Kiplagat placed an isolated third in 15:47.

"I felt good," understated the newly crowned champion. "The weather didn't bother me that much. It was a great field. I'm very happy to have won."

Edward Parham for the IAAF

Results
1. Benita Johnson AUS 15:27 
2. Natalya Berkut UKR 15:29
3. Lornah Kiplagat NED 15:47 
4. Lineth Chepkurui KEN 15:50 
5. Amy Rudolph Providence, RI 15:50 
6. Dorota Gruca POL 15:52 
7. Jemima Jelagat KEN 16:03 
8. Maria Khristina Mazilu ROM  16:06
9. Eunice Chepkirui KEN 16:09 
10. Nicole Aish CO 16:12

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