18,428 come out for 36th annual Bellin Run
June 11, 2012
Allan Kiprono takes No. 1 spot for second consecutive year
Despite concerns about hot weather, 18,428 people registered for the 36th annual Bellin Run held Saturday morning in Green Bay, a race won by last year’s overall winner Allan Kiprono of Kenya with a time of 29:04.
Fellow Kenyan and last year’s runner up, Lani Rutto Kiplagat finished second with a time of 30:05.
Kiprono’s victory, for the second straight year, denied five-time Bellin Run champion John Korir his bid to become the only six-time Bellin Run champion. Korir, of Kenya, placed third, posting a time of 30:23.
Bellin Run newcomer Risper Gesawba of Kenya led the women’s field by 19 seconds, capturing her first championship in the women’s division. Her time was 33:07 and denied two-time defending champion Jelliah Tinega her third consecutive championship. Tinega, of Kenya, placed second with a time of 33:27. Chantelle Wilder of Los Gatos, Calif., finished third. Her time was 37:13.
Registration numbers for this year’s race took a slight dip for the first time in seven years. The race recorded 18,428 registrants on Saturday, 273 less than last year’s total. That number includes all runners, walkers, wheelchair and handcycle racers and children’s run participants.
The race also saw Bellin Run veteran elite athlete Joan Samuelson of Freeport, Maine, break the national record for the 55-59 age group. She posted a time of 38:26 (6th place overall) smashing the former record held by Shirley Matson of Larkspur, Calif., by 29 seconds.
The overall course records, however, did not fall. Joseph Kimani retains the men’s course record of 27:46 set in 1997 and Tegla Loroupe holds the women’s course record with a time of 31:48 set in 1999.
Other athletes invited by the Bellin Run had the following times:
• Uta Pippig, Boulder, Colo., 45:33, 4th in age division (45-49)
• Bill Rodgers, Sherborn, Mass., 46:56, 2nd in age division (60-64)
• Tim Young, Fredericksburg, Va., 31:43
• Brendan Martin, Smithtown, N.Y., 30:32
• Anne Audain, Evansville, Ind., 49:01, 2nd in age division (55-59)
Local notables include Tyler Sigl of Seymour (30:31; 4th); Brendon Dworak of Denmark (31:04; 6th); Scott Mueller of Pewaukee (31:37; 7th); Bill Jones of Oneida (32:02; 9th); Ben Orvold of Kenosha (32:16; 10th); and Hope Christie of Somers (38:03; 4th); Krista Cornelius of Green Bay (38:16; 5th); Kelly McClure of Green Bay (39:00; 8th); and Cassie Hintz of Madison (39:39; 10th).
The temperature Saturday was 76 degrees at 8 a.m. the start of the race.
Complete Bellin Run results are available through the Bellin Run web site at http://www.bellinrun.com
