News Archive

More Than 17,000 Women Participate in 10-K and 3.6-K Events Catherine Ndereba

of Kenya captured the Avon Running Global Championship title today, crossing

the finish line in Margit Island stadium after running the 10-K course through

the downtown streets of Budapest. She covered the distance in a personal best

time of 31:02, the fastest certified road 10-K ever run on Hungarian soil, and

equal to the second-fastest ever run in Europe.

Elana Meyer of South Africa finished second in a South African national

record of 31:13. Also setting a national record was Olivera Jevtic of

Yugoslavia, who finished third in 31:31.

The top three women quickly separated themselves from the field of 3,400 as

they left the starting area on Margit Island and ascended the ramp to the Arpad

Bridge. Under a bright hazy sun accompanied by unseasonably warm temperatures,

it was Meyer who pushed the pace with Jevtic and Ndereba following closely

behind. The trio passed through the half-way point in 15:20, under the world

record pace for an all-womens 10-K race.

"I knew Catherine ran a world record in the marathon last week,"

said Meyer of Nderebas 2:18:47 winning time at the Chicago Marathon. "I

tried to make it a hard race."

Jevtic was the first to fall off of the pace in the eighth kilometer (fifth

mile), leaving Meyer and Ndereba to battle to the finish. They were still on

world record pace through 8-K (24:45), and Ndereba decided to make her bid for

victory.

"I was hoping to run very fast and I always like to finish feeling

strong," said Ndereba. "I thought I would probably break my personal

best because that is always my goal."

Ndereba, 29, in control of the race for the final kilometers, slowed a bit

from the record pace. She entered the stadium alone, cheered on by many of the

13,600 women who had taken part in the companion 3.6-K event, and crossed the

finish line alone with her arms raised in triumph.

Ndereba was awarded $15,000 for finishing first, while Meyer took home

$10,000 for second, and Jevtic earned $5,000 for her third-place finish.

A total of $50,000 in prize money, the richest womens 10-K purse, was shared

among the top 10 overall finishers, the top three Avon Circuit winners and the

top three Masters (over 40) division finishers. In honor of the occasion, and

for the first time in Hungarian athletic history, the Hungarian Athletic

Federation, Magyar Atletikai Szovetseg, awarded the title of official Hungarian

Womens Cup to the event. An additional $3,000 was awarded to the top three

Hungarian athletes: Beata Raconczai (4th overall), Simona Staicu (5th overall)

and Aniko Kalovics (9th overall).

The prestigious women-only 10-K run (6.2 miles) uniquely showcased top

international and U.S. athletes alongside women of every age and fitness level

in one unified event. More than 17,000 runners from 21 countries participated

in both the 10-K race and 3.6K walk/run.

The scenic route of the Global Championship began in downtown Budapest on

Margit Island in the Danube, crossed the Arpad Bridge, ran along the Pest

embankment (Szechenyi Rakpart), past the Houses of Parliament, across the

Margit Bridge to finish in the Margit Island stadium

Kathrin Wessel under the first 10 athlethes

German running team with German top athlethe Kathrin Wessel from SCC Berlin

got 8th with a time of 33:19.

Other International Athletes Competing in Budapest

Avon Running international events were held in 12 countries in 2000. The

champions of each of these circuit races were awarded travel to Budapest to

represent their countries in the Avon Running Global Championship. Many of

these athletes are the best runners in their countries, which include Brazil,

Canada, Chile, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico,

Philippines, Thailand and the U.S.

The 2002 Avon Running Global Championship

Looking ahead to next year, the 2002 Avon Running Global Championship will

take place on November 10, 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. The winners of the

national Avon circuit races for 2001 will win expense paid trips to compete in

Bangkok. The 2001 Avon Running U.S. National Championship event will be held on

Dec.9 at Tempe Town Lakes in Phoenix.

AVON Running Berlin 2002

The next AVON Running Womens race in Germany will be next years race in

Berlin on May, 25th. The 19th Berlin women race will be going throug famous

"Tiergarten". With 6.083 female runners in 2001 the Berlin race is

the biggest in Germany.

Entry forms for this race can be fetched from www.berlin-marathon.com or by

phone +4930 / 30 12 88 10.

Avon Running Global Womens Circuit Promotes Benefits of Regular

Exercise

In addition to creating a competitive environment for emerging women runners

around the world, the Avon Running Global Womens Circuit has the mission of

communicating the message of health and fitness, particularly heart disease, to

women worldwide, and providing the knowledge and tools to pursue a healthier

lifestyle. Studies show that regular running and walking can substantially

reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death among

women, as well as significantly reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer and other

diseases. Through Avon Running, women learn the benefits of a regular running

and walking regimen, one of the most accessible and affordable forms of

exercise for even the busiest women. The program includes both a 10-K run and

5-K fitness walk to offer participation opportunities for the nearly 40% of the

women in the Avon Running program who are beginners.

To help beginning runners get started, Avon Running offers training clinics,

one of the unique aspects of the Avon Running program. These grassroots

training workshops are conducted in each race city, providing beginning runners

and walkers with invaluable information and guidance from leading experts in

running, fitness and health.

Additional information and race applications for Avon Walking and Running

events are available by calling 1-800-748-1047, ext. 5350 or on the Avon

Walking and Running web site at www.avonrunning.com.

?AVON Running Global Championship? 2001

Budapest, 14. Oktober 2001

Results - Top 10