Freihofer's Run for Women
Encyclopedia
Freihofer's Run for Women is an annual five-kilometer road running
competition for women that is usually held in late May or early June in Albany, New York
, United States
. First held in 1979, the race has grown into a sizable event that holds IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and had 3,927 participants at the 2010 edition. The 2011 edition garnered 5,000 entires, four-fifths of whom are distance runners.
A 10-kilometer race was held concurrently with the 5K race from its inaugural edition, with the longer race serving as the elite race until 1989. The 5K race has been the elite race since 1989 while the 10K was removed from the annual race's events in 1991. The race has been the venue for the national road championships on many occasions: acting as the 10K championships from 1979 to 1988, and then serving as the 5K nationals in 1989, 1990 and 1993 to 2004.
Lynn Jennings
is the race's most successful runner, having won the 10K race twice and the 5K race a further six times over the period between 1987 and 1998. Marla Runyan
, who is legally blind due to Stargardt disease, won three consecutive national titles at the Freihofer's Run for Women from 2002–2004.
In 2005, the race was won in record time by Asmae Leghzaoui
, though several world class athletes boycotted the event due to Leghzaoui's past history of using illegal substances. Her course record was broken by Emily Chebet
who ran a time of 15:12 to win the 2010 race. Betty Springs-Geiger remains the record holder for the 10K race with her 1986 winning time of 32:13.
The 5K course, certified by USA Track & Field, begins and ends near the New York State Museum
on Albany's Madison Avenue. It heads westwards and enters Washington Park
after the first kilometer. The course twists along the footpath
s through the park before heading north along Lake Avenue around the half-way point. After heading east along Western and Washington Avenue, the route turns south, looping back onto Madison Avenue, and then heads downhill directly to the finish.
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
competition for women that is usually held in late May or early June in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. First held in 1979, the race has grown into a sizable event that holds IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and had 3,927 participants at the 2010 edition. The 2011 edition garnered 5,000 entires, four-fifths of whom are distance runners.
A 10-kilometer race was held concurrently with the 5K race from its inaugural edition, with the longer race serving as the elite race until 1989. The 5K race has been the elite race since 1989 while the 10K was removed from the annual race's events in 1991. The race has been the venue for the national road championships on many occasions: acting as the 10K championships from 1979 to 1988, and then serving as the 5K nationals in 1989, 1990 and 1993 to 2004.
Lynn Jennings
Lynn Jennings
Lynn Jennings is a retired American athlete who competed mainly in the long distances. She is one of the best female American runners of all time, with a range from 1500 meters to the marathon. She excelled at all three of the sport's major disciplines--track, road, and cross country...
is the race's most successful runner, having won the 10K race twice and the 5K race a further six times over the period between 1987 and 1998. Marla Runyan
Marla Runyan
Marla Runyan , is an American track and field athlete, road runner and marathon runner who is legally blind. She is a three-time national champion in the women's 5000 metres.Runyan was born in Santa Maria, California...
, who is legally blind due to Stargardt disease, won three consecutive national titles at the Freihofer's Run for Women from 2002–2004.
In 2005, the race was won in record time by Asmae Leghzaoui
Asmae Leghzaoui
Asmae Leghzaoui is a Moroccan athletics middle distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian for Morocco.In 1999, Leghzaoui made a running breakthrough by improving her 3000 metres personal best by a minute and breaking the World record for the 10K road race...
, though several world class athletes boycotted the event due to Leghzaoui's past history of using illegal substances. Her course record was broken by Emily Chebet
Emily Chebet
Emily Chebet is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres and cross country running...
who ran a time of 15:12 to win the 2010 race. Betty Springs-Geiger remains the record holder for the 10K race with her 1986 winning time of 32:13.
The 5K course, certified by USA Track & Field, begins and ends near the New York State Museum
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol...
on Albany's Madison Avenue. It heads westwards and enters Washington Park
Washington Park Historic District (Albany, New York)
Washington Park in Albany, New York is the city's premier park and the site of many festivals and gatherings. As public property it dates back to the city charter in 1686, and has seen many uses including that of gunpowder storage, square/parade grounds, and cemetery...
after the first kilometer. The course twists along the footpath
Footpath
A Footpath is a thoroughfare intended for by pedestrians but not by motorized vehicles. The term is often for paths within an urban area that offer shorter quieter routes for pedestrians, they may also provide access to the surrounding countryside or parks...
s through the park before heading north along Lake Avenue around the half-way point. After heading east along Western and Washington Avenue, the route turns south, looping back onto Madison Avenue, and then heads downhill directly to the finish.
5K race
Key:| Year | Winner | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 15:19 | |
| 2010 | 15:12 | |
| 2009 | 15:27 | |
| 2008 | 15:46 | |
| 2007 | 15:22 | |
| 2006 | 15:27 | |
| 2005 | 15:18 | |
| 2004 | 15:26 | |
| 2003 | 15:25 | |
| 2002 | 15:27 | |
| 2001 | 15:47 | |
| 2000 | 15:35 | |
| 1999 | 15:31 | |
| 1998 | 15:46 | |
| 1997 | 15:29 | |
| 1996 | 15:21 | |
| 1995 | 15:24 | |
| 1994 | 15:35 | |
| 1993 | 15:35 | |
| 1992 | 15:39 | |
| 1991 | 15:40 | |
| 1990 | 15:31 | |
| 1989 | 15:25 | |
| 1988 | 17:16 | |
| 1987 | 17:16 | |
| 1986 | 17:22 | |
| 1985 | 17:39 | |
| 1984 | 18:06 | |
| 1983 | 18:08 | |
| 1982 | 18:30 | |
| 1981 | 18:50 | |
| 1980 | 17:35 | |
| 1979 | 17:30 |
10K race
| Year | Winner | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 38:06 | |
| 1990 | 36:25 | |
| 1989 | 37:04 | |
| 1988 | 32:39 | |
| 1987 | 32:19 | |
| 1986 | 32:13 | |
| 1985 | |
32:14 |
| 1984 | 32:51 | |
| 1983 | 33:25 | |
| 1982 | 34:50 | |
| 1981 | 34:59 | |
| 1980 | 33:22 | |
| 1979 | 34:26 |
Winners by country
| Country | 5K race | 10K race | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 9 | 24 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
Multiple winners
| Runner | Country | 5K Wins | 10K Wins | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn Jennings Lynn Jennings Lynn Jennings is a retired American athlete who competed mainly in the long distances. She is one of the best female American runners of all time, with a range from 1500 meters to the marathon. She excelled at all three of the sport's major disciplines--track, road, and cross country... |
6 | 2 | 8 | |
| Betty Springs-Geiger | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Marla Runyan Marla Runyan Marla Runyan , is an American track and field athlete, road runner and marathon runner who is legally blind. She is a three-time national champion in the women's 5000 metres.Runyan was born in Santa Maria, California... |
3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Benita Johnson Benita Johnson Benita Willis is an Australian distance runner, who is a three-time national champion in the women's 5,000 metres.... |
3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Judi St. Hilaire | 2 | 0 | 2 |