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Catherine Ndereba Captures Avon Running Global Championship Title

Elite Athletes From Around The World Compete For Richest Womens 10-K Prize Purse

2001-10-20

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

Platz	Name	Land	Zeit (min)	Preisgeld (US$)
1	Catherine Ndereba	Kenia	31:02	15.000
2	Elana Meyer	Südafrika	31:13	10.000
3	Olivera Jevtic	Jugoslawien	31:31	5.000
4	Beata Rakonczai	Ungarn	32:26	4.000
5	Simona Staicu	Ungarn	32:27	2.500