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CIGNA Becomes Principal Sponsor of Falmouth Road Race
For Immediate Release
For further information contact:
Lucia Carroll (508) 737-7873 or Rich Sherman, (508) 737-7872
FalmouthRR@aol.com, www.FalmouthRoadRace.com
Falmouth, Mass., April 26, 2006 —Organizers of the Falmouth Road Race
announced today that CIGNA will be the principal sponsor of the 34th annual Falmouth Road Race to be held on Aug. 13. CIGNA Group Insurance, which includes Disability, Life and Accident Insurance, and CIGNA Dental will provide important financial support as the race looks forward to another successful event in August.
In announcing the sponsorship, CIGNA Group and Dental Insurance President Karen S. Rohan said,
"We are excited at the opportunity to be the principal sponsor of the Falmouth Road Race. It is nationally renowned for offering a first-class running weekend for recreational runners and elite competitors alike. As a company that cares about the health and wellness of our members, it's a great match for us to sponsor this outstanding road race."
Last year the race helped raise over $750,000 for over 25 local and national non-profit organizations.
The addition of CIGNA as principal sponsor will enable race officials to continue to attract a world-class field of U.S. and international runners, including a prize purse for the top American finishers. Race co-director Lucia Carroll said,
"With their thirteen-year tradition of presenting the very successful CIGNA HealthCare Corporate 5K Road Race in Manchester, NH, CIGNA understands road races and runners, so they are a natural partner for this event. Their support ensures that the Falmouth Road Race will maintain its high standing in the sport. And, with both races only three days apart, runners who come from around the world can easily participate in two high quality races sponsored by CIGNA," added Carroll. Rohan and Carroll pointed out that the races are independent and require separate registration.
The Falmouth Road Race is one of the top-rated events on the international circuit and annually attracts a world-class field, racing seven scenic miles from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights. In all, almost 10,000 recreational runners mix with the world's best, with an estimated 50,000 fans lining the course, making this one of the top sporting attractions in New England and a centerpiece of summer on Cape Cod.
Last year's champions were Lornah Kiplagat of Holland and Gilbert Okari of Kenya. Kiplagat is the fastest woman ever in the half-marathon and 20k. She holds the Falmouth course record of 35:02. 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., was third in last year's race. Okari is the men's course record holder, set last year with a time of 31:08. Past Falmouth winners in the men's division have included Olympians Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Craig Virgin, Rod Dixon and Alberto Salazar. Women champions have included such luminaries as U.S. Olympians Joan Benoit Samuelson and Lynn Jennings, Grete Waitz of Norway and South African Olympian Colleen De
Reuck.
About CIGNA Dental: Based in Plantation, Florida, CIGNA Dental meets the dental coverage needs of more than 10.7 million members, and the employer needs of more than one-third of all Fortune 100 companies. CIGNA Dental members access care from one of the largest dental HMO and dental PPO networks in the U.S., with more than 74,500 DPPO dentists and 5,600 DHMO facilities (with 24,900 DHMO dentists). CIGNA was one of the first insurance companies to offer dental indemnity - introducing its first plan in 1964 and became the first national carrier to enter the Dental HMO market.
About the Falmouth Road Race: The Falmouth Road Race was founded in 1973 and has been named the
"Best USA Road Race" by Runner's World magazine. It has also been featured in Life Magazine and Sports Illustrated, as well as on CBS television and ESPN. Last July it was named in Sports Illustrated
"One of the 25 essential things to do in the summer." It was the only road race listed. Proceeds from the race benefit Falmouth school programs and youth organizations.
The race annually receives more than 25,000 requests for entry forms and fills its field of 10,000 in less than a week. Forms will be available online from May 1 to May 13. Further information is available at the race web site,
www.FalmouthRoadRace.com.
Marathoner
Gert Thys Suspended for Doping Violation
The South African publication Mail & Guardian reports that Athletics South Africa (ASA) has suspended marathoner Gert Thys for failing a drug test. The test was administered after Thys won the March 12 Seoul International Marathon. The test indicated that Thys’s urine sample contained the banned substance Norandrosterone.
For his part, Thys says that he was shocked by the news, according to Mark Beer of
The Star.
"I have found it very difficult to accept that this is happening to me," Thys admitted. "I have always tried to be as natural [clean] as possible, but it seems that I am now paying the price for 21 years of dedication [to athletics].”
Thys says that he does not know how traces of the substance appeared in his urine, but believes that it is possible that it was in declared medication that he has been taken to help with a muscular problem that prevents his muscles from absorbing carbohydrates.
"Everybody knows that Nandrolone is of no benefit to distance athletes because we need lean muscles, so I would be stupid to take it," he said. "I get tested at every race and I know Nandrolone cannot be hidden, so it really doesn't make sense to me. I have been told to see a special doctor in Germany who can help me fight this. But I know that if I cannot prove that the substance was maybe slipped in to one of my drinks, I will be banned. Then I will have to look at finishing with athletics.”
Thys says that he will request that his B sample be tested, and that he will then take his case to an ASA hearing.
Two World and Two American Records Established; Grigoryeva Gives Back to Charity
Frank McNally
Media Coordinator
Phil Stewart
Event Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lidiya Grigoryeva was on top of the world when she strode across the awards stage to collect her first place check for $6,000 after establishing a world women’s world record at the 34th running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run® on Sunday, April 2. Her time of 52:11 set the world standard for a women’s only event run on a standard (loop) course. But the Russian athlete, who had just won the Los Angeles Marathon two weeks earlier, was ready to give something back.
The day before the 10-mile, she purchased a fund-raising bib number being sold by Credit Union Miracle Day Committee volunteers. During her record-setting run, she wore the bib, which honors a child who is receiving life-saving treatment at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, the area’s Children’s Miracle Network affiliated hospital. After the race she pledged to make an additional donation of 5% of her prize money to CMN as well. “I truly believe it is extremely important to help children who are ill as I have a four-year old daughter myself,” Grigoryeva said. “She is precious to me and I know I am fortunate that she is healthy. So I have decided to donate 5 percent of my winnings to the Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. for the good work that they are doing.”
Event Director Phil Stewart said, “So often there is a disconnect between the elite athletes and the charity fundraising component of today’s running events. This makes it extra special when a world-class athlete like Lidiya crosses that divide and makes such a generous donation. I consider it the best of both worlds and I hope her action will set an example nationwide.”
In addition to Grigoryeva, three other women who went off in the women’s only advance start also entered the record books in this category. Turena Johnson Lane of Muncie, IN set an American 10-mile record of 55:42, Canadian Sandy Jacobson established an All-comers Masters (40-and-over) mark of 1:06:41, and Debbie Flynn, 49, of Gaithersburg, MD set an American Masters mark of 1:08:53. Flynn may be the most unsuspecting American record holder ever, as she inadvertently slipped into the elite women’s advance start and ended up with an American Masters record!
Paperwork for the records will be submitted to USATF and the Association of Road Racing Statisticians for ratification. The course was pre-validated in advance, and a member of USATF’s Road Running Technical Council rode in the lead vehicle to ascertain that the course was run as certified. Satisfying these two criteria makes the approval of the records little more than a formality.
Race director Stewart said, “There have been faster 10 mile times run than these four times, including the mixed race world best time of 51:16 set by Colleen De Reuck at the 1998 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile. However, this is the first time there has ever been a 10-mile race on a loop course in which the women started before the men, which makes it qualify as an ‘all women’s race.’”
With the start and finish at the same spot, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom qualifies as a loop course. Point-to-point courses such as the Boston Marathon can be wind aided or have a loss in elevation over the distance of the race. Stewart continued, “We hope by establishing these times, we will provide an incentive for other races to adapt this format, which is the purest form of competition where the women’s race is unaffected by the men and the course is unaided.”
The Credit Union Miracle Day Committee announced that the 2006 event ended up raising $530,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network.
Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a partnership of credit unions and affiliated organizations, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. Proceeds from the run benefit the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 Children’s Hospitals throughout North America.
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned by those who use its services. Funds are federally insured, but unlike banks, there are no stockholders at credit unions, so earnings are returned to member-owners in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and low or no-fee products and services. Credit unions are chartered to serve groups that share a common bond. Nearly 9,500 credit unions with assets exceeding $663 billion serve 87 million Americans.
(Note: A photo of champion Lidiya Gregoryeva and Credit Union Miracle Day Committee Chairman Juri Valdov may be downloaded from
http://www.cherryblossom.org/images/06cucbphoto.jpg).
Lidiya Grigoryeva Sets World Record at Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile; Kenya's Gilbert Okari Blasts to Victory for Men
Frank McNally
Media Coordinator
Phil Stewart
Event Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. – It is not often that a runner has the opportunity to make history. But that is exactly the situation Lidiya Grigoryeva faced on Sunday morning in the 2006 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in West Potomac Park.
An early start time for the event’s female competitors meant whoever finished first would set a new world record for a 10-mile, closed-loop course. The 32-year-old Russian was shoulder-to-shoulder with countrywoman Alevtina Ivanova before opening up a 100-meter lead around the eight-mile mark and cruising to victory with a winning time of 52 minutes, 11 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kenyan Gilbert Okari, the favorite entering the men’s race, showed why down the stretch. Okari broke away from a group of four other runners in the final mile to finish with a top time of 47:25 and outlast countryman Samuel Ndereba (47:35). It was the first win at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run for Okari, who placed third here in 2003 (47:07) and fourth last spring (47:16).
“Last year the conditions were so difficult, too cold, too windy,” said Okari, who was the runner-up at the World’s Best 10K earlier this year. “This time it was perfect. I felt really strong for the last mile.”
The total purse was a record $31,500 with the top male and female runners earning $6,000 each. Kenyans Rueben Kibet Chebii (47:39) and Wilson Komen (47:58) finished third and fifth respectively in the men’s race. Kazuo Ietani of Japan was barely edged by Kibet Chebii and earned fourth with a time of 47:39. Matt Downin (48:43) of Norwood, N.J. had the highest finish for an American by placing sixth and earned an all-expenses paid trip to the Hemiji 10 Mile Run in Japan, the Cherry Blossom’s sister race.
Patrick MacAdie, a Washington, D.C. resident, was the top local male finisher and Mary Kate Bailey of Arlington, Va. was the top local female finisher. Both will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the PRRO Race of Champions at the 2006 Peachtree Road Race.
Grigoryeva entered the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run fresh off a victory at the Los Angeles Marathon last month.
“It feels so good to build on my win in Los Angeles,” said Grigoryeva, the runner-up here in 2001. “But the reason I came back here, and why I enjoy this race so much, is because of what it does for the Children’s Miracle Network.”
Ivanova (52:39) placed second overall. She and Grigoryeva finished well ahead of Romanians Lidia Simon (55:18) and Luminita Talpos (55:33). Turena Johnson Lane of Muncie, IN had the best showing of any American woman (55:42) and took fifth, setting a new American record in the process.
This year’s charity recipient is the Children’s Miracle Network, which will receive a donation of over $500,000. This brings the total charitable contributions to over 1.5 million dollars since the Credit Union Miracle Day Committee became the title sponsor in 2002. The event also funds two $5,000 grants for developing U.S. distance runners as part of the Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholar program.
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