Kiptoo, Alyanak Win Hyde Park Blast 4 Mile

(Running USA wire / by Chad Sims) CINCINNATI, Ohio - (June 28, 2008) - More than 4,000 participants came together in the fight against cancer as they took part in the 7th Hyde Park Blast presented by Toyota. The event included Ohio's 4 Mile RRCA Championship and a new, challenging course that has been recognized as one of the area's coolest and most scenic residential courses. In a separate start, the professional runners and teams started at 9:15am on Saturday, June 28.

The men's field was tight with a pack of 10 runners in the first mile at a sub-5 minute pace. The runners maintained the fast pace through mile 2 and then the pack started to spread out at mile 2.5 with Julius Kiptoo, Wesley Korir and Ryan Woods at the forefront. Woods dropped behind at 3 miles as Kiptoo and Korir took off down the stretch to the finish before Kiptoo sprinted away from Korir to a 12 second win, 18 minutes, 39 seconds to 18:51.

"This was my first race in Cincinnati. The course was very nice and it was a tough field. We were in tight pack for the first mile and then I was able to break away," said Kiptoo who earned $1000 and a 5-night trip to Jamaica.

The women's race was an Ohio-Kentucky challenge with fast times for the women on the new, challenging course. Ann Alyanak and Leigh Daniel, both from Ohio, finished first and second in 22:24 and 22:51, respectively.

"The Hyde Park Blast is a fun 4 mile race and I enjoyed the new course," said Alyanak, the head coach of University of Dayton's women's cross country program, who has been a strong contender at the Blast over the last several years and placed 7th at the recent Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston. Daniel and Jen Alessandro (third) have also been strong finishers here in the past.

The Blast awarded overall prize money plus a new travel award. This year, the Blast introduced the Team Challenge presented by Gillette and Olay to encourage more participation from regional and national teams. The winning teams (three runners score) were Team Co, 58:12, (Ryan Woods (19:14), John Supsic (19:25) and Josh Glaab (19:33) and Run Ohio, 1:08:54, (Ann Alyanak (22:24), Leigh Daniel (22:51) and Melissa Converse (23:39).

"We are very excited to have both Gillette and Olay partner to help support our elite field and new Team Challenge which should be a great element that grows every year. The Superclubs trips also provided a good deal of motivation for the top spots. It was great to have the separate elite start so that the main field and all of the spectators could watch the professional race from multiple places on the course," said Chad Sims, event co-founder.

The 7th Blast also included A Blast for Kids, criterium bike race and a large evening post-race party.

7th Hyde Park Blast 4 Mile
Cincinnati, OH, Saturday, June 28, 2008

MEN
1) Julius Kiptoo (KEN), 18:39, $1000*
2) Wesley Korir (KEN), 18:51, $750
3) Ryan Woods (USA / NC), 19:14, $500
4) Matt Folk (USA / OH), 19:22, $250 and 1st Place Ohio, 1-year gym membership at Urban Active
5) John Supsic (USA / CO), 19:25, $100
8) Birhanu Wukaw (USA / OH), 19:40, 2nd Place Ohio, 6-month gym membership at Urban Active
9) Derrick Butler (USA / OH), 19:47, 3rd Place Ohio, 3-month gym membership at Urban Active

WOMEN
1) Ann Alyanak (USA / OH), 22:24, $1000* and 1-year gym membership at Urban Active
2) Leigh Daniel (USA / OH), 22:51, $750 and 6-month gym membership at Urban Active
3) Jen Alessandro (USA / KY), 23:33, $500
4) Melissa Converse (USA / OH), 23:39, $250 and 3rd Place Ohio, 3-month gym membership at Urban Active
5) Becki Michael (USA / OH), 23:55, $100
*plus $2000-5 night stay for two in Jamaica from Superclubs

TEAM - Men
1) Team Co: Ryan Woods (19:14), John Supsic (19:25), Josh Glaab (19:33), 58:12, $1500
2) Fleet Feet 1: Wesley Korir (18:51), Thad Schroeder (20:26), Justin Banks (20:41), 59:58, $1000
3) Run Ohio: Matt Folk (19:22), Nick Cordes (20:17), Nick Kruse (21:19), 1:00:58, $500

TEAM - Women
1) Run Ohio: Ann Alyanak (22:24), Leigh Daniel (22:51), Melissa Converse (23:39), 1:08:54, $1500
2) Columbus Running: Becki Michael (23:55), Liz Trapp (24:54), Krista Seibert (25:03), 1:13:52, $1000
3) Fleet Feet Louisville: Jen Alessandro (23:33), Erin Swalley (25:59), Cara Nichols (26:57), 1:16:29, $500

Complete race results at: HPBlast.com