Benita Johnson battles with the rain in the 28th Freihofer's Run for Women 5K (© Jeff Foley)
With the 30th Freihofer's Run for Women (5km) just days away (Saturday 31 May), all signs indicate it will be another hotly-contested race.
The Freihofer's Run for Women is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
In addition to two-time defending champion Benita Johnson's bid for a three-peat, a strong Kenyan contingent will be on hand to prove they can dominate the short courses just as well as the long courses. Included in that group will be Monday's Bolder Boulder 10k champion Millicent Gathoni, whose winning time in Colorado (32:49) was the fourth-fastest women's elite time in the history of the race.
Joining Gathoni on the start line will be fellow Kenyans Jane Gakunyi, a 2004 Olympian, whose PB in the 5K is faster than the Freihofer's course record (15:18), Genoveva Kigen, Evelyne Lagat, Florence Jepkosgei, Jane Kibii and Jacqueline Nytipei, who has finished in the top three of almost every race she entered over the last year, including a first-place finish in the Carlsbad half-marathon in April.
Also set to toe the start line are Ethiopian team mates Amane Gobena (ETH), 25, (second at 2008 Bolder Boulder) and 2004 Olympian Meskerem Legesse, 21, whose junior records in the indoor 800m and the 1500m have yet to be surpassed.
"The addition of Gathoni and Gobena to our field has the potential to bring the race up a notch and place pressure on Asmae Leghzaoui's 2005 course record," said Event Director George Regan, noting that he expects a fast race. "Defending champion Benita Johnson will need to pull out all of her tricks to retain her title."
Hometown favourite Emily McCabe earned the distinction of being the top American at last year's Freihofer's, finishing ninth. Originally from nearby Queensbury, NY, the 24-year-old Duke University grad student says she's excited about coming back to Albany, where she competed during high school.
"I like coming back to do this race because it's close to my hometown," said McCabe, whose other recent accomplishments include a sixth place finish at last year's Pan American Games in the 10,000m and a seventh place spot at the 2007 Peachtree 10K. "It was nice last year getting my friends and family to come out and watch, and also to see some area high school coaches."
Recently recovered from an injury, McCabe says her workouts have gone well over the last several months.
"My confidence is back in my running and I know I can come back and do well at this race," she added. "I definitely think I'm capable of running a faster time than last year."
Edward Parham for the IAAF
