Champions Run For Children

San Francisco, CA, October 29, 2000

Results courtesy of RhodyCo Productions.

Lyudmila Vasilyeva of Russia and Leonard Mucheru of Kenya Win Second annual CHAMPIONS RUN FOR CHILDREN In San Francisco

Running Legend Johnny Gray and Nancy Tinari of Canada Win The Masters

SAN FRANCISCO - October 29, 2000 - In an impressive line up of 15 of the world's fastest women, Lyudmila Vasilyeva of Russia took home the first place prize purse of $6,000 after edging out Courtney Babcock of Canada by just less than 30 seconds with a time of 4:31.62. Stephanie Best of the United States, came in third with a time of 4:40:80.

Forty-five elite runners from eleven countries participated in an invitational one mile road race at Kezar Stadium on Sunday, October 29. The largest assembly of sub-four minute mile runners in Bay Area history provided a thrilling event under beautiful sunny skies. This year's event provided spectators an exciting venue since the event was run on a regulation quarter mile track. The participants were competing for the largest one mile prize purse in the nation -- $30,000!

The race benefited the work of the UCSF's Pediatric AIDS Department of the UCSF AIDS Research Institute. The San Francisco-based organization provides clinical care for children and adolescents infected by HIV throughout Northern California. The day's series of races, which included the Jamba Juice 5K Banana Man Chase, kids races with elite athletes, masters events and other age specific one mile road races raised over $30,000 for the charity.

In the men's field, Leonard Mucheru of Kenya beat out Andrew Walker, of Ireland, by nearly three seconds with a time of 3:56.43. The field included a total of fifteen elite runners with Mohammad Amyn of Morocco taking the third place finish after fighting off US Olympian, Jason Pyrah. Amyn ran the course in 4:00.52.

The men's masters division was represented by fourteen American and Canadian runners. The men's field was won by four time Olympian, 1992 Olympic bronze medalist and running legend, Johnny Gray. In a spectacular debut performance in the masters one mile, his winning time was 4:13.73, just under two seconds in front of Anselm LeBourne of USA/Trinidad, and world record holder of the masters 800 meters for men 50 and over. Canadian, Graeme Fell, ran third with a time of 4:15.85.

In the women's masters division, Nancy Tinari of Canada took the first place spot with a time of 4:59.27 followed by Sabrina Peters-Robinson of the United States who ran 4:59.60. Rose Monday was third with 5:10.91. In a remarkable effort, Vicki Bigelow, 65 years old, of San Lorenzo, California, set a new national record for the masters mile 65 year old women of 6:38.12. The crowd cheered her throughout her record performance shaving over two seconds off the previous record to lift her to the new record.

Three hundred children from age three to 18 ran with the Olympic athletes in the Champions Run for Children, a series of one mile races on Kezar stadium track. Throughout the day, youth runners were treated to free races and festivities designed especially for them.

The final results of the top ten men finishers:

1. Leonard Mucheru 3:56.43 Kenya $6,000 2. Andrew Walker 3:58.96 Ireland $3,500 3. Mohammad Amyn 4:00.52 Morocco $2,200 4. Jason Pyrah 4:01.29 United States $1,000 5. Jason Lunn 4:01.36 United States $500 6. Sammy Ng'eno 4:02.78 United States 7. Sammy Nyamongo 4:03.19 Kenya 8. Jacques Sallberg 4:04.03 United States 9. Musa Gwanzura 4:05.78 Zimbabwe 10. Hector Torres 4:06.07 Mexico

The final results of the women finishers:

1. Lyudmilla Vasilyeva 4:31.62 Russia $6,000 2. Courtney Babcock 4:32.29 Canada $3,500 3. Stephanie Best 4:40.80 United States $2,200 4. Luch Njeri 4:42.75 Kenya $1,000 5. Olga Komyagina 4:42.97 Russia $500 6. Anna Brzezinska 4:49.01 Poland 7. Nikki Knapp 4:52.39 Canada 8. Milena Glusac 4:53.36 United States 9. Kristen Coogan 4:55.45 United States

The final results of the masters men finishers:

1. Johnny Gray 4:13.73 United States $1,000 2. Anselm LeBourne 4:15.48 US/Trinida $500 3. Graeme Fell 4:15.85 Canada $300 4. Steve Scott 4:23.75 United States 5. Steve Haase 4:25.05 Canada 6. Kevin Ostenberg 4:27.71 United States 7. Jamin Aasum 4:31.85 United States 8. Nolan Shaheed 4:33.48 United States 9. Dave Clingan 4:34.43 United States 10. Paul Fragua 4:35.27 United States

The final results of the women masters finishers:

1. Nancy Tinari 4:56.12 Canada $1,000 2. Sabrina Peters-Robinson 4:59.61 United States$500 3. Rose Monday 5:10:91 United States$300 4. Maria Trujillo 5:15.80 United States 5. Diane Heil 5:30.50 United States 6. Debbie Barraza 5:38.61 United States 7. Vicki Bigelow 65y 6:38.12 United States

The top three male and female runners of the of the Jamba Juice 5K Banana Man Chase:

1. Todd Rose 15:21 San Francisco, CA 2. Ben Turman 15:40 3. Andrew Kelsey 15:42 Cupertino, CA

1. Chris Lundy 17:10 Sausilito, CA 2. Becky Swain 17:43 3. Ceci St. Geme 17:49 Los Altos, CA