First-time dad, 2nd-place finish
One week after birth of his daughter, defending men's champion is
runner-up to fellow Kenyan
By Sharon Robb |
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
- December 2, 2007
SUNRISE - Being a father for the first time can take its
toll on running.
Just one week after the birth of his first child, Mike Korir of Hollywood
finished second in his first competitive race since May.
"I think I needed a little more sleep, I didn't get enough rest after
working last night," said the 32-year-old Kenyan and defending men's
champion.
Korir finished in 15 minutes, 22 seconds
for 3.1 miles Saturday at the 23rd annual Jingle Bell Jog
5K. He bettered his 2006 winning time of 15:40.
Korir's countryman Paul Mwangi, 40, a part-time Miramar
resident, won the men's race in 15:09. St. Thomas Aquinas
cross country coach Trish Butler, 45, defended her title.
She averaged 5:55-minute miles to win the women's race in
18:21.
Robert Leaf, 48, (17:58) and Colette Keno, 43, (19:19), both
of Fort Lauderdale, won the masters titles. All four overall
winners each won $100.
The race, which distributes jingle bells for runners and
walkers to wear on their shoes, had more than 1,300
participants, down from previous years. Proceeds benefited
The Wellness Center at Broward General Medical Center.
For Korir, it was a tuneup for today's Marathon of the Palm
Beaches. Korir plans to run the half marathon and is among
the favorites. He was runner-up last year in 1:09:07.
"I didn't want to go all out today because [today] I have a
bigger one," Korir said. "I don't know how competitive it
will be, but I will try my best."
Korir, one of eight children, grew up in Eldoret, Kenya, a
hotbed for turning out most of the world's top distance
runners. He lives with his wife, Lillian, and newborn girl,
Amalimar Chebet Olivieri Velez Korir. She was born last
Sunday.
He works at Western High School when not training and
racing, which he hopes to resume full-time in the near
future. His marathon career-best is 2:14 at the Italian
Marathon. He is a two-time Philadelphia Marathon winner.
Right now he is enjoying fatherhood, Korir said.
"At first you don't know what it's going to be like," Korir
said. "We are catching up slowly. Having a child puts
everything in perspective. She is more important now."
At Saturday's Marathon of the Palm Beaches 5K Run along
Flagler Drive, John Reback, 37, of North Palm Beach won the
men's title and also tuned up for today's half marathon. The
race starts and finishes at Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm
Beach.
23rd JINGLE BELL JOG RESULTS
MEN OPEN: 1. Paul Mwangi 15:09.
MEN MASTERS: 1. Robert Leaf 17:58.
MEN AGE GROUP: 12-and-under: 1. Justin Soden
20:26, 2. Alfredo Gomez 22:56, 3. Zachary White 23:53;
13-14: 1. Jeffrey Tait 19:13, 2.
Dominick Marciano 21:32, 3. Joshua Fitzgibbon 23:35;
15-19: 1. Ryan Davis 17:32, 2. Henry Charles
17:43, 3. Eric Weiner 17:57; 20-24: 1. Aaron
Kolterjahn 17:15, 2. Jose Luis Gonzalez 17:32, 3. Gioavanni
Merceron 20:07; 25-29: 1. Josh Brashears
16:00, 2. Todd Forsgren 16:45, 3. Anthony Nardi 20:42;
30-34: 1. Mike Korir 15:22, 2. Don
Wennerstrom 16:45, 3. Mark Lachance 19:43; 35-39:
1. Matt Novack 18:05, 2. Orville Barrett 19:00, 3. Mark
Greenwald 19:03; 40-44: 1. Adolfo Gomez
18:31, 2. Eduardo Kiera 18:32, 3. Humberto Vidal 19:25;
45-49: 1. Walthon Maxwell 18:00, 2. Tim
Nicholls 18:12, 3. Tom Pobgee 18:45; 50-54:
1. Gary Bloome 18:23, 2. Jose Clavijo 18:48, 3. Fernando
Torres 19:55; 55-59: 1. Louis Molina 19:39,
2. Rolando Cabrera 19:52, 3. Carlos Velas 20:07;
60-64: 1. Dan Healy 19:35, 2. Larry Starr 20:00, 3. Al
Shamoun 21:30; 65-69: 1. Charles Yescott
22:18, 2. Andy Riska 24:17, 3. David Worley 26:01;
70-and-over: 1. George McCuen 22:11, 2. George S.
George 31:45, 3. Win Spears 34:26.
WOMEN OPEN: 1. Trish Butler 18:21.
WOMEN MASTERS: 1. Colette Keno 19:19.
WOMEN AGE GROUP: 12-and-under: 1. Stacey
Destin 21:43, 2. Vanessa Gomez 25:57, 3. Natalie Rojas
27:42; 13-14: 1. Emily Groeneveld 23:55, 2.
Abbie Sludecki 24:00, 3. Leslie Andrade 24:10;
15-19: 1. Courtney Perry 23:10, 2. Paola Daniel 24:01,
3. Nicole Dudziak 25:37; 20-24: 1. Maryann
Pitt 22:37, 2. Emily Meredith 23:46, 3. Danielle Gang 23:47;
25-29: 1. Jaris Goss 22:41, 2. Analena Fuchs
24:13, 3. Krista Ross 24:47; 30-34: 1. Esther
Alexander 22:01, 2. Ngozi Uwah 22:17, 3. Jenny Chapman
22:28; 35-39: 1. Sarah Smith 21:51, 2.
Michele Sannie 22:02, 3. Christine Hiler 22:36;
40-44: 1. Mary Nicholls 20:37, 2. Sharon Piccolo 22:44,
3. Lili Tzikas 23:14; 45-49: 1. Amy Durham
20:49, 2. Kimberly New 23:32, 3. Christine Bass 24:40;
50-54: 1. Camilo Castro 21:57, 2. Marci
Kirsch 22:09, 3. Patty Wells 24;46; 55-59: 1.
Judy Adler 27:37, 2. Barbara Mitchell 29:01, 3. Crystal
Doumis-Brown 29:43; 60-64: 1. Helga
Brandenburg 24:07, 2. Jan Ross 26:27, 3. Ann Bacon 27:40;
65-69: 1. Jackie Phillips 32:12, 2. Traudi
DeGiacomi 34:59, 3. Arlene Mendell 42:21;
70-and-over: 1. Eddie Faria 33:00, 2. Marcia Shafmaster
40:17.
