A Pre-Race Press Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco yesterday to introduce the elite runners for this Sunday's 99th annual Bay to Breakers race. The Bay to Breakers race is one of the world's largest and oldest foot races held each year in San Francisco.
The Press Conference included an introduction of each athlete and a question and answer session. A hosted luncheon was served after the press conference where members of the press enjoyed relaxed conversations while they learned more about the runners.
Sammy Kitwara from Kenya will be defending his 2009 first place title this year after winning the race and tieing the world's best 12K record at the same time. He finished last year's race in 33:31. Sammy's accomplishments in 2010 also included placing second at the Zayed Half Marathon, second world best 10K, and second in the Lisbon Half Marathon.
Tilahun Regassa from Ethiopia will give Sammy strong competition for first place in this year's Bay to Breakers race. Tilahun finished second in the 2009 Bay to Breakers. In 2010 Tilahun beat Sammy Kitwara at the Zayed Half Marathon, and came in first at the Crescent City Classic 10K, and thrid at the Cherry Blossom 10M.
The female elite racers have some stiff competition this year. Lineth Chepkurui from Kenya won first place at the 2008 Bay to Breakers and came in second in 2009. She finished first at the 2010 Bloomsday and set a pending world record for the 12K in 38:10.
Emily Chebet from Kenya placed 2nd in the 2007 Bay to Breakers and was the 2010 World Cross Country Champion. In addition she finished third at the Bloomsday race this year.
Here are some elite runners from the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay areas in this year's race:
Magdalena Lewy-Boulet from Oakland become the fourth fastest American woman of all time in the marathon, finishing second in the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. Magdalena was also a 2008 Olympian for the US in the marathon.
Jane Kibii from Auburn, CA. Jane is originally from Kenya and won first place in the 2010 Carlsbad Half Marathon, and fourth place in the Crescent City Classic 10K. She finished third place at the 2008 Bay to Breakers Race.
Brad Poore from Auburn, CA came in second place at the 2009 Run to Feed the Hungry race in Sacramento, CA, and placed fourteenth at the 2009 Las Vegas Rock n Roll Marathon. Brad finish thirteenth at the 2009 Bay to Breakers race.
Valentine Orare, living and training in Auburn, CA, and originally from Kenya, finished fourth in the 2009 Philadelphia Distance Run. He also finished first at the 2008 One America 500 Half Marathon, and first in the Auscherman 5M.
Scotty Bauhs grew up in Danville, CA, and is the youngest American ever to run a sub four minute mile and a sub 28 minutes in the 10,000m race. Scotty, a Chico State University legend, finished third in the US Crosscountry Nationals.
Brook Wells from San Francisco came in third place at the Kaiser Half Marathon and was a 2008 Olympic qualifier. She has already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials with her finish at the Twin Citieis Marathon this year.
Peter Gilmore from San Mateo finished twelveth at the 2009 New York City Marathon, with several other accomplishments in 2009 including first place at the Napa Marathon, second place at Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon, and fifth at the Warf to Warf race in Santa Cruz.
Shaluinn Fullove from Palo Alto, placed third at the the Napa Valley Marathon, and was 88th at the US Olympic Trials Marathon in 2008.
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Nancy Lancaster is a Sacramento run-walker and organizer of the Running Adventures Travel Club and Five Tool Fitness Running Club. She is also a Realtor for Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, CA. You can email Nancy at nancy@nancylancaster.com
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