Record field includes First Daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush
RICHMOND, Va. - (April 1, 2006) - Kenyan Nicodemus Malakwen seized control early to easily win the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K on Saturday. The 24-year-old's time of 28 minutes, 31 seconds was the second-fastest winning time in the seven year history of the event, behind only Reuben Chebii's 28:07 in 2004. That was good enough to beat countryman Phillip Lagat by 61 seconds.
With thousands cheering her name, Richmond's Nancy Fabian gave it her all but was unable to win the Cingular Dash for the Cash. Starting at the 2.4-mile mark, her mission was to beat the elites to the finish line. Instead, Malakwen crossed the line first to pick up the $2500 contest prize to go along with $2000 as the race winner. At the post-race awards ceremony, Cingular surprised the crowd with the announcement that Fabian was being awarded $1000 in recognition of her outstanding effort.
In the women's race, Kenyan Magdalene Makunzi, 23, took the $2000 first prize in 32:33, just five seconds off the event record set by Edna Kiplagat in 2003. The time was good for a 61 second victory over countrywoman Lineth Chepkurui.
A record 20,119 entered the race, over 3,600 more than last year's record field of 16,511. Among the participants were First Daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush, who both finished the 6.2 miles in under 55 minutes. The morning began with 1,223 children ages 6 thru 12 participating in the First Market Mile Kids Race presented by Minute Maid.
7th Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K
Richmond, VA, Saturday, April 1, 2006
