Flint, Michigan once again has proven it can successfully host one of the top running events in the world. In describing the 1996 Crim Festival of Races, the term "Best Ever" is all you need to know. Best weather, best turnout and this year in the men's 10 mile competition, best times.
Not many complaints were heard in regards to the weather conditions for this year's Crim as the temperature was a very comfortable 60 degrees at race time. According to this year's race director, Anne Gault, the '96 Crim was the best ever in terms of attendance as a record 15, 182 people took part in all of the festival events combined. 5, 766 were in attendance for the 10 mile alone!
In the men's 10 mile competition, as usual, Kenya was the dominant country as the top 12 places overall went to runners from the African distance running powerhouse. 24 year old Joseph Kamau whose most recent running highlights included a 3rd place finish at this year's Falmouth Road Race, pulled away for an 8 second victory. Kamau's winning time of 45:43 was a new Crim course record and not too far off the current world best for 10 miles. In all, 4 men ran under the old course record of 46:06 which was set by Thomas Osano in the 1995 Crim. This year, Osano settled for a 5th place finish in 46:22. Second place overall went to Peter Githuka in 45:51, Lazarus Nyakeraka took third in 45:53 and rounding out the top four was Godfrey Kiprotech in 45:56.
In the Michigan men's competition, two very familiar faces turned the corner for the finish as once again Paul Aufdemberge of Novi and East Lansing's Anthony Hamm battled it out for first place with Aufdemberge pulling away at the finish for a victory of only two seconds. Aufdemberge, who has been no stranger to success here in Flint, took home $1200 for his first place wining time of 49:17. Hamm, the former Flint high school standout, had to settle for $400 less and second place honors with a 49:19 finish. Michigan running should be proud of these two runners as not only are they our fastest male runners, but also two of the classiest. Rounding out the top 8 for Michigan were Ann Arbor's Ian Forsyth in 3rd at 50:24, Barry Purse of Tecumseh (4th) in 50:33, Brad Kirk (5th) in 50:42, Keith Stopen (6th) in 51:06, Gury Murray (7th) in 51:10 and Scott Collins was the final Michigan money winner in 51:17.
For the women, the fight for the finish wasn't quite as close as the men, however the Kenyan contingent also dominated the top spots. Katherine Ndereba, who has 3 recent victories to her credit including a 25:47 at this year's Shamrock 8K, cruised to the '96 Crim 10 Mile title in a time of 52:50. Ndereba's time was well off the seemingly unbeatable course record of 51:47, set back in 1989 by American Cathy O'Brien. Second place overall went to Kenya's Gladys Ondeyo in 53:25 and Hellen Kimaiyo, also of Kenya was third in 53:34. Finishing out the top 5 were Yelena Vyazova of Ukraine in 54:15 and Kenya's Delilah Asiago, the '95 Crim Champion, with a '96 time of 54:27. The first american woman to finish was Berea, Ohio's Debbie Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick, who just missed a spot on this year's U.S. Olympic Marathon Team with a 6th place finish at the Marathon Trials, finished 9th overall in 55:07.
In the competition for the Michigan Women's Title, Troy's Kathy Kubicki, a 1996 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier, took top honors with a time of 59:10. After running with Rochester's Laura Murhpy through 4 miles, Kubicki eventually pulled ahead of Ann Arbor's Ann Boyd a little after the 8 mile mark and held on for an 18 second victory. This was the first ever Michigan Crim victory for Kubicki who has enjoyed her best summer of road racing here in '96. Boyd's second place time was 59:28 while Murhpy ended up third in 59:56. Prize money was awarded to the top 8 Michigan finishers. Seana Larson of Jackson took 4th in 60:18, while 5th went to former Lakeville High School standout, Laura Bell of Otisville in 60:38. Sarah Raitter of Kalamazoo took 6th in 60:47, Ann Arbor's Serena Fraser was 7th in 60:55 and Elizabeth Storch of Troy finished 8th for Michigan residents with a time of 61:19.
Kubicki and Murphy ran together at Bowling Green State University and train together now. The two spent the first 4 miles side by side before Kubicki pulled away for the eventual victory. According to Murphy, this is the best she's seen Kubicki run. "This is easily the best shape Kathy's been in. It was great seeing her do so well. She deserves it." For Kubicki, the training doesn't slow down. The day after her Michigan Crim victory, she was at it again on the tough dirt roads of Rochester for an 18 mile training run in preparation for the 1996 Free Press Marathon.
In addition to the 10 Mile Run, the Crim lives up to its title of "Festival of Races", as there was also a 1 mile run, 5k run and 8k run, along with the Crim 10 Mile wheechair event, a 5k walk and the Teddy Bear Trot for the Crim Kids.
In the 5K Race, the overall Men's Winner was former ALL-GLIAC and former Oakland University runner Paul Rice of Eastpointe. Paul's time of 15:43 was just two seconds off the Crim 5K course record of 15:41. For Rice, the victory wasn't assured until the final 50 yards or so as a final finishing kick was needed for the victory.
In the women's 5K competition, the overall title went to an exceptional young runner from Brambton, Ontario. Canada should be very proud of 13 year old Lara Bachmeier. Lara's winning time was 19:53. The four hour trip to the Crim was well worth it for Lara and her family as Lara goes home with her first Crim 5K Women's Title.
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Top Michigan Finishers Kubicki & Aufdemberge
Photo by Dave McCauley
The 1996 Crim 10 Mile Run Overall Winners...
Overall Man
Joseph Kamau Kenya 45:43
Overall Woman
Katherine Ndereba, Kenya, 52:50
Overall Masters Man
Martin Mondragan, Mexico, 49:51
Overall Masters Woman
Tatjana Pozdnjakkova, Ukraine, 54:46
Overall Michigan Man
Paul Aufdemberge, Farmington Hills, 49:17
Overall Michigan Woman
Kathy Kubicki, Troy, 59:10
Overall Michigan Masters Man
Doug Kurtis, Northville, 51:34
Overall Michigan Masters Woman
Karen McKeachie, Ann Arbor, 62:55
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CRIM INFO.