Shadrack
Hoff, Colleen De Reuck Overthrow Kenyans
at Arturo Barrios Invitational
Jen Gross, Running
USA wire
14 October 2001 – Chula Vista,
California - For the first time in five
years, a non-Kenyan athlete claimed top-honors
at the Arturo Barrios Invitational 10K
in Chula Vista, Calif. Both the men’s
and women’s elite fields at the 13th
annual event included strong Kenyan
contingents, but it was South Africa’s
Shadrack Hoff and Colorado’s Colleen De
Reuck who triumphed, claiming $4000 each
for their wins.
As the men’s elite field began the race through Chula Vista’s scenic harbor, Tanzania’s John Yuda took an early lead, with a tight pack close behind. Yuda remained in control for the majority of the race, gradually increasing his lead, until the final section of the looped course, at the 24:15 mark, when he started to slow due to an ache in his side. Shadrack Hoff wasted no time and quickly began his attack on the leader. Hoff passed the young Tanzanian at 25:01 and never looked back, breaking the finish tape in 28:22. Yuda finished second in 28:30, followed by Ronald Mogaka of Kenya in 28:32.
“I felt very positive the entire race,” said Hoff. “I knew that if I just put in a couple of surges, I’d be alright. I felt very sorry for Yuda, but I told myself I just had to push all the way to the end.”
Hoff is coming off an impressive win at the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA over Labor Day. Just one week later, he returned home and took second in the South African National 10K Championship in 28:51 (altitude), losing by just one second to Hendrick Ramaala.
In the women’s race, Colleen De Reuck, a native South African who became a United States citizen a year ago, cruised to her first Arturo Barrios Invitational victory in 32:35, ten seconds ahead of Russia’s Sylvia Skvortsova (32:45) and Elena Paramanova (32:48).
De Reuck battled with two-time defending champion Jane Ngotho of Kenya for the majority of the race, as both women challenged each other in the opening miles. Eventually Ngotho tired and dropped off the pace, allowing De Reuck to cruise to victory. Ngotho ultimately finished fourth, just ahead of Jen Rhines, the first American woman.
“I just wanted to go out with the girls and see what happened,” said De Reuck. “I felt Jane (Ngotho) was pushing me early, but I kept working. I’d give her a few steps, get in the pocket and then I’d push ahead. Finally I got a gap and broke open the lead.”
De Reuck defeated Ngotho just last Monday in Boston at the Tufts Health Plan 10K, after coming back from a four-month lay-off due to injuries. The 37-year-old Colorado resident seems to be in top form as she prepares for the November 4 New York City Marathon.
San Marcos Resident Nazario Romero [27] took first in the 10K men’s people’s race with a winning time of 30:26. Tamara Lave [33] of Pacific Beach finished first on the women’s side in 36:22. In the people’s 5K race, Tom Kloos [24] of Oceanside broke the tape for the second straight year, with a time of 14:51. Deanna Hadley [27] of Fallbrook was the first woman to cross in 16:56.
Arturo Barrios Invitational 10K
Chula Vista, CA, Sunday, October 14, 2001
MEN
1) Shadrack Hoff, 28, RSA, 28:22, $4,000
2) John Yuda, 22, Tanzania, 28:30, $3,000
3) Ronald Mogaka, 32, Kenya, 28:32, $2,000
4) Evans Rutto, 23, Kenya, 28:44, $1,000
5) Ryan Kirkpatrick, 23, Colorado, 28:49, $800
6) John Thuo Itati, 27, Kenya, 28:49, $600
7) Charles Sang, 23, Kenya, 29:02, $500
8) David Chelule, 24, Kenya, 29:18, $300
9) Nick Rogers, 26, Oregon, 29:19, $200
10) John Kagwe, 32, Kenya, 29:20, $100
WOMEN
1) Colleen De Reuck, 37, Colorado, 32:35, $4,000
2) Silvia Skvortsova, 26, Russia, 32:45, $3,000
3) Elena Paramanova, 38, Russia, 32:48, $2,000
4) Jane Ngotho, 31, Kenya, 33:03, $1,000
5) Jen Rhines, 27, Pennsylvania, 33:38, $800
6) Gladys Asiba, 24, Kenya, 33:51, $600
7) Dorota Gruca, 30, Poland, 33:58, $500
8) Teresa Wanjiku, 27, Kenya, 34:03, $300
9) Martha Komu, 19, Kenya, 34:13, $200
10) Naomi Wangui, 23, Kenya, 34:55, $100
